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Edward Jones Foundation

Annual Giving
$20.1M
Grant Range
$0K - $3.7M

Edward Jones Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $20.1 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $250 - $3,700,000
  • Geographic Focus: National with emphasis on St. Louis, MO region

Contact Details

Edward Jones Foundation St. Louis, MO Phone: 314-515-2000

Key Leadership:

  • Laura Ellenhorn, President and Director (Principal, Head of Community Impact at Edward Jones)
  • Tina Hrevus, Secretary and Director (Managing Partner's Office)
  • Andrew Miedler, Treasurer and Director (Finance Division Leader)

Note: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications.

Overview

The Edward Jones Foundation (EIN: 92-1435643) was established in January 2023 as the corporate foundation of Edward Jones, the financial services firm. With total assets of $139 million and annual charitable disbursements of $20.1 million (2024), the foundation supports organizations aligned with the firm's three Purpose Impact Areas: Partnering for Lasting Financial Strength, Promoting Healthier Futures, and Advancing Inclusive Growth. The foundation is part of Edward Jones' broader $150 million commitment to corporate, foundation, and associate philanthropic contributions through 2025, announced in 2021. In 2023, the foundation awarded $15.1 million through 203 grants. The foundation concentrates significant funding in the St. Louis region while also supporting national organizations aligned with its mission. Edward Jones reached its goal of advancing financial education for 1 million people a year ahead of schedule in 2024 through its Financial Fitness program.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Edward Jones Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. Instead, it makes strategic grants to preselected organizations. Grant amounts vary widely based on the organization and project:

  • Major Grants: $1,000,000 - $3,700,000 (for flagship partnerships)
  • Mid-Level Grants: $500,000 - $999,999 (for significant initiatives)
  • Standard Grants: $250 - $499,999 (median grant: $3,000)

Application Method: Invitation only - the foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Priority Areas

The foundation supports organizations across six key sectors:

1. Education

  • Financial literacy and education programs
  • Youth education initiatives
  • Scholarship programs (including the Edward Jones Scholarship providing up to $12,000 per student annually for 75 students through The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis)

2. Health

  • Health and wellness organizations
  • Mental, emotional, physical, financial, and social well-being initiatives
  • Major health research partnerships (e.g., Alzheimer's Association with a $50 million commitment over ten years)

3. Human Services

  • United Way partnerships
  • Organizations serving underserved communities
  • Food security and food banks

4. Arts and Culture

  • Arts organizations
  • Cultural institutions
  • Symphony orchestras and performance venues

5. Community Development

  • Community infrastructure projects
  • Greenway and public space development
  • Urban development initiatives
  • Economic inclusion programs

6. Civic Affairs

  • Civic engagement organizations
  • Organizations promoting inclusive growth
  • Transportation and accessibility projects

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's invitation-only model means:

  • Organizations outside their strategic focus areas
  • Organizations without existing relationships to Edward Jones
  • Individual requests
  • Unsolicited applications from any organization

Governance and Leadership

The Edward Jones Foundation is governed by a board of directors consisting of senior Edward Jones executives:

Laura Ellenhorn - President and Director Principal and Head of Community Impact at Edward Jones. She leads and stewards the Edward Jones Charitable Foundation, which has provided financial resources and support to strengthen communities for nearly 30 years. Ellenhorn also serves on the board of the Great Rivers Greenway Foundation, demonstrating Edward Jones' commitment to organizations it supports.

Tina Hrevus - Secretary and Director Member of the Managing Partner's Office with overall responsibility for Purpose, Community and Philanthropy, and serves as the managing partner's Chief of Staff. Hrevus joined Edward Jones in 1987 and was named a principal in 2012. She has held leadership roles in brand positioning, internal communication strategies, public relations, corporate citizenship, and multimedia design and delivery.

Andrew Miedler - Treasurer and Director Has led the Finance division of Edward Jones since 2020 and also serves as treasurer of the Edward Jones Trust Company.

Note: None of the officers received compensation for their foundation roles in 2024.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Edward Jones Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded based on:

  • Strategic alignment with Edward Jones' three Purpose Impact Areas
  • Pre-existing relationships with Edward Jones
  • Trustee discretion and board decisions
  • Geographic priorities (particularly St. Louis region)

Getting on Their Radar

The Edward Jones Foundation has specific, documented approaches to identifying grant recipients:

Board Member Connections: Laura Ellenhorn, the foundation's President and Head of Community Impact, serves on the board of Great Rivers Greenway Foundation, which received a $1.8 million grant in 2022. This demonstrates that organizations with board-level connections to Edward Jones leadership may have increased visibility.

