Grants Management

The Berges Family Foundation supports the institutions and organizations that make Saint Louis a great place to live, work, and invest. Our contributions help fund cultural engagement, STEM preparedness, youth empowerment, and support for our heroes and first responders.

The Berges Family Foundation chooses our beneficiaries carefully. We support those who have proven results, demonstrate measurable impact, show organizational excellence, demonstrate sustainability, collaborate with others, and ignite real and lasting change.

Organizations that align with our goals – to give St. Louis a positive foot forward and instill hope in the lives of those who may not have that hope – are those we aim to partner with while encouraging others to share in their missions.

The Black Communities Investment Initiative was established at the St. Louis Community Foundation to provide operating support and/or capacity building opportunities to Black-led nonprofits directly serving Black communities in the St. Louis Metro Area.  Black communities – and the individuals, families, nonprofits, and businesses that comprise them – have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic fall-out.

Facebook identified the St. Louis Community Foundation as one of 20 partners in a nationwide campaign to invest $20 million in Black communities and Black-led nonprofits around the country. Their $1 million commitment to St. Louis is intended to improve the sustainability of nonprofit organizations embedded in and directly impacting Black communities. The COVID-19 Regional Response Fund Advisory Council has allocated an additional $500,000 to strengthen the Facebook offering and support those communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic and economic fallout.

The goals of this initiative are two-fold:

• To provide stability to Black-led nonprofits serving Black communities through operating support and/or capacity building
• To increase Black-led nonprofits’ ability to fundraise through social media

Grants will support general operating costs for up to two years or one-time capacity building projects or trainings and will range from $5,000 to $40,000. A limited number of grants are available in each of the following funding levels:

• $5,000 – $9,999
• $10,000 – $19,999
• $20,000 – $40,000

For the purpose of this initiative, Black-led is defined as an organization in which either the Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director or Board Chair/Board President identifies as Black. 

The St. Louis Community Foundation will hold an information session on the Black Communities Investment Initiative Grant on Friday, April 2 at 1:00pm. Please register in advance to attend. Click here to register.

IMPACT AREAS

The Black Communities Investment Initiative seeks established nonprofit partners working directly with Black communities in the following impact areas:

• Arts, Culture and Humanities
• Education
• Community Improvement and Capacity Building
• Human Services, including organizations addressing mental health, behavioral health, and trauma
• Civil Rights, Social Action and Non-political Advocacy

ELIGIBILITY

The Black Community Investment Initiative defines eligible organizations as:

• Any 501(c)3 nonprofit organization or organization under the fiscal sponsorship of a 501(c)3 that meets the requirements outlined in this RFP
• Having at least two years of operating/financial history
• Operating within the St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Jefferson County, and St. Charles County in Missouri and the counties of Madison and St. Clair in Illinois
• Preference will be given to organizations with at least 75% of the total service population identifying as Black or African-American

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

In an effort to ensure that the community has a voice in how these funds are used, The St. Louis Community Foundation has established an Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee includes representatives from business, nonprofits, philanthropy, consultants, community leaders, and the St. Louis Community Foundation Board.

The Fund’s Scope and Restrictions

• The terms of the settlement require that the Bridgeton Fund be used for community betterment in the areas of public health, public safety, and the environment for communities impacted by the subsurface smoldering event.
• Priority will be given to programs and projects within a four-mile radius from the Landfill.
• Grants may be made to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations only.
• The St. Louis Community Foundation will award all funds within four years.

The settlement also specified some restrictions on the Fund.  Specifically, the funds may NOT be used for the following:

• Payments to individuals
• Acquisition of any property
• Support of any type of legal proceeding
• Reimbursement or payment for any past expenses, damages, or losses incurred by any person
• Any project or initiative created or funded by the State of Missouri except that distributions to fund any environmental cleanup project explicitly authorized by Missouri law are permitted

Funding Initiatives

Funding initiatives fall into four areas:

• Physical Health
• Behavioral and Mental Health
• Public Safety
• Community Greening and Healthy Living

Applying for a Grant

The Bridgeton Landfill Fund is not accepting applications at this time. Please check back for updates.

The purpose of the Charless Foundation is “to provide support to other charitable organizations providing services and assistance to promote the health, welfare, and wellness of Missouri Senior Citizens, with an emphasis, where possible, in the South St. Louis City neighborhoods.”

