Marillac Mission Fund
/OVERVIEW: The Marillac Mission Fund supports older adults living independently, immigrants and refugees, veterans, human trafficking prevention and advocacy and coalition-building in the St. Louis area of Missouri and Illinois.
FUNDING AREAS: Older adults, immigrants and refugees, veterans, human trafficking, advocacy, coalition-building, poverty, capacity-building
IP TAKE: MMF has recently redefined itself and takes a broader approach to giving than many other health legacy funders through multiple grant programs offered during the year. It’s an accessible funder that also welcomes contact.
PROFILE: Established in 1995, the Marillac Mission Fund (MMF) is a health legacy foundation based in St. Louis, Missouri. The foundation formed upon the sale of DePaul Hospital but dates back to 1828, when the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent DePaul came to St. Louis and founded a hospital that was the first Catholic healthcare institution in the country. The foundation changed its name from the Daughters of Charity Foundation of St. Louis to MMF in 2019 to better reflect its legacy and beliefs. The foundation is “committed to serving persons who are poor and vulnerable.” MMF funds local efforts for older adults living independently, immigrants and refugees, veterans, human trafficking prevention and advocacy and coalition-building.
The Marillac Mission Fund supports a broad range of initiatives that serve the poor and vulnerable. It does not limit itself to strictly health issues like some other health conversion foundations. However, MMF does not fund major capital expenditures, such as renovations, equipment or construction. It also does not fund efforts where it would be the main source of support, projects that fall outside the moral teachings of the Catholic Church, operational emergency funds or research. MMF’s responsive grants are opportunities that are available twice per year and fund programs, projects and general operating support. MMF also awards core capacity building support to nonprofits to help organizations better serve the poor and vulnerable. Grants are typically only for one-year periods, although three-year grants are available on an invitation-only basis.
Grants range between about $5,000 and $50,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving on the previous grants page of the MMF website. Grantmaking focuses on the entire metropolitan statistical area of St. Louis, which is a total of 16 counties in Missouri and Illinois. Past local grantees include Covenant House Missouri, Memory Care Home Solutions and Saint Louis Crisis Nursery.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. MMF has spring and fall grant cycles for its responsive grants. It accepts standard capacity building grant applications on February 1 for the May 1 to April 30 grant period and on August 1 for the November 1 to October 31 grant period. It considers comprehensive organizational assessment and report applications on a rolling basis throughout the year. The application process is conducted online. Direct general questions to the staff at 314-733-6500.
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