MMF Responsive Grants in Missouri and Illinois

The Marillac Mission Fund (MMF), located in St. Louis, Missouri, provides Responsive Grants to nonprofit organizations twice annually. MMF is a private funding entity focused on supporting underserved populations and promoting human dignity, especially for those experiencing poverty and vulnerability. The foundation aligns with a faith-based mission and operates under the larger Ascension umbrella. Through its funding programs, MMF aims to support projects that foster equitable opportunities, self-sufficiency, and resilience for communities across its core focus areas. The Responsive Grant program supports projects and general operations that directly benefit one of MMF’s specified areas of community need: Immigrants & Refugees, Older Adults Living Independently, Rural Well-Being, and Human Trafficking Prevention (restricted to existing grantees only). Additional categories for consideration include Advocacy & Coalition-Building (only if the work is within the primary four areas), and Improved Economic Mobility (which is invitation-only). Grant funding ranges from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $50,000 per request. The grants may support either time-limited projects or ongoing programs, as well as general operating support under strict conditions. General Operating Support funding is only available to organizations whose entire programming (100%) serves one of the designated focus areas, and such support is typically restricted to organizations with a preexisting relationship with MMF. First-time applicants are typically ineligible for general operating support. MMF also offers an abbreviated application process under the Small Organization Responsive track. This option is available to groups with an annual budget under $500,000 and/or those that are fully volunteer-run. These applicants may also request between $5,000 and $50,000 in funding. MMF accepts applications for the Responsive Grant program during two cycles each fiscal year. For the Fall cycle (which runs November 1 to October 31), applications open on June 15 and close on August 1 at 11:59 p.m., with notifications issued by the end of October. For the Spring cycle (May 1 to April 30), applications open on December 15 and close on February 1 at 11:59 p.m., with decisions announced by the end of April. All applicants must submit their materials through MMF’s online portal and are strongly encouraged to consult the available application preview and proposal guidance documents before submission. Notably, as of Fall FY2026, MMF administers a new initiative known as the CPPS Mission Fund. This funding stream supports the same core focus areas with a specific emphasis on immigrant-related programming. The CPPS Mission Fund utilizes the same Responsive application format and deadlines as the core MMF grant cycles. Organizations planning to apply for the first time, or submitting a new project concept, are expected to reach out to MMF staff for a pre-application consultation. Additionally, existing grantees must submit and receive approval on final reports from previous grants before submitting a new application. For further inquiries, applicants can contact Marillac Mission Fund by phone at (314) 733-6500. The funder's address is 4600 Edmundson Road, St. Louis, MO 63134. Full application instructions and required documents are accessible through MMF’s website under the Grant Process section.