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Rio Vista Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.2M
Grant Range
$25K - $2.6M

Rio Vista Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,200,000
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation/preselection only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $2,600,000
  • Geographic Focus: St. Louis, Missouri regional focus with national climate initiatives
  • Total Assets: $58,000,000

Contact Details

Address: 2200 West Port Plaza Drive, Suite 203, St. Louis, MO 63146

Phone: (314) 317-8900

Website: climatepathfinders.org

Note: The foundation does not have a public-facing website for grant applications and maintains limited public communication channels.

Overview

Founded in 2016, the Rio Vista Foundation is a private family foundation of the Yawitz family, primarily funded by the Jess Yawitz Revocable Trust. Jess Yawitz is co-founder and CEO of NISA Investment Advisors, a St. Louis-based fixed-income investment firm managing nearly $500 billion in assets. With total assets of approximately $58 million and annual giving of around $2.2 million, the foundation focuses on early-stage, high-potential scientific research and charitable, scientific, and educational initiatives related to climate change solutions. In 2020, Rio Vista Foundation established Climate Pathfinders Foundation as an incorporated subsidiary to further support climate-focused grantmaking. The foundation operates without paid staff or offices, with all board members serving on a volunteer basis. In 2023, the foundation awarded 11-12 grants to various organizations, demonstrating sustained commitment to climate innovation and local St. Louis community development.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. Grants are awarded on a discretionary basis to preselected organizations. Recent grant activity shows:

  • Major Institutional Support: $25,000 - $2,600,000 - Large grants to universities and established research institutions
  • Climate Innovation Support: $200,000 - $1,000,000 - Support for climate technology organizations and carbon removal initiatives
  • Local Community Support: $250,000 - $325,000 - St. Louis regional community development and educational initiatives

Application Method: No public application process; contributions made only to preselected charitable organizations

Priority Areas

Climate Change Solutions (Primary Focus):

  • Early-stage scientific research on climate mitigation
  • Carbon removal and atmospheric carbon reduction technologies
  • Methane removal technologies and greenhouse gas reduction
  • Climate policy advocacy and systems change
  • Carbon emissions regulation and public policy support

Education and Scientific Research:

  • University-based climate research programs
  • Educational institutions in St. Louis region
  • Scientific innovation in environmental sustainability

Local St. Louis Community Development:

  • Community foundations and regional development
  • Educational access and quality improvement
  • Economic growth through small business support (via related Yawitz Family Foundation initiatives)

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly documented, the foundation's focus suggests they do not fund:

  • General operating support for non-climate-related organizations
  • Programs outside climate solutions and St. Louis community development
  • Organizations without demonstrated scientific credibility or research capacity
  • Projects unrelated to environmental sustainability or education

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Andrew L. Yawitz - President (5 hours/week, volunteer)

Alice G. Yawitz - Treasurer & Secretary (1 hour/week, volunteer)

Jess B. Yawitz - Director (1 hour/week, volunteer) Co-founder and CEO of NISA Investment Advisors. Jess Yawitz has been a prominent St. Louis philanthropist focused on climate solutions, education access, and economic development. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Yawitz family initiated the Gateway Resilience Fund to provide direct relief to St. Louis families and businesses.

Daniel Yawitz - Listed as Treasurer/Secretary in some filings

Additional board members mentioned in some sources include Denise McFarlane and Eileen Foster, though their current status is unclear.

Philanthropic Philosophy

The foundation operates as a private family foundation with strategic focus on high-potential, early-stage initiatives. The Yawitz family's broader philanthropic work emphasizes creating systemic change through education, economic opportunity, and environmental sustainability. Their establishment of Climate Pathfinders Foundation as a subsidiary demonstrates commitment to specialized climate grantmaking infrastructure.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Rio Vista Foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of directors based on their strategic priorities and relationships within the climate research and St. Louis philanthropic communities. Organizations are selected by the foundation rather than applying through an open process.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's documented grantmaking patterns, organizations that have received funding share these characteristics:

Direct Connection to Climate Science: Recent grantees like Spark Climate Solutions (methane removal technology) and WePower (community power systems) demonstrate cutting-edge climate innovation. The foundation appears to discover organizations through climate research networks and scientific communities.

Presence in Climate Policy Networks: Grants to Carbon 180 and Clean Air Task Force suggest engagement with organizations that combine research with policy advocacy. Organizations active in climate policy discussions and carbon removal advocacy may come to the foundation's attention through these networks.

St. Louis Regional Connection: The foundation maintains strong ties to Washington University (which received a $2.6 million grant in 2024) and Greater St. Louis Foundation. Organizations working in the St. Louis region, particularly in education and community development, may be identified through local philanthropic networks.

Board Member Networks: Given that NISA Investment Advisors manages institutional investments and has hundreds of clients globally, the foundation may identify climate-focused organizations through Jess Yawitz's professional networks in finance, institutional investment, and corporate sustainability initiatives.

Subsidiary and Affiliated Initiatives: Climate Pathfinders Foundation operates as a subsidiary focusing on methane and carbon removal. Organizations connected to this specialized climate funding ecosystem may have pathways to Rio Vista Foundation support.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As a private family foundation with volunteer board members, decision timelines likely vary based on board meeting schedules and strategic priorities.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. With only 11-12 grants awarded annually and no public application process, traditional success rate metrics do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, analysis of their grantmaking patterns reveals these success factors for organizations that have received funding:

Scientific Rigor and Innovation: Grantees like Spark Climate Solutions demonstrate cutting-edge research in climate technology. The foundation clearly prioritizes organizations with credible scientific approaches to climate challenges, particularly those addressing carbon and methane removal.

Early Stage, High Potential: The foundation's stated mission emphasizes "early stage, high potential scientific research." Organizations that have received funding are often working on emerging technologies or novel approaches rather than established, mainstream climate solutions.

Systems Change Orientation: Grants to organizations like Carbon 180 and Clean Air Task Force suggest the foundation values organizations working on policy advocacy and systemic approaches to climate solutions, not just technological innovation alone.

Alignment with Carbon Removal: Multiple grants focus specifically on removing carbon and methane from the atmosphere. Organizations working in carbon capture, direct air capture, or atmospheric methane reduction align with documented funding patterns.

Community Power and Equity: WePower's grant description ("Activate Community Power To Re-Design Education, Health, Justice Systems") suggests interest in climate solutions that address social equity and community empowerment alongside environmental impact.

St. Louis Regional Impact: For organizations focused on education or community development, demonstrated impact in the St. Louis region appears essential. The foundation balances national climate work with hyperlocal community investment.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Traditional grant seeking approaches will not be effective.

  • Climate Science Focus is Paramount: Organizations must demonstrate credible, innovative scientific approaches to climate change, particularly carbon and methane removal technologies.

  • Early Stage Innovation: The foundation specifically seeks "early stage, high potential" work, suggesting preference for emerging technologies and approaches over established programs.

  • Dual Focus: Climate solutions receive the majority of funding, but St. Louis community development and education also receive significant support. Organizations should clearly fit one of these categories.

  • Network-Based Discovery: The foundation identifies grantees through climate research networks, St. Louis philanthropic circles, and the Yawitz family's professional connections in finance and sustainability.

  • Size Matters: Grant amounts range dramatically from $25,000 to $2.6 million, suggesting the foundation supports both emerging organizations and established institutions, but all must align with core climate or local priorities.

  • Policy and Practice Combined: Organizations combining scientific research with policy advocacy (like Carbon 180 and Clean Air Task Force) have been successful, indicating the foundation values both innovation and implementation pathways.

References

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