Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis
/OVERVIEW: The Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis supports the Christian faith, congregation community engagement, Lutheran schools and organizations, foreign-born populations, justice-involved individuals and their families and older adults maintaining independence in the St. Louis metropolitan region.
FUNDING AREAS: Christian faith, Lutheran schools and organizations, criminal justice, older adults, community engagement, immigrants
IP TAKE: It is not a required to be Lutheran to apply for a grant from this foundation; however, it is required that a grant request fall within one of the foundation’s six focus areas.
PROFILE: Established in 1984, the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis is a health legacy foundation based in St. Louis, Missouri. Reverend Johann F. Buenger created a hospital in 1858 that later became Lutheran Medical Center. When the medical center was sold in 1984, this action created an endowment aimed at improving the physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual health of people in the community. The foundation "to the honor of Christ Jesus, Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis seeks the improved care of people in the greater St. Louis metropolitan region.” It funds local efforts for the Christian faith, congregation community engagement, Lutheran schools and organizations, foreign-born populations, justice-involved individuals and their families and older adults maintaining independence.
The Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis is a grantmaking ministry made up of 74 St. Louis-area Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod congregations. Christian faith grants support the volunteer capacity and programs of Christian-affiliated agencies and congregations. Community engagement grants support congregations through planning and program implementation grants, coaching assistance and mentoring. Education grants are focused on Lutheran schools, while the funder supports general Lutheran organizations as well. The foundation’s grants for foreign-born populations go towards self-sufficiency, economic mobility and financial stability. This foundation supports reintegration of justice-involved individuals by helping formerly incarcerated people with housing, employment, health care and transportation. For the elderly, the foundation awards grants to help older adults receive the care they need and age with dignity in their homes.
Grants range between about $3,000 and $75,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses on the St. Louis metropolitan region. This includes the Missouri counties of Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, St. Louis City, St. Louis County and Warren. It also includes the Illinois counties of Clinton, Jersey, Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair. Past local grantees include Mosaic Pregnancy and Health Centers, ArchCity Defenders and Bread & Roses Missouri.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits at any time of the year. It hosts pre-application workshops and offers grant consultations before review periods twice per year. The summer grant deadline is June 1, and the winter grant deadline is December 1. This funder uses an online portal for all grant applications. Direct general questions to the staff at 314-231-2244 or a specific staff member by email.
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