Deer Creek Foundation
Deer Creek Foundation is a private foundation based in St. Louis, Missouri. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working on issues including justice-system litigation, environmental law and regulation, constitutional education, nuclear oversight, voting systems, and local education.
Deer Creek Foundation at a glance
In short: Deer Creek Foundation gave $2.4M across 15 grants in 2024 (avg $161K), top state Missouri. 7% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,422,000
- +1.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 15
- -25.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $161,467
- +35.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $40,955,355
- -1.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (1 of 15, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Missouri (45% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Deer Creek Foundation
- Contact
Application contact: Mr Michael P Fischer Deer Creek Fou
Mailing address: 800 Market St Suite 1650, St Louis, MO 63101
Phone: (314) 241-3228
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Deer Creek Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Arch City Defenders ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $2.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
107 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 39 grants of 107 (36%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 45% of grant dollars went to recipients in Missouri, 20% to California, 15% to the District of Columbia, 6% to Louisiana, and 6% to Oregon. The listed grants also included recipients in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Deer Creek Foundation open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 15 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $100K; repeat grants $166K. How we count
Medians: $100K first-time, $105K repeat.
- 87% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+9%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 108% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.2M (2021) to $2.6M (2022). In 2024 it made 15 grants totaling $2.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Arch City Defenders St. Louis, MO | Support litigation against abuses in the American justice system | $1,000,000 |
| Constitutional Accountability Center Washington, DC | Support litigation and education exposing common misconceptions about the U.S. constitution | $200,000 |
| Earthjustice San Francisco, CA | Support litigation and advocacy for enforcement of environmental regulations | $200,000 |
| The John Muir Project of the Earth Island Institute Big Bear City, CA | Promote U.S.forest service compliance with environmental laws and reguatlions | $180,000 |
| Tulane Environmental Law Clinic New Orleans, LA | For public education, citizen mobilization, administrative advocacy, and litigation aimed at helping the residents of Louisiana participate in government decisions impacting their health and environment, and ensuring that environmental laws and regulations are enforced. | $155,000 |
| Crag Law Center Portland, OR | Provide legal services,guidance, and education to protect the cascadia bioregion | $115,000 |
| Beyond Nuclear Takoma Park, MD | Force More Responsbile Nuclear Regulatory Commission Oversight | $110,000 |
| Americans United for Separation of Church and State Washington, DC | Support Education, Advocacy, and Litigation Against Religious Discrimination | $100,000 |
| St Louis Public Schools Foundation St. Louis, MO | To help pilot two literacy programs - letrs and beable - in slpss lowest performing elementary/middle schools that provide enhanced teacher and student instruction with the goal of increasing reading growth and proficiency, and another program to increase student/teacher attachment in those same schools. | $100,000 |
| Center for Progressive Reform Washington, DC | Support Research and Education to Strengthen Evironmental Regulation | $75,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Deer Creek Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $40,955,355 | $2,704,226 | $3,403,260 | $2,422,000 | 15 | $2,762,522 | $2,147,194 | $2,547,621 |
| 2023 | $41,654,248 | $1,129,359 | $3,452,633 | $2,392,000 | 20 | $2,706,301 | $473,832 | $2,426,269 |
| 2022 | $43,977,566 | $2,499,960 | $3,766,064 | $2,632,191 | 21 | $2,933,407 | $1,681,017 | $2,729,621 |
| 2021 | $45,243,683 | $6,196,102 | $3,182,321 | $2,220,151 | 23 | $2,515,856 | $5,394,589 | $2,677,330 |
| 2020 | $42,229,836 | $1,513,245 | $3,342,901 | $2,277,310 | 28 | — | $945,942 | $2,645,078 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Deer Creek Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing does not state a mission. Its 2024 grants included support for litigation and advocacy related to the justice system and environmental regulation, constitutional education, nuclear oversight, religious-discrimination issues, election technology, and literacy programs in St. Louis schools.
The grantees describe their own work in varied terms. Earthjustice says it uses law and partnerships to protect health and the environment and address climate change. The Constitutional Accountability Center describes itself as a nonprofit law firm and think tank working to fulfill the Constitution’s promise. The Crag Law Center says it provides legal aid to protect the Pacific Northwest’s natural legacy. The St. Louis Public Schools Foundation says it works to promote educational success for district students.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $2,422,000. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $1,000,000, with a median of $100,000. The largest grants included $1,000,000 to Arch City Defenders for litigation against abuses in the American justice system; $200,000 each to the Constitutional Accountability Center and Earthjustice; and $180,000 to the John Muir Project of the Earth Island Institute. Other notable grants were $155,000 to the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic, $115,000 to the Crag Law Center, $110,000 to Beyond Nuclear, and $100,000 each to Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the St. Louis Public Schools Foundation.
The filing provides letter-of-inquiry instructions for two programs. For Program I, the letter should describe the problem, project objectives and planned activities, the organization’s and principals’ qualifications, and other organizations addressing the issue. Required attachments include project and organizational budgets, project-support information, recent organizational contributors, the board list, tax-status letter, and latest audit or Form 990. For Program II, the letter should summarize the proposed project and include the organization’s history; project and organizational budgets; project-support and recent-contributor information; the board list; tax-status letter; and latest audit or Form 990.
The filing says the board’s guidelines normally preclude support for endowment and capital campaigns.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Martha C Fischer and Matthew A Fischer as trustees, and Michael P Fischer as trustee/director.
Deer Creek Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michael P. Fischer
Trustee & Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$125K (2020) → $133K (2024)
Martha C. Fischer
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew A. Fischer
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 $133K, to Michael P Fischer (Trustee/Director).
Frequently asked questions about Deer Creek Foundation
How much does Deer Creek Foundation give each year?
Deer Creek Foundation gave $2.4M across 15 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.4M across 20 grants.
What is Deer Creek Foundation's typical grant size?
Deer Creek Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $161,467, across 15 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Deer Creek Foundation that year got $100K on average.
Where does Deer Creek Foundation give grants?
Deer Creek Foundation's top state is Missouri, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (20%) and District of Columbia (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were St. Louis, MO (3 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants), San Francisco, CA (2 grants) and Portland, OR (2 grants).
Does Deer Creek Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on Deer Creek Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Deer Creek Foundation's largest grantees?
Deer Creek Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Arch City Defenders ($1,000,000), Constitutional Accountability Center ($200,000) and Earthjustice ($200,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Deer Creek Foundation?
Deer Creek Foundation reported $41.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Deer Creek Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing does not state a mission. Its 2024 grants included support for litigation and advocacy related to the justice system and environmental regulation, constitutional education, nuclear oversight, religious-discrimination issues, election technology, and literacy programs in St. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Deer Creek Foundation?
Deer Creek Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Deer Creek Foundation's EIN?
Deer Creek Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-6052774. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Deer Creek Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/deer-creek-foundation-morg_083cf6f711244e2ab273e29d8700f88a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_436052774_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Deer Creek Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/deer-creek-foundation-morg_083cf6f711244e2ab273e29d8700f88a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Deer Creek Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Deer Creek Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?