Pershing Charitable Trust
Pershing Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Saint Louis, Missouri, established in 1968. The organization holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and operates as a family foundation focused on philanthropic grantmaking to nonprofit organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$4.7M
-5.7% YoY
Grant Count
77
+11.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$61K
-15.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Trust gives primarily for:
- Education (including science and outdoor education)
- Human services
- Social services
- Health
- Community development
- Civic affairs
- Children and youth (including at-risk youth)
- Arts and culture
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the Saint Louis, Missouri area, with additional grantmaking activity in Colorado and Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending September 2024:
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $85,953,940 |
| Total Revenues | $6,134,902 |
| Total Expenses | $5,248,478 |
| Investment Income & Dividends | $2,263,661 |
| Total Liabilities | $0 |
Historical Context:
- Tax-exempt status granted: February 1970
- EIN: 43-6103545
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| 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 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 St Louis Symphony Orchestra ($550,000), Great Rivers Greenway Foundation ($500,000), Concordance Academy ($400,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Louis Symphony Orchestra St Louis, MO | General Charitable Purposes | $550,000 |
| Great Rivers Greenway Foundation St Louis, MO | General Charitable Purposes | $500,000 |
| Concordance Academy St Louis, MO | General Charitable Purposes | $400,000 |
| Access Academies St Louis, MO | General Charitable Purposes | $300,000 |
| Missouri Historical Society St Louis, MO | General Charitable Purposes | $250,000 |
| Greater St Louis Inc Foundation St Louis, MO | General Charitable Purposes | $179,000 |
| Beyond Housing St Louis, MO | General Charitable Purposes | $125,000 |
| St Louis University FBO Pershing Fellows St Louis, MO | General Charitable Purposes | $120,000 |
| Donald Danforth Plant Science Center St Louis, MO | General Charitable Purposes | $100,000 |
| Metropolitan Golf Foundation St Louis, MO | General Charitable Purposes | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key trustees include:
- William L Polk Jr.
- Marian Mehan
- Rev Steve Lawler
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM L POLK JR | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MARIAN MEHAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| REV STEVE LAWLER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| REBECCA BLANKENSHIP | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 10 | $58,391 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Pershing Charitable Trust fund?
The Trust gives primarily for: • Education (including science and outdoor education) • Human services • Social services • Health • Community development • Civic affairs • Children and youth (including at-risk youth) • Arts and culture
How do I apply for a grant from Pershing Charitable Trust?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 82 grants in the most recent fiscal year (2024) • Total giving: $4,733,755 (2024) • Typical award range: $3,000–$1,000,000 **Types of Support:** • General support • Project support • Building funds • Equipment **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • St Louis Symphony Orchestra Musicians Association Health and Welfare Trust: $550,000 • Great Rivers Greenway Foundation: $500,000 • Access Academies: $300,000
Where does Pershing Charitable Trust make grants?
The Trust primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the Saint Louis, Missouri area, with additional grantmaking activity in Colorado and Massachusetts.
What size grants does Pershing Charitable Trust award?
In 2024, Pershing Charitable Trust awarded 77 grants totaling $4.7M — an average of about $61K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Pershing Charitable Trust's EIN?
Pershing Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-6103545. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Pershing Charitable Trust'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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