The Opportunity Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $5,934,504 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Varies by program (CSP: approximately 3-4 months; RBC: shorter cycle)
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $2,000,000+ (varies significantly by program)
• Geographic Focus: St. Louis City and County (primary); statewide Missouri (Charter School Program)

Contact Details

• Website: theopportunitytrust.org
• CSP Grants Contact: csp@theopportunitytrust.org
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-opportunity-trust
• Grants Page: theopportunitytrust.org/grants/
• Emerson Early Literacy Challenge Applications: emersonliteracychallenge.org

Overview

Founded in 2017, The Opportunity Trust (also registered as Zest Education) is a St. Louis-based 501(c)(3) public charity focused on increasing access to high-quality public schools for every child in St. Louis. With a long-term goal of ensuring at least 25% of St. Louis children attend a quality public school by 2028 (up from 12% at founding), the organization invests in both charter and traditional public school ecosystems, educators, parents, nonprofits, and community stakeholders.

Over its first five years, The Opportunity Trust raised and deployed more than $40 million in philanthropic dollars for education. In 2024 alone, it distributed nearly $6 million across 28 grants. The organization's strategic approach combines direct grantmaking, technical assistance, policy advocacy, and school incubation. A major milestone came in 2023 when it became the first entity in Missouri to receive the U.S. Department of Education's Charter School Program State Entity (CSP-SE) grant - a five-year, $35.5 million federal award - which it now administers as competitive subgrants to charter and traditional public schools across Missouri.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Charter School Program (CSP) Subgrants: Up to approximately $2 million per school per cycle. Federal subgrants for new, expanding, or replicating charter schools (and eligible traditional public school districts) across Missouri. Competitive, peer-reviewed process. Funds defraying start-up and expansion costs; 90% of the total $35.5 million award passes directly to schools.

  • Cycle 1 (Winter 2023 application/April 2024 awards): ~$8 million across 4 schools
  • Cycle 2 (Fall 2024 application/September 2024 awards): $2.8 million across 3 schools
  • Application via CSP page on the organization's website; cycles open periodically

• Reinvention by Community (RBC) Fund: $1,000 - $10,000. A participatory small grant program supporting individuals and teams implementing community-developed innovative ideas. An Advisory Committee of community members most affected by school conditions makes funding decisions. Each cycle focuses on a specific theme (e.g., supporting unhoused youth; previously: emotional health and wellness, 21st-century teacher training). Historically targets Black and brown community members, including student representation on selection committees. Applications open annually in spring.

• Emerson Early Literacy Challenge: Up to $250,000 per Local Education Agency (LEA). A two-year cohort program for 3-4 LEAs (charter and traditional public schools) in St. Louis City and County. Cohort 1 participants received a $20,000 planning grant, eligible for up to $250,000 for implementation. Cohort 2 participants receive a $5,000 planning grant followed by a $200,000 implementation grant. Focused on closing literacy gaps for grades K-3, with reading proficiency by 3rd grade as the goal. Application via emersonliteracychallenge.org; annual cycles.

• STL Pre-K Cooperative: Grants, technical assistance, professional development, and instructional support for non-profit, for-profit, center-based, and family childcare programs. Focused on increasing access to free, quality preschool and Kindergarten readiness. Partners must serve children eligible for free- and reduced-price lunch. Provides access to state pre-K funding streams and Missouri accreditation for classrooms. Contact the organization directly for eligibility and participation details.

Priority Areas

• Expanding access to high-quality public charter schools and improving traditional public school systems in St. Louis
• Early childhood education and pre-K provision
• Early literacy (K-3 reading proficiency)
• Educator recruitment, training, and retention - particularly among educators of color
• Community-driven, innovative approaches to student and educator challenges
• Supporting unhoused youth (current RBC focus)
• School expansion and replication across Missouri
• Data-driven, evidence-based instructional models
• Personalized learning, place-based learning, and student leadership-centered teaching

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations operating outside St. Louis City or County (except the statewide CSP program)
• Private schools or religious schools (public charter and traditional public schools only for CSP and Emerson)
• Programs not serving children eligible for free- and reduced-price lunch (STL Pre-K Cooperative)
• Projects that do not directly benefit students, educators, or families in St. Louis's public education system
• General operating support unconnected to stated program priorities

Governance and Leadership

CEO & Founder

• Eric Scroggins - Founder and Chief Executive Officer. Former Teach For America national Chief of Strategy and External Affairs, with 15 years growing TFA's impact nationally. First-generation college graduate who returned to St. Louis to launch The Opportunity Trust. Aspen Institute Fellow. Serves on the boards of Forest Park Forever and Innovate Public Schools. Compensation in 2024: $375,356.

Board of Directors

• Keith Williamson (Chair) - President, Centene Charitable Foundation; Founding Chairman of The Opportunity Trust
• Cindy Brinkley - Retired CAO/COO, Centene Corporation
• Jessica Pena - Partner, The City Fund
• John W. Kemper - President & CEO, Commerce Bank
• John Lemkemeier - Managing Partner, Sage Capital
• Bishop Michael F. Jones Sr. - Bishop, Friendly Temple

Key Staff

• Mia Howard - Leads the Reinvention by Community participatory grantmaking initiative

Eric Scroggins has described The Opportunity Trust's role as "to serve as intermediary between public systems and resources that can effect fundamental change, and to catalyze efforts." On the Emerson Early Literacy Challenge, he stated: "The Emerson Early Literacy Challenge provides a critical opportunity to prove that with the right tools and collaboration, we can close the literacy gap and ensure all St. Louis students succeed."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Each grant program has a distinct application route:

• CSP Subgrants: Apply through the grants portal at theopportunitytrust.org/grants/csp/ when a new competition cycle opens. Contact csp@theopportunitytrust.org for enquiries. Applications go through a competitive peer review process.

