What We Fund

Funding Overview

The St. Louis Philanthropic Organization (SLPO) is a Missouri nonprofit corporation established in 1984, funded by the proceeds from a settlement with cable television companies. Governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, SLPO has distributed over $9,500,000 in grants and capacity-building support. The organization primarily provides funding through its annual Responsive Grants cycle, which awards up to $10,000 to nonprofits that improve the quality of life for St. Louis City residents. In 2024, SLPO awarded 88 grants, totaling $400,000.

In 2020, SLPO's Board of Directors introduced Capacity Building activities, starting with a workshop series designed to enhance organizational capacity and development through training and resources. Additionally, SLPO hosts a capacity building website that offers recordings of all training sessions, along with related materials and other resources relevant to nonprofits. For more information on the Responsive Grants, visit the "What We Fund" and "Applying for a Grant" sections. Details about Capacity Building workshops and other support opportunities can be found in the "Capacity Building" section.

Our Priorities

Responsive Grant Consideration

The St. Louis Philanthropic Organization’s primary funding focus is the annual Responsive Grants program, which offers up to $10,000 to nonprofits whose programs and services enhance the quality of life for St. Louis City residents. These grants are exclusively for programming that benefits St. Louis City residents. While organizations do not need to be physically located in the City, they must verify their geographic service area in the application.

To be considered for funding, organizations must apply online through the Grant Lifecycle Management (GLM) system. Detailed information about the application process and access to the GLM portal can be found under the "Applying for a Grant" tab. First-time applicants will need to create an account, including a user ID and password, but this only needs to be done once, with one account per organization. Both application submissions and reporting for funded grants are managed through the GLM system.

Additionally, first-time applicants are required to attend a grant writing workshop held in December. If attendance is not possible, the organization must contact the SLPO office to discuss the application process and funding consideration. It is also recommended that new applicants reach out to SLPO to discuss eligibility, ask questions about the application and review process, or connect before creating an account in the GLM system. The grant cycle opens annually on December 1st and closes on the first Friday in February of the following year. Agencies are notified about their application status in April. Please note grant periods may not exceed 12 months.

Guidelines and Eligibility Criteria

The St. Louis Philanthropic Organization Board grantmaking guidelines and eligibility criteria are below to assist organizations in completing their applications.

Screening Criteria

Organizations must meet the Screening Criteria to be considered for funding.

The proposed project aligns with the SLPO's mission.

The Responsive Grant application is complete and required attachments are included.

The grant amount requested does not exceed $10,000.

Funds must be used solely for programs and services that improve the quality of life for St. Louis City residents.

Programs and services promote equity by reducing disparities, and creating access to opportunities and resources that provide a fair chance at success and social mobility.

Programs and services promote equity as they do not discriminate based on race/ethnicity, gender, age, economic disadvantage, disability or sexual orientation and other factors.

Prior responsive grant recipients demonstrate good stewardship of previous funding awarded by submitting all necessary progress and final program and financial reports. Further, those reports document that the organization used the funds as specified and achieved the intended outcomes.

Program Requests Typically Not Funded

The SLPO typically will not provide grants for the following:

Academic or health research

Annual appeals and fundraising events

Capital Improvements

Debt reduction

Endowments

Individuals

Think tanks

Political action groups or campaigns

Colleges and universities — general operating or research

Equipment not Directly Related to Program Implementation

General Publications or marketing materials not directly related to program implementation

Start—up of new organizations (e.g., purchase or lease of building, office furniture)