Rio Vista Foundation is a private family foundation based in Saint Louis, Missouri, established in 2016. Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization (EIN: 47-5213534), it operates as a grantmaking foundation primarily funded by the Yawitz family, with Jess Yawitz serving as a principal funder. Yawitz is co-founder and CEO of NISA Investment Advisors, a St. Louis-based fixed-income investment firm managing nearly $500 billion in assets.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$57.6M
-0.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.4M
+98.9% YoY
Grant Count
11
-8.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$398K
+117.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Rio Vista Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Rio Vista Foundation focuses on:
- Early-stage, high-potential scientific research
- Charitable, scientific, and educational initiatives related to climate change solutions
- Community development in the St. Louis region
- Education and human services
The foundation describes its mission as "funding the future of climate stabilization."
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** $25,000 to $2,600,000
How to Apply
** The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. Grants are awarded on a discretionary basis to preselected organizations. The foundation maintains limited public communication channels and does not have a public-facing website for grant applications.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Saint Louis, Missouri regional focus with national climate initiatives. The foundation has provided funding across multiple states and cities throughout the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $57,632,065
- Total Revenue: $4,106,785
- Total Expenses: $4,463,823
- Total Giving: $4,375,333
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $58,000,000
- Total Revenue: $26.1 million
- Total Expenses: $2.27 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
Historical (2020):
- Revenue: $11,443,251
- Expenses: $1,368,135
- Assets: $34,225,822
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $57,632,065 | $57,970,212 | $40,427,273 |
| Revenue | $4,106,785 | $26,061,976 | $3,088,757 |
| Expenses | $4,463,823 | $2,271,243 | $2,471,061 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,586,139 | $2,268,284 | $2,781,981 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,088,493 | $1,385,761 | $576,200 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,401,717 | $3,148,687 | $2,522,336 |
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
64 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Washington University ($2,600,000), Hosco Shift Inc ($500,000), Greater St Louis Inc Foundation ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FRANCISCAN SISTERS OF MARY BRIDGETON, MO | OUTSTANDING LOAN FORGIVENESS | $15,253 |
| GREATER ST LOUIS INC FOUNDATION ST LOUIS, MO | FUND GENERAL OPERATIONS TO FURTHER THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF THE TAX EXEMPT RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $250,000 |
| HOSCO SHIFT INC ST LOUIS, MO | FUND GENERAL OPERATIONS TO FURTHER THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF THE TAX EXEMPT RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $500,000 |
| INVEST STL ST LOUIS, MO | FUND GENERAL OPERATIONS TO FURTHER THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF THE TAX EXEMPT RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $250,000 |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF ST LOUIS ST LOUIS, MO | ST. LOUIS KAPLAN FELDMAN HOLOCAUST MUSEUM CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $100,000 |
| MISSOURI RIVER RELIEF COLUMBIA, MO | FUND GENERAL OPERATIONS TO FURTHER THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF THE TAX EXEMPT RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $100,000 |
| THE KRANZBERG ARTS FOUNDATION ST LOUIS, MO | $50,000 TO SUPPORT THE "INTERSESSIONS" CONFERENCE IN THE FALL OF 2024. $10,080 TO SUPPORT THE BUSKING PROGRAM. | $60,080 |
| UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO FOUNDATION - UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER DENVER, CO | TO SUPPORT THE EDUCATION PROJECT | $150,000 |
| WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ST LOUIS, MO | FUND GENERAL OPERATIONS TO FURTHER THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF THE TAX EXEMPT RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $2,600,000 |
| WEPOWER ST LOUIS, MO | ACTIVATE COMMUNITY POWER TO RE-DESIGN EDUCATION,HEALTH,JUSTICE SYSTEMS-EQUITABLE FOR ALL | $250,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Jess Yawitz – Director, primary funder
- Andrew L. Yawitz – President
- Alice G. Yawitz – Treasurer & Secretary
- Daniel Yawitz – Treasurer (noted in one source)
- Rick Timberman – Director and Vice President (noted in relation to a Delaware-based entity)
- Terri L. Timberman – President, Director, Secretary, and Treasurer (noted in relation to a Delaware-based entity)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANDREW L YAWITZ | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| ALICE G YAWITZ | TREASURER & SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| JESS B YAWITZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 2200 West Port Plaza Drive, Suite 203, Saint Louis, MO 63146
Phone: (314) 317-8900
Website: climatepathfinders.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Rio Vista Foundation fund?
Rio Vista Foundation focuses on: • Early-stage, high-potential scientific research • Charitable, scientific, and educational initiatives related to climate change solutions • Community development in the St. Louis region • Education and human services The foundation describes its mission as "funding the future of climate stabilization."
How do I apply for a grant from Rio Vista Foundation?
**Grant Range:** $25,000 to $2,600,000 **Annual Giving:** Approximately $2.2 million **Grant Activity:** The foundation awarded 11-12 grants in 2023 and 11 grants in 2024. Recent grantees include: • Hosco Shift ($500,000) • Greater St. Louis Foundation ($250,000) • Invest STL ($250,000) • Spark Climate Solutions Inc. • Carbon 180 **Application Process:** The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. Grants are awarded on a discretionary basis to preselected or…
Where does Rio Vista Foundation make grants?
Saint Louis, Missouri regional focus with national climate initiatives. The foundation has provided funding across multiple states and cities throughout the United States.
What size grants does Rio Vista Foundation award?
In 2024, Rio Vista Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $4.4M — an average of about $398K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Rio Vista Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Rio Vista Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Rio Vista Foundation's EIN?
Rio Vista Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-5213534. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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