The Bellwether Foundation
The Bellwether Foundation is a private foundation established in 1985 and based in St. Louis, Missouri. The organization is committed to improving the quality of life for all people in St. Louis by supporting innovative programs that make a positive impact for present and future generations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$73.0M
+4.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.2M
-14.8% YoY
Grant Count
27
-55.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$229K
+89.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bellwether Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to promote the ideals and aspirations of its founders by improving the quality of life for all people, primarily in St. Louis, through the support of innovative programs that make a positive impact for present and future generations.
The foundation supports St. Louis area-based 501(c)(3) organizations with a focus on:
- Arts & Sciences — Projects that feed creativity and generate new ideas
- Education — Quality education programs that support underserved communities
- Environment — Projects that sustain and protect the environment's natural resources in the region for future generations
- Cultural Institutions — Unique cultural organizations that enrich and distinguish the community
The foundation prioritizes projects that:
- Support under-resourced or under-represented communities
- Offer larger scale, measurable impact
- Implement innovative solutions
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation distributed $6,181,500 in grants across 27 awards. Notable recent grants include $2,600,000 to the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.
Grant Range
s:**
Average Grant
$120,897
Review Cycle
.
Grant Types
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the St. Louis, Missouri region and surrounding area.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $72,970,902 (2024)
- Total Revenue: $10,294,681 (2024)
- Total Expenses: $7,348,581 (2024)
- Annual Giving: $6,181,500 (2024)
- Total Liabilities: $616 (2024)
- Total Giving Since 1985: $65+ million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $72,970,902 | $70,041,889 | $68,831,959 |
| Revenue | $10,294,681 | $7,841,135 | $7,136,378 |
| Expenses | $7,348,581 | $8,427,813 | $5,784,223 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,404,554 | $7,458,158 | $4,979,563 |
| Net Investment Income | $9,418,908 | $7,052,707 | $6,377,094 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,692,198 | $5,230,272 | $5,235,970 |
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
208 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Bellwether Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Donald Danforth Plant Science Center ($2,600,000), Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation ($2,000,000), