C. Louis Meyer Family Foundation

OVERVIEW: The C. Louis Meyer Family Foundation is a small, family-run funder that prioritizes the Chicago area, as well as parts of North and South Carolina. Its funding areas are education, community and civic affairs, health, the arts, religion and youth.

IP TAKE: Meyer Family Foundation is not currently supporting new organizations; for the time being, it will focus on the organizations it has supported in the past. Check the foundation’s website for changes to this policy.

PROFILE: Established in 1946 by C. Louis Meyer and Mary Luman Meyer, the C. Louis Meyer Family Foundation assists nonprofits working to alleviate poverty, advance education, promote health and extend the influence of religion. C. Louis Meyer was the founder of the Omaha, Nebraska-based Concrete Engineering Company (later known as Ceco Steel Products Corporation), which revolutionized the process of reinforcing concrete. The funder aims to “further public welfare through the relief of poverty and suffering, the advancement of education, the promotion of health, and the extension of the influence of religion.” The foundation makes grants in the areas of education, community and civic affairs, health, the arts, religion and youth.

Across all of the Meyer program areas, smaller nonprofits are typically given preference over larger ones. Meyer’s strategy is to give broadly, rather than deeply, giving small amounts to many local organizations in its areas of interest. In recent years, the largest amounts of Meyer support have gone toward education, with a focus on disability and special education. Civic and community programs comprise the next most supported program area, followed by arts and culture and health.

In the past, the funder has awarded around $250,000 per year in grants, although this has been declining. Since 2015, the foundation has only accepted applications from previously funded organizations. These organizations are limited to requests of $5,000 or less. Review the funder’s 10 Year Summary of Giving page for more details. Past grants have been made for capital needs and specific programs; however, the foundation does not support seed money requests, start-up organizations, political activities, or individuals. Grantmaking is limited to the Sandhills area of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Greater Chicago.

The funder accepts applications from previously funded organizations between August 1 and October 31. Direct general grantmaking inquiries to the Foundation Administrator, Carol Barrett, at 224-333-0100 or via online form.  

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