Youth Success Program

The St. Louis Community Foundation, a nonprofit stewarding nearly 900 charitable funds and over $600 million in assets, has launched its second grant cycle under its 2024–2028 Strategic Framework through the Youth Connections priority area. The Foundation’s overarching goal is to build a more equitable and vibrant region by aligning donor and community efforts through purposeful philanthropy. With a focus on the Youth Connections Fund and the Economic Mobility Fund, this particular grant opportunity—Partnerships for Youth Success—emphasizes the support of established, impactful programs that enhance social emotional and academic outcomes for youth within early childhood education, K–12 public education, and post-secondary pathways. This funding opportunity is open to nonprofit organizations that have an existing partnership of at least one year with a local early childhood education center or K–12 public school and are seeking continued funding for an existing program. New or untested initiatives will not be considered. Programs must demonstrate effectiveness using data and other evidence, and show a clear implementation plan for the 2025–2026 school year, as well as a strategy for sustainability beyond the funding period. Up to seven awards ranging from $15,000 to $25,000 each will be made, and the grant will support staffing, materials, training, and evaluation efforts, or data-informed expansion of existing initiatives. This is a two-stage application process. Letters of Intent (LOIs) must be submitted by August 29, 2025, at 3:00 PM. Organizations selected to proceed will be invited by September 17, 2025, to submit full applications, which are due by October 8, 2025, at 3:00 PM. Final award notifications will be made by November 3, 2025. Applications and LOIs must be submitted via the Foundation’s grant portal, accessible at https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=stlgives. The RFP document provides both the questions that will be asked and the evaluation criteria that will be used to review applications. Eligibility requirements are strictly defined. Applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) organizations, have at least one year of partnership history with a relevant educational institution, and provide proof of impact. Programs must be ready to launch in the 2025–2026 school year and demonstrate a plan for continuation beyond the grant period. Required documentation includes Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) or letters of commitment from partner institutions, and financials in the form of two recent audits or three IRS Form 990s. Evaluation criteria are detailed and multi-faceted, covering alignment with the Youth Connections strategic priorities, the strength and history of school partnerships, program design, readiness, impact on marginalized or tornado-affected student populations, and sustainability. Projects must demonstrate collaboration with key community stakeholders and include evaluation tools or frameworks. Preference is given to programs with a demonstrated history of success and innovation without duplication. For any inquiries, applicants should email the Community Foundation team at grants@stlgives.org using the subject line “Partnerships for Youth Success.” Frequently asked questions will be addressed to all applicants if common themes arise. The grant timeline began with the RFP release on August 11, 2025, and concludes with award announcements by November 3, 2025.

Reviewers prioritize alignment with strategic priorities, demonstrated impact, and readiness for 2025–2026.