Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis
To maintain a formal program of chess instruction for students of all ages and levels and to increase the awareness of the educational value of chess.it is the mission of the chess club and scholastic center of saint louis, an educational organization, to maintain a formal program of instruction to teach the game of chess and to promote and support its educational program through community outreach and local, national, and international partnerships to increase the awareness of the educational value of chess.
Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis at a glance
In short: Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis gave $3.8M across 7 grants in 2024 (avg $537K), mostly in Missouri. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,756,228
- +119.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 7
- +40.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $536,604
- +56.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $512,500
- Total assets
- $29,019,699
- +74.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Missouri (70% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis
Who Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Missouri Columbia ($1.9M). Together the top 7 received $3.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
33 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 11 grants of 33 (33%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis gives
- Giving grew 75% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.7M (2023) to $3.8M (2024). In 2024 it made 7 grants totaling $3.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Missouri Columbia Columbia, MO | Collegiate Chess Programming & Support | $1,888,728 |
| Kasparov Chess Foundation Montville, NJ | Chess Programming | $600,000 |
| Grand Chess Tour Saint Louis, MO | Chess Tour Operations & Program Assistance | $555,000 |
| International Chess School Inc Montville, NJ | Chess Programming | $512,500 |
| US Chess Federation Saint Louis, MO | Womens Chess Programming Grant & Chess Olympiad Support | $165,000 |
| Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St Louis Saint Louis, MO | Benefits the work of local saint louis, mo charities | $25,000 |
| National Scholastic Chess Foundation Inc White Plains, NY | Chess Programming | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $29,019,699 | $31,206,877 | $19,681,176 | $3,756,228 | 7 | $46,704 |
| 2023 | $16,627,033 | $16,677,688 | $15,695,405 | $1,712,000 | 5 | $22,776 |
| 2022 | $17,925,687 | $15,124,357 | $14,309,513 | $2,142,750 | 7 | $1,029 |
| 2021 | $9,249,029 | $14,557,243 | $11,600,510 | $2,146,939 | 8 | $-18,492 |
| 2020 | $6,046,700 | $10,161,436 | $10,171,097 | $1,881,508 | 6 | $212 |
About Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis
Based on IRS filings
Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis is a public charity focused on Recreation & Sports, based in St. Louis, MO. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $29.0M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 7 grants totaling $3.8M. Net investment income was $47K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis is led by Rex Sinquefield, President & Chairman on every filing since 2020; 8 of 14 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Rex Sinquefield
President & Chairman
On filings since 2020
16 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anthony Rich
Techincal Director
Executive Director → Techincal Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$124K (2020) → $142K (2024)
James Gildehaus
Director of Facilities
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$105K (2022) → $116K (2024)
Tad Middleton
Director of Administration
Administrative Director → Director of Administration, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$37K (2023) → $140K (2024)
Ed Baur
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jean Hoffman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Podgursky
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Doug Eckert
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$353 (2023) → $2K (2024)
Levon Aronyan
Grandmaster & Chess Player
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$246K (2022) → $338K (2024)
Norah Friel
Finance Manager
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$115K (2022) → $130K (2024)
Catherine Gallaher
Human Resource Manager
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$121K (2024)
Yasser Seirawan
Chief Commentator & Spokesperson
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$115K (2024)
James Voelker
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Lueken
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Ioan Cristian Chirila (2023) — Chess Coach & Commentator
- Former: John Costello (2023) — Director of Security
- Former: Alejandro Ramirez (2020–2022) — Chess Coach & Commentator
- Former: Dorsa Derakhshani (2022) — Im Chess Teacher
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $338K, to Levon Aronyan (Grandmaster & Chess Player). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis
How much does Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis give each year?
Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis gave $3.8M across 7 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.7M across 5 grants.
What is Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis's typical grant size?
Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis's median grant in 2024 was $512,500, and its average grant was $536,604, across 7 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis give grants?
Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis gives mostly in Missouri: 70% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was New Jersey (30%). The most frequent recipient cities were Saint Louis, MO (3 grants) and Montville, NJ (2 grants).
Does Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Chess Programming" (3 grants).
Who are Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis's largest grantees?
Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis's largest 2024 grantees include University of Missouri Columbia ($1,888,728), Kasparov Chess Foundation ($600,000) and Grand Chess Tour ($555,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 81% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis?
Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis reported $29.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $31.2M.
What is Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis?
Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis is a public charity focused on Recreation & Sports, based in St. Louis, MO. It holds $29.0M in total assets as of 2024.
What is Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis's EIN?
Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0844268. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St Louis funds
Recreation & Sports Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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