Jefferson Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Festus, Missouri. Established in 2014, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a primary focus on providing funding for scholarships and supporting nonprofit initiatives across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$196.6M
+12.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.7M
+1.1% YoY
Grant Count
219
+17.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$35K
-13.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jefferson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to provide funding for scholarships. Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Human Services
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Poverty Alleviation
- Nursing Home Services
- Workforce Development
The foundation operates primarily in Missouri and North Carolina.
Grantmaking
Grant applications can be obtained by contacting Missy Endres at 636-638-1400 or mendres@jfmo.org.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Missouri and North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $196,634,221
- Total Revenues: $5,008,377
- Total Expenses: $14,164,216
- Total Liabilities: $352,000
Historical Data (2023):
- Revenue: $3.2M
- Expenses: $8.7M
- Total Assets: $174M
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $196,634,221 | $174,306,583 | $154,659,200 |
| Revenue | $5,008,377 | $3,202,649 | $3,247,827 |
| Expenses | $14,164,216 | $8,698,383 | $9,185,563 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $8,545,539 | $8,447,230 | $8,930,351 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,770,835 | $2,996,577 | $3,045,963 |
| Distributable Amount | $9,246,942 | $8,061,154 | $8,307,855 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Chestnut Health Systems ($345,488), Chads Coalition for Mental Health ($120,000), Aging Ahead ($105,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACPD SAINT LOUIS, MO | PROGRAM GRANT/TREATMENT ASSISTANCE | $50,000 |
| AGING AHEAD MANCHESTER, MO | NUTRITION PROGRAM AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS KITS FOR ELDERLY | $105,000 |
| ALIVE SAINT LOUIS, MO | PROGRAM SUPPORT IN JEFFERSON COUNTY | $65,000 |
| ALL FOR FAMILY HIGH RIDGE, MO | SUPERVISED FAMILY VISIT PROGRAM | $30,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION GREATER MISSOURI CHAPTER ST LOUIS, MO | ALZ CARES: COMMUNITY ALLIANCES FOR RESOURCES, EDUCATION AND SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY ST LOUIS, MO | CANCER PATIENT SUPPORT IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, MO | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION ST LOUIS, MO | NATION OF LIFESAVERS | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS OF MISSOURI & ARKANSAS ST LOUIS, MO | JEFFERSON COUNTY DISASTER SERVICES | $50,000 |
| AMVETS NATIONAL SERVICE FOUNDATION FESTUS, MO | MISSOURI AMVETS SERVICE FOUNDATION HEALTH AND BENEFITS FAIR | $10,000 |
| ANGELS' ARMS ST LOUIS, MO | JEFFERSON COUNTY FOSTER HOMES | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Michael Ravenscraft – President and Chief Executive Officer
- Missy Endres – Executive Vice President (Grant Application Contact)
- Melissa Endres – Executive Vice President / Vice President of Programs
- Ron Ravenscraft – Trustee
- Lindell Carter – Trustee
- Benjamin Albano, MD – Trustee
The foundation operates with 4 employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BENJAMIN ALBANO MD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DAN ECKENFELS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JEFF BUCK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JEFF DRAVES MD | CHAIRMAN | 3 | — |
| JIM MUEHLHAUSER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LINDELL CARTER | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| MICHAEL RAVENSCRAFT | PRESIDENT/CEO | 40 | $213,439 |
| RON RAVENSCRAFT | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STOKE WISCHMEIER | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| TIMOTHY PATTERSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Jefferson Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to provide funding for scholarships. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Human Services • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Poverty Alleviation • Nursing Home Services • Workforce Development The foundation operates primarily in Missouri and North Carolina.
How do I apply for a grant from Jefferson Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 168 grants in 2024 • Total giving in 2024: $7,672,546 • Typical award range: $2,000–$550,000 **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • Mercy Health Foundation Jefferson: $312,500 (Mercy Hospital Jefferson Da Vinci Robotic Surgeon Phase Two) • Saint Louis Counseling (CFS): $200,000 (Outpatient Mental Health Services) • Upward Smiles: $150,000 (Program Support) • Jefferson College Foundation: $125,000 (Jefferson College Student Scholarships and Vikings' Vault Food Pantry) • J…
Where does Jefferson Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Missouri and North Carolina.
What size grants does Jefferson Foundation award?
In 2024, Jefferson Foundation awarded 219 grants totaling $7.7M — an average of about $35K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Jefferson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Jefferson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Jefferson Foundation's EIN?
Jefferson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 90-0898945. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Jefferson Foundation'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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