The Charless Foundation is seeking nonprofit partners who work with economically underserved seniors in the St. Louis region, with priority given to those in South St. Louis City and County. Broadly, the goal of these grants is to promote the health, welfare, and wellness of older adults. More specifically, the Charless Foundation is interested in organizations and initiatives that

• Support the needs of older adults in residential facilities,
• Increase the ability for older adults to age in place,
• Provide health and safety resources for older adults, and/or
• Provide social support to older adults.

The Charless Foundation is open to proposals for program, project or initiative funding, general operating support.

Program expansion proposals must address sustainability after this funding is completed. The directors particularly favor applications that demonstrate multiple funding partners as they seek to leverage the Foundation’s assets to strengthen nonprofits working toward the Foundation’s goals.

The 2021 Charless Foundation application process is closed. To inquire about 2022 grantmaking please contact:

Nikki Martinez, Community Investment Manager, 314.880.4961, nmartinez@stlgives.org
Elizabeth George, Director of Community Investment, 314.880.4956, egeorge@stlgives.org

The Chiron Fund will fund promising projects of nonprofit organizations with a strong track record of facilitating positive change for individuals living in economically challenging circumstances. Chiron is a Greek symbol that represents the “wounded healer.” With this grounding in healing, the Chiron Fund focuses on fostering empathetic understanding of the circumstances of those whose lives are touched by this work.

This round of funding is designed to significantly impact access to high-quality, affordable, mental health care (ex: counseling, psychiatry, adjunctive therapeutic interventions) for individuals living in economically challenging circumstances in Saint Louis City and Saint Louis County. The Chiron Fund’s goal is to support organizations that reach people who are unlikely to access mental health services directly from typical mental health providers through partnerships between community-based organizations and mental health providers.  The Chiron Fund will provide up to five years of funding for partnerships that will grow capacity to provide high quality mental health services for these vulnerable populations.

A few examples of projects include (more examples are available in the application materials linked below):

• A program partnering a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with licensed mental health care providers that offer easily accessible high-quality mental health services
• Efforts by 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to eliminate barriers to access to high-quality mental health care for traditionally underserved populations through provision of safe transportation, reduction of language barriers, provision of space in accessible locations to licensed mental health care providers, or implementation of screening and referral processes that reduce stigma
• A training program on an effective mental health intervention for staff of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, followed by funding to implement the training protocols
• Programming at existing 501(c)(3) nonprofit mental health agencies that meets an identified need of clients (or others in the community) and expands the organization’s scope of services, allowing clients to access a new type of service designed to become a long-term offering

Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate a strong organizational commitment to and effective implementation of principles of non-discrimination, anti-racism and equity, and effective inclusion.

A full packet of information regarding the Chiron Fund’s 2021 grant program may be found here. This packet has additional critical information, such as definitions, more examples of potential projects, and grant parameters. We highly recommend familiarizing yourself with the application packet before submitting a LOI.

GRANT PROCESS

The Chiron Fund uses a three-step process when making grant decisions:

1. Letters of Interest (LOIs) – Letters of Interest (LOIs) are due on March 24, 2021 at 3:00 p.m.
2. Full Applications – On or before April 2, organizations will be invited to submit a full application. Full applications are due by 3 p.m. on Friday, April 30.
3. Site Visits – Finalists will be invited for a virtual site visit the week of May 24. .

Funding decisions will be announced in June 2021.

GRANT SIZE

Grants may range from $5,000 to $30,000 per year for up to five years. Eligibility for second through fifth year funding will be based on successful implementation of project goals as documented by an annual evaluation and report, as well as timely completion of an acceptable funding renewal application.

 ELIGIBILITY

Eligible organizations must be able to answer “yes” to all of the following questions before proceeding with submission of any materials in response to this Request for Proposals.

1. Does your proposed project meaningfully address the Chiron Fund’s 2021 funding priority by showing a strong promise of increasing access to high-quality, affordable, mental health care? (See Chiron Fund’s “Definition of Grant Purpose” found on pages 3 – 4 of funding application packet.)
2. Does your organization have 501(c )(3) nonprofit status? (This may be independently or through a fiscal sponsor.)
3. Does your organization serve residents of Saint Louis City and/or Saint Louis County?
4. Can you describe how your organization demonstrates a strong organizational commitment to principles of non-discrimination, anti-racism and equity, and effective inclusion?
5. Have you reviewed the funding exclusions to be sure your funding request is a good fit? (See “Exclusions” found below and on page 5 of funding application packet.)
6. Is the organization’s Executive Director (or designee authorized to accept grant funding) aware of the potential funding application for this project?

