Seeding the Future Grants

The Deaconess Foundation, based in St. Louis, Missouri, is a private philanthropic organization committed to fostering racial equity and community well-being throughout Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois. Grounded in trust-based philanthropy, the foundation seeks to cultivate long-term relationships with grassroots organizations, coalitions, and advocates that drive policy change and systemic transformation. Its approach centers on organizing, advocacy, and policy development as core vehicles for achieving racial justice and social liberation. The Seeding the Future Grants program provides general operating support for nonprofit organizations whose missions align with the foundation's goal of achieving community well-being through transformative and intergenerational change. Grants are intended to support a range of efforts including base building, grassroots advocacy, community organizing, and public policy initiatives. The program also acts as a stepping-stone for participation in the foundation’s more intensive Movement Transformation Cohort. Funding from the Seeding the Future Grants is unrestricted and designed to provide flexible financial support for qualifying organizations to expand their civic infrastructure and further systemic impact. Grant recipients are expected to help lay the groundwork for long-term liberation strategies across communities. While traditional reporting is not required, ongoing and guided discussions between the foundation and grantees are central to tracking progress and providing support. The 2025 funding cycle includes four application windows, each with distinct opening and closing dates. For Cycle 3, proposals can be submitted between August 4, 2025, and August 29, 2025, through an online portal. Similar application windows are set in February, May, and October. Each awarded organization will receive $20,000 in general operating support for a one-year period. These grants are non-renewable, and no information has been provided regarding total program funding or number of awards. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations located in Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois. No other eligibility criteria are explicitly stated in the current materials. The grant is not available nationwide and is geographically limited to the foundation’s identified regional footprint. Given this, applicants outside these two states would not be considered eligible. For inquiries or technical assistance related to the Seeding the Future Grants program, potential applicants are encouraged to contact Deaconess Foundation by phone at (314) 436-8001 or via email at info@deaconess.org. The foundation also offers regular updates and grant alerts through its mailing list, which interested parties can join via the Deaconess Foundation’s website. The opportunity is recurring, with the next cycle projected for October 2025, allowing organizations to plan future applications accordingly.