• Reinvention by Community (RBC): Apply through theopportunitytrust.org/grants/reinvention-by-community/reinvention-by-community-application/ when the annual cycle opens. Follow The Opportunity Trust on LinkedIn for announcements about when applications open (typically spring each year).

• Emerson Early Literacy Challenge: Apply via emersonliteracychallenge.org when cohort applications open. Annual deadline typically in September.

• STL Pre-K Cooperative: Contact The Opportunity Trust directly for information about joining the cooperative.

Decision Timeline

• CSP Subgrants: Competition cycles last approximately 3-4 months. Cycle 1: applications Winter 2023, awards announced April 2024. Cycle 2: applications Fall 2024, awards announced late September 2024.
• Reinvention by Community: Spring application cycle; decisions typically made before the following academic year.
• Emerson Early Literacy Challenge: Applications close September; cohort selections announced October/November.

Success Rates

• CSP Subgrants: Competitive, peer-reviewed; 4 of an undisclosed number of applicants awarded in Cycle 1; 3 awarded in Cycle 2. Exact success rate not published.
• Reinvention by Community: 28 total grants across all programs in 2024, 34 in 2023, 29 in 2022. Individual program breakdown not published.
• Overall success rates are not publicly disclosed, but the CSP process is described as rigorous with external peer review panels.

Reapplication Policy

No formal public reapplication policy is stated. The CSP program runs multiple competitive cycles and unsuccessful applicants from one cycle may apply to subsequent cycles.

Application Success Factors

For CSP Subgrant applicants, the published peer review evaluation criteria are the clearest guide to what makes a successful application:

1. Instructional Leadership - Demonstrated strength in leading evidence-based instruction
2. Governance - Sound organizational governance structures
3. Talent Attraction and Retention - Proven ability to recruit and keep effective educators
4. Sustainable Financial Practices - Sound financial management and planning
5. Demonstrable Market Demand - Evidence that families want and need the proposed school or expansion
6. Innovative and Effective Educational Model - A distinctive, proven approach to teaching and learning

Applications are assessed by an external Peer Review working group of three reviewers using a standardized Peer Review Rubric. Reviewers are drawn from education experts across Missouri and nationally.

For Emerson Early Literacy Challenge applicants, the published selection criteria are:

1. Knowledge and Implementation of Best Practices - LEAs should already be using evidence-based literacy approaches, including green-rated curriculum (per EdReports), systematic phonics, etc.
2. Readiness for Change - A growth mindset, openness to feedback, and willingness to adjust mid-course
3. Data-Driven Culture - Track record of monitoring student achievement data and making data-informed decisions

For Reinvention by Community applicants, proposals must be:

• Equitable
• Aligned (to community needs)
• Achievable
• Systemic
• Scalable

The program uses a participatory grantmaking model where community members - not program staff - make final decisions. Grants are typically $2,500, $5,000, or $10,000 based on project scope. Each annual cycle focuses on a specific theme, so applicants must ensure their proposal directly addresses that cycle's identified priority.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Three distinct grant programs with very different profiles: The CSP subgrant (large, statewide, charter/district schools only), the Emerson Early Literacy Challenge (medium, St. Louis LEAs, literacy focus), and the Reinvention by Community Fund (small, community-led, shifting themes annually) require completely tailored applications.
• The CSP is the largest opportunity: Up to approximately $2 million per school over a cycle, but the process is competitive, rigorous, and peer-reviewed. Applications must address all six published criteria thoroughly.
• RBC is community-led, not staff-led: The Opportunity Trust's staff do not make final RBC funding decisions - a community advisory committee does. Applicants should pitch to affected community members, not to foundation officers.
• Theme alignment is essential for RBC: The focus changes each cycle (e.g., unhoused youth in 2025). There is no value in applying with a project that does not match the stated cycle theme.
• The Emerson Literacy Challenge is cohort-based and time-intensive: Participating LEAs commit to a two-year process. Applications should demonstrate organizational capacity to sustain engagement over that period.
• Follow LinkedIn for application openings: The Opportunity Trust uses LinkedIn as a primary channel to announce when grant applications are open.
• The organization values innovation and community responsiveness: Proposals should demonstrate that they go beyond "traditional ways that maintain the status quo" - a phrase used by program staff.

References

• The Opportunity Trust - Official Website: theopportunitytrust.org (accessed February 2026)
• The Opportunity Trust - Grants Page: theopportunitytrust.org/grants/ (accessed February 2026)
• The Opportunity Trust - CSP Grant Page: theopportunitytrust.org/grants/csp/ (accessed February 2026)
• The Opportunity Trust - Reinvention by Community: theopportunitytrust.org/grants/rbc/ (accessed February 2026)
• The Opportunity Trust - "$35.5M Federal Grant Awarded" (press release, September 29, 2023)
• The Opportunity Trust - "First Round of U.S. Department of Education Charter School Program Grants Awarded" (May 6, 2024)
• The Opportunity Trust - "Four Schools Selected for $1 Million Emerson Early Literacy Challenge" (October 31, 2024)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The Opportunity Trust (EIN: 82-1838644) (accessed February 2026)
• Charity Navigator - The Opportunity Trust (accessed February 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report - The Opportunity Trust (accessed February 2026)
• St. Louis American - "Opportunity Trust offers grants for minority educators"
• STLPR - "Millions in grants will expand St. Louis charter schools" (May 6, 2024)
• YouthBridge Community Foundation - "The Opportunity Trust Thinking Big for St. Louis"
• The Opportunity Trust - LinkedIn Company Page (accessed February 2026)