EXCLUSIONS

The Chiron Fund does not provide funding to be expended on the following interests/entities:

• Individuals
• Organizations or projects designed to evangelize or proselytize
• Political action groups, lobbying activities, or projects designed to directly influence political outcomes
• Employee salaries, though stipends to supplement existing staff salaries or consultant services may be approved
• Vehicles
• Debt reduction
• Endowments
• Publications
• Fundraising events

Proposals that are not aligned with the Chiron Fund’s statement on inclusive practices, outlined above, will not be considered.

Please access the full application packet here for more information including the grant cycle timeline and reporting requirements.

You will also need to complete an Organization Demographic Information chart which can be found here. Once completed, you will upload it onto your grant application.

The Letter of Interest (LOI) is due at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24.

EPHT, formally the Episcopal Presbyterian Charitable Health and Medical Trust, is dedicated to providing access to health care for under-served populations. Our mission grew out of a commitment to a healthcare ministry in our community and is stewarded by volunteer leadership from both the Episcopal and Presbyterian faiths.

The mission of EPHT is to support organizations that provide quality healthcare services to St. Louisans. We seek to create partnerships with effective, community-based organizations that work to improve the lives of others through access healthcare.

Grant Deadlines:

• January 22, 2021 – 1^st Quarter
• April 16, 2021 – 2^nd Quarter
• July 19, 2021 – 3^rd Quarter

The purpose of the Gateway Regional Environment Fund (“GREF”) is to support projects in the St. Louis metro area that seek to protect or improve the natural environment by reducing or ameliorating harmful human-caused impacts including, but not limited to global warming, pollution, unsustainable land use, destruction of habitat, and over population.  The Fund’s goal is to make the region more environmentally sustainable.

The GREF assumes that a large portion of the population would adopt more sustainable practices at home and at work, but are discouraged from doing so by barriers, including, but not limited to, lack of knowledge or awareness, market inefficiencies, split incentives, fragmented opportunities, measurement challenges, and constraints on access to capital.  The Fund requests Letters of Interest (LOIs) outlining project ideas intended to advance community efforts to reduce the carbon footprint.

In this LOI phase, organizations may propose up to four potential projects that may have one year lifespan or may require multiple years and implementation. Organizations with a project or projects of potential interest to the GREF, based on review of the LOIs, will be invited to submit a full proposal for funding. Grants may range from $10,000 to $30,000; organizations awarded a grant may apply to renew the grant for a second and third year based on an evaluation and report.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a 501c3 nonprofit organization
• Have a minimum of two permanent staff members
• Have a minimum budget of $200,000

While the Gateway Regional Environment Fund recognizes the importance and value of advocacy and litigation, these activities are not the focus of this request for proposals.

The 2021 Gateway Regional Environment Fund application process is closed. To inquire about 2022 grantmaking please contact:

Nikki Martinez, Community Investment Manager, 314.880.4961, nmartinez@stlgives.org
Elizabeth George, Director of Community Investment, 314.880.4956, egeorge@stlgives.org

Recognizing that education and economic development foster individual and community growth, the Guy B. Jaffe and Judy Schwartz Jaffe Charitable Foundation supports nonprofits that offer scholarships, cultivate the cultural arts, and promote entrepreneurship and job creation.

The Guy B Jaffe and Judy Schwartz Jaffe Charitable Foundation (Foundation) is a component fund of the St. Louis Community Foundation, offering financial support to organizations providing services within the impact areas of entrepreneurship and economic development, and the cultural arts. Within entrepreneurship and economic development, the Foundation is particularly interested in programs that create jobs or provide work experience that leads to permanent employment. Cultural arts programming focuses on enhancing the quality of people’s lives through enjoyment, intellectual stimulation, and opportunities for public involvement.

The Foundation also provides a scholarship for high school seniors/recent graduates who plan on continuing their education past high school, whether at two-year institution, 4-year institution, or vocational-technical school. Information on the scholarship may be found through St. Louis Scholarship Central.

