The Herbert A. and Adrian W. Woods Foundation was created in 1999 following the passing of Mrs. Adrian W. Woods, who had a long and active history of philanthropy in the St. Louis, Missouri region. She established the foundation to ensure her charitable impact would continue beyond her lifetime, especially within the community she deeply cared for. Administered through Bank of America’s Philanthropic Solutions division, the foundation continues to uphold Mrs. Woods’ commitment to meaningful giving across a defined set of thematic areas.
This foundation’s purpose is to fund charitable organizations that align with the founders’ philanthropic interests. These include services that assist abused, neglected, or troubled children; support for economically disadvantaged populations; and charitable activities associated with the Episcopal Church and its affiliated outreach initiatives. The foundation also prioritizes support for the arts and cultural programming in the greater metropolitan St. Louis area, animal welfare within Missouri, and services or research that assist individuals affected by illness or disability.
Organizations applying for funding must operate within St. Louis, Missouri, as the foundation’s funding is geographically restricted. The foundation does not support applicants outside this location. Within that scope, eligible uses of funds include support for special projects, capital campaign contributions—though only as part of a broader community-funded initiative—challenge or matching grants, and general operating support. The foundation does not fund multi-year pledges or the creation or expansion of endowments.
Applications are due by September 1 of each year. The application process is managed by the Missouri office of Bank of America, and all communication should reference the foundation name in the subject line. Applicants can contact the fund administrator at mo.grantmaking@bofa.com for questions or further guidance on the process. Decisions regarding funding will be announced by November 30, following the submission deadline.
While detailed procedural documents are available through links hosted by Bank of America, the online application support materials can assist in completing the required documentation. Applications are accepted online, and assistance is available for navigating the system. Though no specific evaluation criteria are provided in the public documentation, it is indicated that the Trustees will take into account the donor’s giving history and the pressing needs of charities historically supported by Mrs. Woods.
Overall, the Herbert A. and Adrian W. Woods Foundation represents a geographically targeted, values-based philanthropic effort focused on vulnerable populations, the arts, religion-affiliated outreach, and animal and health welfare. With an annual cycle and a firm deadline, eligible organizations within St. Louis are encouraged to align their proposals closely with the foundation’s longstanding mission and to demonstrate strong alignment with the founder’s original intent.
