Michael and Noemi Neidorff Family Foundation

Quick Stats

Total Assets: $187-202 million (2023)
Annual Giving: $2,803 (2023) - Note: Foundation established 2023, received $188.6M in contributions
Success Rate: Not applicable - no public application process
Decision Time: Not applicable - invitation only
Grant Range: Minimal formal grantmaking to date; major gifts handled through direct partnerships
Geographic Focus: St. Louis metropolitan area, particularly Clayton and Ferguson, Missouri; Chicago, Illinois

Contact Details

Address: 8182 Maryland Avenue, 12th Floor, Clayton, MO 63105

Phone: Not publicly available

Email: Not publicly available

Website: None

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Overview

The Michael and Noemi Neidorff Family Foundation was established in 2023 as a private grantmaking foundation, receiving its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in January 2023. The foundation manages assets of approximately $187-202 million and continues the philanthropic legacy of the late Michael F. Neidorff, former CEO of Centene Corporation who passed away in April 2022, and his wife Noémi Neidorff.

Michael Neidorff was named Citizen of the Year by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in 2017 for spearheading a $30 million investment in Ferguson, Missouri following the 2014 racial unrest. The foundation's mission supports causes that "break barriers, provide access and change lives," with focus areas including child wellness and education, medical research and advancement, healthcare for the disadvantaged, and the arts. While the foundation showed minimal formal grantmaking activity in its first year ($2,803 in distributions), the Neidorff family has a documented history of major philanthropic partnerships with institutions throughout St. Louis.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with public application processes. Instead, grants are made to preselected charitable organizations through trustee discretion. The 2023 Form 990-PF showed only two small grants:

Kol Rinah (Clayton, MO): $1,000 for General Fund
From K-1 - GP 2023-2024 Private (Chicago, IL): $1 for General Fund

However, the foundation has made significant commitments to major initiatives, such as the 2024 funding partnership for the St. Louis County Police childcare initiative (specific amount not disclosed).

Priority Areas

Based on the Neidorff family's documented giving history and the foundation's stated mission, priority areas include:

Child Wellness and Education

Early childhood development centers
Youth educational programs
Access to quality childcare for underserved populations

Medical Research and Healthcare

Medical school endowments and professorships
COVID-19 research and response
Healthcare access for disadvantaged communities
Public health initiatives

Arts and Culture

Music education programs for young people
Opera and symphony organizations
Arts accessibility initiatives

Community Development

Economic opportunity in underserved communities
Job training centers
Community infrastructure projects

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has not published explicit exclusions. However, given their targeted approach to preselected organizations and focus on St. Louis-based initiatives, they likely do not fund:

Organizations outside their geographic focus areas
Individuals
Political campaigns or lobbying activities

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (2023)

The foundation is governed by four trustees, all serving approximately 2 hours per week without compensation:

Lacey Searfoss, Trustee
Marcela Manjarrez, Trustee
Daniel Godar, Trustee
Steven Harpole, Trustee

Key Philanthropist: Noémi Neidorff

Noémi Neidorff continues to lead the family's philanthropic vision following her husband's passing. She holds significant leadership positions in St. Louis arts organizations:

Vice Chairman, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Former Board Chairman, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Executive Committee member, Manhattan School of Music
Executive Committee member, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

She is particularly known for developing youth-focused music education programs, including "Picture the Music" (encouraging young children to interpret classical music through painting and drawing) and "Express the Music" (inviting teens to write stories, essays, and poems about classical pieces).

Legacy of Michael F. Neidorff (1943-2022)

Michael Neidorff served as CEO of Centene Corporation from 1996 until his death in 2022, growing the company from a $40 million single health plan to a $125 billion multinational healthcare enterprise. His philanthropic philosophy emphasized active engagement: "We can choose to stand on the sidelines and watch things happen, or we can work to help make things better." He focused on present impact rather than legacy: "We really don't spend time thinking about our legacy. We think about today and what we can do to give back to the community now."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Michael and Noemi Neidorff Family Foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organizations with which they have existing relationships or strategic alignment.