The Guy B Jaffe and Judy Schwartz Jaffe Charitable Foundation is seeking partners demonstrating commitment to providing programs and/or services to individuals living in economically challenging circumstances. Projects accepted for funding will be designed to significantly impact one of the following priority areas:

• Impact Area 1:  Entrepreneurship 
• Impact Area 2:  Job Creation
• Impact Area 3:  Cultural arts

Organizations interested in pursuing funding from the Guy B. Jaffe and Judy Schwartz Jaffe Charitable Foundation should contact Elizabeth George, Director of Community Investment at egeorge@stlgives.org or 314.880.4956 or Nikki Martinez, Community Investment Manager 314.880.4961, nmartinez@stlgives.org

The Pettus Foundation is the philanthropic legacy of Mr. James T. Pettus of International Shoe Company and his son, James T. Pettus, Jr.  Core to the Pettus Foundation’s giving is Mr. Pettus’s desire “to enable people who might not have opportunities to have opportunities,” thus the Pettus Foundation prioritizes programs which create self-reliance, independence, and citizen productivity.

The St. Louis Community Foundation has the honor and privilege of working with the Trustees of the Pettus Foundation to continue to ensure that the philanthropic wishes of Mr. Pettus live on in the St. Louis Region.

THE FOUNDATION’S GIVING OCCURS IN THREE WAYS:

• Through a competitive grant process in St. Louis, where Mr. Pettus, Jr. was born and went to school
• To pre-selected organizations in Hawaii, where Mr. Pettus Jr. lived in his later years
• Each of the seven children of James T. Pettus Jr. (family advisors) has an allocated amount to give to charities of their choice

The Trustees for the Pettus Foundation are:

• Lisa Hamilton, Family Trustee
• Al Castle, Trustee
• The Northern Trust Company, Corporate Trustee

ST. LOUIS GUIDELINES AND PROCESS

In St. Louis, the Pettus Foundation provides funding to nonprofit organizations working in the following areas:

• Workforce Development
  • Direct job, technical, and career training
  • Soft skills necessary for success

• Youth Development
  • Preparation for the work force including soft skills
  • Preparation for life after high school including higher education, technical school, military, or apprenticeship programs
• Education
  • Early childhood education
  • K – 12 public schools with a focus on the middle school years
  • Note: public charter schools are not a focus of the Foundation

Please note the following:

• Understanding how significant a robust early education platform is for putting children on an excellent educational and social trajectory, the Trustees are interested in programs that impact many preschools through teacher training and innovative curriculum design.
• The Trustees believe that there are many paths to job and career success. Funding interests include human services organizations and K-12 schools that are providing direct job training, STEM-related projects, technical training, or “soft skills” development needed to obtain and hold a job.
• The Trustees require evidence of stable, effective governance, solid financials, and multiple funders for programs and projects the Foundation supports.
• The Pettus Foundation typically funds direct services and small capital improvement. The Foundation does not fund advocacy, research programs, or systems-level initiatives.
• The Pettus Foundation does not consider grant applications requesting funds for computer technology.
• The Pettus Foundation’s typical grant range is from $5,000 to $25,000.  The trustees particularly favor applications that demonstrate multiple funding partners and match or challenge grant opportunities.  The trustees seek to leverage the Foundation’s assets to strengthen Saint Louis non-profits working toward the Foundation’s goals.

Pettus Foundation will accept applications on an invitation-only basis twice a year.  Inquiries into funding may be made through the St. Louis Community Foundation.  If deemed a potential fit for funding, the St. Louis Community Foundation will request a letter of intent which, upon review may lead to a Trustee site visit.  The final step in the application process is to submit a customized version of the Missouri Common Grant Application 2.0.

Organizations interested in pursuing funding from the Pettus Foundation should contact Elizabeth George, Director of Community Investment at egeorge@stlgives.org or 314.880.4956 or Nikki Martinez, Community Investment Manager 314.880.4961, nmartinez@stlgives.org

Hawaii Guidelines and Process

In the past decade, Hawaii grants have tended to favor

• Early childhood education
• Literacy
• Job training
• Homelessness
• Hunger
• Programs increasing the independence and the self-sufficiency of citizens.

Hawaii gives to pre-selected organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications for grants.

Click here to review a listing of recent Hawaii grants. Questions related to Hawaii grants can be referred to:

Alfred L. Castle
Pettus Foundation Trustee
733 Bishop Street, Suite 1275
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Phone 808-522-1101.