Regional Presence: The foundation shows strong preference for St. Louis-area organizations, where Edward Jones is headquartered. Organizations with significant presence or impact in St. Louis have received the largest grants (United Way of Greater St. Louis: $3.7M, Great Rivers Greenway Foundation: $1.8M, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis: $1.5M).

Long-term Partnerships: Edward Jones' commitment to the Alzheimer's Association ($50 million over ten years) and United Way of Greater St. Louis (first company to donate more than $5 million cumulatively) demonstrates they build deep, multi-year relationships with select organizations rather than making one-time grants.

Corporate Alignment: Organizations aligned with Edward Jones' business presence and employee engagement opportunities appear more likely to receive support, particularly those that allow for associate (employee) participation and giving.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed as grants are made through invitation and trustee discretion rather than through competitive application cycles.

Success Rates

Success rates are not applicable as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. In 2023, the foundation made 203 grants, suggesting a focused portfolio of supported organizations rather than a broad grantmaking approach.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only model. Organizations that have received support may continue to receive funding based on the foundation's strategic priorities and relationship strength.

Application Success Factors

Since the Edward Jones Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, organizations cannot directly apply. However, understanding what the foundation values in its grantees can be instructive:

Strategic Alignment with Purpose Impact Areas: The foundation supports organizations that align with Edward Jones' three strategic priorities:

  1. Partnering for Lasting Financial Strength - Organizations promoting financial knowledge, confidence, and needs-based approaches
  2. Promoting Healthier Futures - Organizations working on mental, emotional, physical, financial, and social well-being
  3. Advancing Inclusive Growth - Organizations lifting underserved communities and promoting economic participation

Geographic Connection to St. Louis: The largest grants consistently go to St. Louis-based organizations or those with significant St. Louis impact. Recent examples include:

  • United Way of Greater St. Louis: $3.7M
  • Great Rivers Greenway Foundation: $1.8M
  • Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis: $1.5M
  • Bi-State Development Agency: $1.0M
  • Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra: $550K

Long-term Partnership Potential: Edward Jones demonstrates preference for deep, sustained partnerships rather than one-time grants. The Alzheimer's Association partnership ($50M over ten years) and United Way relationship (cumulative giving exceeding $5M) show they value organizations they can support over many years.

Employee Engagement Opportunities: Organizations that provide meaningful engagement opportunities for Edward Jones associates (employees) appear to receive priority. The firm's support for Walk to End Alzheimer's (with 111,000 participants walking under the Edward Jones banner) and matching gift programs demonstrate the importance of associate involvement.

Measurable Impact: Edward Jones tracks and reports specific outcomes. The Financial Fitness program's goal to educate 1 million learners (achieved in 2024, a year ahead of schedule) demonstrates their focus on quantifiable results. Organizations that can demonstrate clear metrics and impact measurement align with this approach.

Community Infrastructure and Systems Change: Large grants to Great Rivers Greenway Foundation ($1.8M) and Bi-State Development Agency ($1.0M) indicate support for projects that build lasting community infrastructure and create systemic change rather than just providing direct services.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - The foundation only funds preselected organizations through trustee discretion and invitation. Traditional grant applications will not be accepted.

  • St. Louis connection is critical - The vast majority of large grants go to St. Louis-based organizations or those with significant St. Louis impact, reflecting Edward Jones' headquarters location and community commitment.

  • Multi-year relationships matter most - The foundation favors deep, sustained partnerships (e.g., $50M to Alzheimer's Association over 10 years) over one-time grants, suggesting they seek long-term strategic partners.

  • Align with the three Purpose Impact Areas - Organizations should demonstrate clear connection to financial strength, healthier futures, or inclusive growth to align with Edward Jones' strategic framework.

  • Employee engagement increases visibility - Projects that allow Edward Jones associates to volunteer, fundraise, or otherwise participate may receive preference, as demonstrated by Walk to End Alzheimer's and United Way campaigns.

  • Board-level connections provide access - Laura Ellenhorn's board service on Great Rivers Greenway Foundation (which received $1.8M) suggests that organizations with leadership connections to Edward Jones executives may have increased visibility.

  • Demonstrate measurable impact - Edward Jones tracks specific outcomes (1 million learners educated, $45M raised for Alzheimer's research), so organizations should be prepared to show quantifiable results and impact metrics.

References

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