Organizations are selected through:

Trustee discretion and board connections
Strategic partnerships aligned with the foundation's mission
Direct invitation from foundation leadership
Pre-existing relationships with the Neidorff family or affiliated entities

Getting on Their Radar

Board and Leadership Connections: The trustees (Lacey Searfoss, Marcela Manjarrez, Daniel Godar, and Steven Harpole) make funding decisions. Organizations with existing relationships with these individuals or Noémi Neidorff may be positioned for consideration.

Arts and Culture Sector: Given Noémi Neidorff's extensive involvement with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and Radio Arts Foundation-Saint Louis, organizations in the arts sector that collaborate with these institutions may gain visibility.

St. Louis Institutional Network: The Neidorff family has deep ties to Washington University, Trinity University, the National Urban League, United Way of Greater St. Louis, and the Saint Louis Science Center. Organizations partnering with these institutions may be more visible to foundation leadership.

Ferguson and Clayton Focus: The foundation has shown particular commitment to the Ferguson and Clayton, Missouri communities through major investments. Organizations working in these geographic areas on issues of economic opportunity, healthcare access, or early childhood education align with documented priorities.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion without formal application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations cannot apply or reapply for funding.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's invitation-only approach, the following factors appear to influence funding decisions based on the Neidorff family's documented giving history:

Geographic Alignment: Strong preference for St. Louis metropolitan area organizations, particularly in Clayton and Ferguson, Missouri. The family has demonstrated deep commitment to their home community.

Institutional Relationships: The Neidorff family has made substantial gifts to organizations where they hold leadership positions or board seats, including the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Washington University, and Trinity University.

Barrier-Breaking Mission: The foundation explicitly supports "causes that break barriers, provide access and change lives." Projects that demonstrate tangible impact in expanding opportunity for underserved populations align with this mission. Michael Neidorff's $30 million Ferguson investment exemplifies this commitment to economic justice and community rebuilding.

Present-Focused Impact: Michael Neidorff stated: "We think about today and what we can do to give back to the community now." Projects with immediate, measurable community impact appear more aligned than long-term legacy initiatives.

Youth and Education Focus: The foundation has supported early childhood development centers (including on-site childcare at the Centene Ferguson facility and the 2024 police childcare initiative), music education programs for young people, and university endowments. Youth-serving organizations appear particularly well-positioned.

Healthcare and Public Health: Given Michael Neidorff's career in healthcare and the foundation's stated priority of "healthcare for the disadvantaged," organizations addressing health equity and access may align with foundation interests.

Arts Education: Noémi Neidorff's leadership in arts organizations and creation of youth music education programs demonstrates sustained commitment to making the arts accessible to young people from all backgrounds.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Traditional grant-seeking strategies will not work.
Relationship-Driven Grantmaking: Funding flows through existing relationships with trustees, the Neidorff family, and affiliated institutions. Organizations should focus on building authentic connections within the St. Louis philanthropic community.
St. Louis Geographic Priority: The vast majority of documented giving supports St. Louis-area organizations and initiatives. Out-of-region organizations are unlikely to receive consideration unless they have exceptional alignment or connections.
Major Gift Focus: While the foundation made only $2,803 in formal grants in 2023, the Neidorff family has made multi-million dollar commitments to strategic initiatives. The foundation appears to prioritize significant partnerships over small grants.
Continued Legacy Mission: Following Michael Neidorff's death in 2022, the foundation continues his commitment to breaking barriers and creating opportunity, particularly for disadvantaged communities. Organizations should understand and honor this legacy in their work.
Arts and Healthcare Expertise: With Noémi Neidorff's arts leadership and Michael Neidorff's healthcare background, the foundation brings deep sector knowledge. Organizations in these fields should demonstrate excellence and innovation.
Action-Oriented Approach: The Neidorff philosophy emphasizes active engagement and present impact over passive observation or distant legacy. Projects should demonstrate concrete, timely outcomes that improve communities now.

References

Information accessed December 2025