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 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 disburse 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 will fall into four areas:

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

Initiatives may also overlay efforts targeting children, youth, and families and/or that address basic needs of the community (food insecurity, housing, transportation, etc.).

Applying for a Grant

The St. Louis Community Foundation will be releasing “Requests for Proposals” (RFPs) for funding beginning in early 2019 and will use the Missouri Common Grant Application v 2.0 modified for the Bridgeton Landfill Community Project Fund. The timing for RFPs is

• Mental Health and Substance Abuse: (Spring 2019).
• Community Greening and Gardening (2020)
• Access to Health Care (2020)
• Community Grants (Spring 2019, Fall 2019).

As this is a time-restricted fund, sustainability of any project or program will be a key factor in reviewing grant applications.

The Community Foundation envisions a few larger projects, as well, specifically in the areas of Public Safety and Health Care Access.  These will have individual RFPs and will be rolled out over the next three years as they are identified.

Click here to learn more about the Bridgeton Fund.

Greening, Gardening and Outdoor Living Initiative 

• Click here to download the Greening, Gardening, and Outdoor Living Initiative RFP.
• Click here to download the budget template.
• Click here to download the presentation materials.

Small Grants Application Materials 

• Click here to download the small grant program RFP
• Click here to download the budget template.

The Charless Foundation was formed with the purpose “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, capacity building, or capital and endowment campaigns.

Grants may range from $5,000 to $30,000 per year for up to three years though eligibility for second and third year funding will be based on an annual evaluation and report. 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.

Any nonprofit that is a 501(c)3 and meets the requirements outlined in this RFP may apply for funding from the Charless Foundation.  The nonprofit does not have to be physically located in South St. Louis City or South St. Louis County, though preference will be given to programs, projects, or initiatives within these geographical areas.

Applications are due by 5:00 pm on October 9, 2019 and may be accessed here.

Please contact us with questions about the Charless Foundation and this Request for Proposals:

Jenny Praytor, Organization & Administration Officer, 314.880.4966, jpraytor@stlgives.org

Elizabeth George, Director of Community Investment, 314.880.4956, egeorge@stlgives.org

The COVID-19 Regional Response Fund (“the Fund”) will direct resources to regional nonprofits that are serving local communities disproportionately affected by the coronavirus crisis and its economic fallout.

In an effort to identify the region’s most pressing needs and create an equitable process, The St. Louis Community Foundation has established an Advisory Council which includes representatives from the areas of public health, government, and the community. The needs of the community and our nonprofits will change throughout the crisis. The Council will work to consider needs today, a month from now and during the recovery period. The earliest stages of the shutdown within the region are of the highest priority.

Using the St. Louis Community Foundation’s Center for Civic Research and Innovation affiliate, we will monitor the grants that are made and the impact they are having to guide additional gifts and program modifications as needed.

Successful applicants will demonstrate the organization is both creative in planning to meet the needs of your client population and capable of implementing response efforts.

Requests for funding should not exceed $10,000.

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.

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 the St. Louis Community Foundation, at egeorge@stlgives.org or 314.880.4956.

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.

The US Census provides an official count of the United States’ population and information about important demographic changes over a 10-year period. This data is used to ensure states are being fairly represented, both in the allotment of federal dollars and the number of congressional districts. The federal funds driven by census estimates go toward numerous programs aimed at helping underserved communities.

Low participation in the 2020 Census could have substantial negative consequences for our state. Achieving a complete count will already be a challenge for the St. Louis region, with 43 percent of the population living in hard-to-count communities during the 2010 Census. Households most at risk of being undercounted include those who are low-income, renters, people of color, immigrants, and have young children.

This grant application is to the Census Funders Group, a pooled fund of approximately $350,000 managed by the St. Louis Community Foundation. These funds will be used to provide grant support for trusted community-based organizations, centralized and culturally-relevant communications and training, and other proven activities to increase participation in hard-to-count communities.  Awardees will be notified in November.

The full Request for Proposals (RFP) may be found HERE.

Proposals must be completed and submitted online through Foundant by midnight on Tuesday, October 15, 2019. The application may be found HERE. Technical assistance with the online application, however, will not be available after 3:00 pm October 15.

Funders participating in the pooled fund include Clark-Fox Family Foundation, Deaconess Foundation, Incarnate Word Foundation, Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis, Marillac Mission Fund, Missouri Foundation for Health, St. Louis Senior Fund, St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund, and St. Louis Community Foundation.  The Gateway Center for Giving and the United Way of Greater St. Louis serve as partners in this work.

INFORMATION SESSION

The Census 2020 Funders Group will hold an Information Session for interested organizations.  If you missed the meeting, information and session materials are below:

If you are interested in learning more about the importance of the 2020 Census in the St. Louis area, please click here.

If you missed the meeting, materials are listed below:

• Video Recording
• Q&A Census Session 
• Final RFP Document
• Census 2020 Application Questions
• Final Presentation_RFP Info Session

For questions about the St. Louis Regional Census Fund and this Request for Proposals or accessing the online application, please contact:

Elizabeth George
Director of Community Investment
St. Louis Community Foundation
314.880.4956
egeorge@stlgives.org

If you have questions regarding the 2020 Census in general or would like information on speakers, please contact Alex Rankin.

Alexandra (Alex) Rankin, JD
Government Affairs Manager
Missouri Foundation for Health
314.345.5571
arankin@mffh.org

Resources for writing grant proposals:

• The Grants and Foundation Center at the St. Louis Public Library Central Branch

• Foundation Center resources can also be accessed at the Kirkwood Public Library and the St. Charles Public Library

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 first 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.  These organizations will work in collaboration with mental health providers to develop programming – their own or contracted with that traditional provider – that serves the mental health needs of the communities in which they work.  Chiron Fund will provide up to five years of funding for community-based organizations to forge partnerships that will grow their capacity to provide high quality mental health services.

Examples of projects include:

• A training program on a mental health intervention for staff of a community-based organization followed by implementation funding
• A pilot program partnering a community-based organization with licensed providers that offer easily accessible mental health services
• A planning grant to determine how a community-based organization can provide mental wellness programming for their community
• Other opportunities for bringing mental health care to traditionally underserved populations

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.

In the future, Chiron Fund will also provide funding for basic needs and education and training opportunities for children, youth, and young adults.

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

• Organization is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization
• Organization serves residents of St. Louis City and/or St. Louis County
• Organization and project serve individuals in economically challenging circumstances
• Project will provide access to quality mental health care

Other selection factors include sustainability after funding is completed and effective collaborative partnership between a community-based organization and at least one other organization.

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
• 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.

PROPOSAL DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 3:00 PM CENTRAL TIME FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2020. 

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.