A Foundation for the Future
As the second-oldest community foundation in the country, we are proud to serve as St. Louis’ hub of philanthropy. For more than 100 years, we have provided exceptional service to donors and championed nonprofits. Now, in addition, we’re renewing our commitment to our region by focusing on some of its most pressing issues.
In order to more closely align our work with community needs and the interests of our donors, we will concentrate a portion of our discretionary grantmaking and resources in two priority areas — Economic Mobility and Youth Connections. By working strategically and collaboratively with our donors, other funders, and community leaders, we will tackle regional challenges and propel St. Louis forward.
Read our 2024–2028 Strategic Plan
Strategic Priorities
Economic Mobility
The Foundation’s investments will create and amplify opportunities to build wealth for the Metro St. Louis region by addressing pressing needs in housing, financial health, and job access and creation.
Youth Connections
The Foundation will invest in opportunities for youth to excel academically and professionally by making investments in early childhood education, educational innovation, and scholarship programs.
Regional Impact
$1 Million+
Grants awarded in 2025
Grants have been awarded to projects across 5 out of our 6 sub-priority areas, including: Workforce Development, Financial Health and Education, Educational Innovation, Scholarship Funding, Early Childhood Development and Education
25 Zip Codes
Funding across Missouri & Illinois
Funding support is primarily for people living in the 22 zip codes in Missouri and 3 zip codes in Illinois, identified as those with the highest needs. This includes schools with majority of the student populations identifying as low-income households.
Gateway Early Childhood Alliance
Making high-quality early childhood care and education accessible.
Gateway Early Childhood Alliance envisions a resilient, thriving early childcare system in the St. Louis region in which kids ages 0 to 5 can learn and grow in a joyful, high-quality early care and education environment, regardless of their race, family income level, or zip code.
Regional Response Team
Together, We Build Bridges.
The Regional Response Team exists to improve the health and well-being of marginalized communities by mobilizing the nonprofit, philanthropic, and public sectors to address life-threatening crises and racial and systemic inequities.
$34M
Raised by Give STL Day since 2014
$2.1 M
Record-setting scholarship awards in 2024
$86.4M
Granted by the Foundation and its donors in 2023
