Blues for Kids is the charitable trust of the St. Louis Blues, an NHL franchise. Established in 1998 to honor the legacy of former Blues player Doug Wickenheiser, the organization operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity based in Saint Louis, Missouri. The organization has been tax-exempt since May 1999.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.9M
-4.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$410K
+150.4% YoY
Grant Count
7
-50.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$59K
+400.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Blues for Kids has a mission to positively impact programs and services that improve health and wellness of youth in the St. Louis area.
The organization focuses on four primary areas of giving:
Cancer Care & Awareness — Cancer awareness, prevention, and treatment for pediatric and adult cancer patients and their families. The 14 Fund serves as the platform for the Blues' cancer care and awareness initiatives under the Blues for Kids umbrella, continuing Doug Wickenheiser's legacy and supporting all forms of cancer research in children and adults.
Education — Educational initiatives that focus on providing additional opportunities or fulfilling needs for students in the community.
Health & Wellness — Programs that focus on awareness, prevention, and treatment of childhood diseases; programs that promote physical activity, nutrition, and mental well-being of area children. Preference is given to wellness programs that involve hockey and requests for the Blues Street Hockey Program.
Youth Hockey Development — Support for youth hockey programs and development.
Grantmaking
Blues for Kids distributes grants annually to youth-focused nonprofits across the St. Louis community. In the 2024-25 season, the organization donated $1.5 million to over 125 youth-focused nonprofits.
Grant Range
in recent filings: $6,000 to $25,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Blues for Kids funds organizations and programs in the St. Louis area and the broader St. Louis community.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (2024):
- Total assets: $1,930,767
- Total giving: $1,705,152
- Annual expenses: $2,172,312
Revenue (2024):
- Total revenues: $1,616,430
Historical Impact: Blues for Kids has contributed more than $11 million to the St. Louis community since its establishment.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,930,767 | $2,017,879 | $1,725,992 |
| Revenue | $1,616,430 | $1,692,409 | $1,548,713 |
| Expenses | $2,172,312 | $1,553,038 | $1,299,996 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $11,941 | $5,187 | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
118 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include United Way of Greater St Louis ($142,193), Best Buddies Missouri ($50,000), Friends of Kids With Cancer ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BEST BUDDIES MISSOURI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| CHADS COALITION FOR MENTAL HEALTH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $47,500 |
| FRIENDS OF KIDS WITH CANCER | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| GIRLS ON THE RUN OF ST LOUIS | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| NAVIGATE STL SCHOOLS | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| OLLIE HINKLE HEART FOUNDATION | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER ST LOUIS | GENERAL SUPPORT | $142,193 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Board of Trustees includes: Bruce Affleck, Mike Caruso, Steve Chapman, Mike Claiborne, Dennis Hennessy, Donn Lux, Scott McCuaig, Sarah Melinger, Bruce Rubin, Phil Siddle, Tom Stillman, Jo Ann Taylor Kindle, Jim Woodcock, and Chris Zimmerman.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRUCE AFFLECK | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| MIKE CARUSO | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| STEVE CHAPMAN | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| MIKE CLAIBORNE | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| DENNIS HENNESSY | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| DONN LUX | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| SCOTT MCCUAIG | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| SARAH MELINGER | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| BRUCE RUBIN | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| PHIL SIDDLE | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| TOM STILLMAN | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| JO ANN TAYLOR KINDLE | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| JIM WOODCOCK | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| CHRIS ZIMMERMAN | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In the 2024-25 season, Blues for Kids donated $1.5 million to over 125 youth-focused nonprofits, supporting health, education, wellness, and hockey programs across the St. Louis community. The organization continues to receive support from players, alumni, volunteers, and fans of the St. Louis Blues.
blues for kids grant application - St. Louis - NHL.comSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Blues for Kids fund?
Blues for Kids has a mission to positively impact programs and services that improve health and wellness of youth in the St. Louis area. The organization focuses on four primary areas of giving: • **Cancer Care & Awareness** — Cancer awareness, prevention, and treatment for pediatric and adult cancer patients and their families. The 14 Fund serves as the platform for the Blues' cancer care and awareness initiatives under the Blues for Kids umbrella, continuing Doug Wickenheiser's legacy and sup…
How do I apply for a grant from Blues for Kids?
Blues for Kids distributes grants annually to youth-focused nonprofits across the St. Louis community. In the 2024-25 season, the organization donated $1.5 million to over 125 youth-focused nonprofits. **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $5,500 to $271,733 • Median grant amount: $10,000 • Grant range in recent filings: $6,000 to $25,000 **Application Process:** • The grant program opens once per year, at the conclusion of the season • Organizations are limited to one Blues for Kid…
Where does Blues for Kids make grants?
Blues for Kids funds organizations and programs in the St. Louis area and the broader St. Louis community.
What size grants does Blues for Kids award?
In 2024, Blues for Kids awarded 7 grants totaling $410K — an average of about $59K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Blues for Kids's EIN?
Blues for Kids's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-1820447. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Blues for Kids's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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