Investing in education, leadership, and access to empower the next generation.
The Youth Connections strategic priority area focuses on creating opportunities for young people across the St. Louis region to thrive academically and professionally. Through investments in Early Childhood Education, Educational Innovation, and Scholarship Programs, the St. Louis Community Foundation is working to strengthen pathways to long-term success for youth. This work reflects the Foundation’s commitment to building a more equitable and vibrant future for our region.
Grantmaking Dates
There are currently no open grant cycles.
Our Vision
The St. Louis Community Foundation is committed to building a stronger future for the region by investing in its youth. Through coordinated early childhood education efforts, leadership development for educators, and expanded access to scholarships, we aim to connect young people to the resources, relationships, and opportunities that lead to lifelong success.
Early Childhood Development and Education
The Foundation is centering high-quality, accessible early childhood education (ECE) as a strategic priority to invest in our region’s families today and for generations to come. We are committed to driving investment toward conveners of ECE providers with the understanding that a coordinated system is a crucial first step toward quality improvement.
Specific areas of focus will include: supporting coordination efforts among key ECE conveners; investing in professional development opportunities and access to licensing for early childhood providers; and aligning dollars to advocacy work related to increasing access to quality early childhood centers for low-income families.
Educational Innovation
The Center for Education Leadership, a program of the Foundation, will function as a hub for educational support. As a backbone organization, the Center will support a portfolio of projects that collectively aim to improve the social and emotional educational outcomes in our region’s schools.
The Center aims to address regional issues by empowering school leaders through high-quality professional development; driving innovations in teaching and learning; and contributing to a shared regional knowledge base aimed at driving positive educational transformation.
Scholarship Programs
The Foundation administers more than 80 scholarship programs that impacted 620 students with awards totaling a record-setting $1.9M in 2023. While private scholarships from the Foundation make college education possible for hundreds of students each year, even more applications are denied because of limited scholarship funding. The Foundation’s community-funded Investing for the Future Scholarship is open to high school seniors with financial need. By prioritizing the growth of this scholarship fund to increase the award amounts, the Foundation will make a greater, lasting impact on students’ lives.
Understanding the Need
Across the St. Louis region, too many children and young people face barriers to quality education and opportunity—from limited access to early childhood programs to inequities in school leadership and the rising cost of college. These challenges can shape a lifetime of outcomes. By addressing gaps in early learning, educational innovation, and pathways to higher education, we can help ensure that every young person in our community has the chance to thrive.
19%
Percentage of children who are eligible for childcare subsidies and have access to quality ECE programs in their neighborhoods.
Quality early childhood programming is essential to the healthy growth and development of children, as well as to working families and their employers.
50%+
Percentage of the lowest-performing schools in Missouri are in the
St. Louis region.
To improve academic and social/emotional outcomes for youth, we must address the quality of our schools. Studies have shown that “school leadership is second only to classroom instruction among all school-related factors that contribute to what students learn.”
16%
Percentage of students from low-income families who earn a college degree (nationally).
Access to higher education offers a pathway to building wealth, however, degree attainment in Missouri is below the national average.
Our Progress
The Foundation’s work in Youth Connections is already making a measurable difference. From supporting conveners of early childhood education providers to growing scholarship funds that open doors for students, our investments are strengthening the systems that help young people learn and succeed. Each step forward brings us closer to a region where every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. Explore our progress below.
$663,800
Invested in programming that impacts Youth
In June 2025, we launched the K–12 Innovation Grant, awarding $250,000 to seven public schools across St. Louis City and County. These projects will impact more than 2,000 students, three-quarters being from low-income households.
$25,627
Average Grant Size
The Partnerships for Youth Success grant sustains proven programs that strengthen social-emotional and academic outcomes for students. In total, it awarded $100,000 across 7 nonprofits, funding a range of projects that impact youth across our priority areas.
4,800+
Students directly impacted by grants so far
Participants of the School Leaders Retreat received micro-grants to implement a project in their schools based on their reflections at the Retreat. Projects across the 10 schools meet the needs of the staff and students.
Mentoring Matters
In 2025, we partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri to develop and launch Upwards Mentoring, pairing professionals with youth to provide guidance, stability, and social-emotional development.
Empowering School Leaders
During the summer of 2025, ten school leaders gathered in Hermann, Missouri, for our inaugural School Leaders Retreat. Representing schools serving more than 2,800 students, these principals spent four days reflection, learning, and connecting. Highlights included workshops on adaptive leadership, one-on-one coaching, group hikes, and dedicated planning time. Each leader left with a micro-grant to launch a school project, ranging from revitalizing play spaces to piloting school-wide math mastery programs.
Promoting Research Practitioner Partnerships
In 2025, we deepened our investment in education research designed by and for schools, expanding or launching three studies guided by educators. Through the St. Louis Research Practice Collaborative, your support has helped us expand studies addressing student mobility, housing instability, teacher retention, and student-informed workforce programs - translating insights into better policies, practices, and opportunities for students.
Together, we’re ensuring research drives meaningful change in classrooms and communities.
Teen Investment Program
In partnership with Goalsetter and Edward Jones, we supported the launch of the MO Teen Investment Program in 4 area high schools, equipping teens with hands on experience with investments and financial literacy tools.
Our Impact
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We love working with our donors and community members and want to help with your questions. We look forward to hearing from you.
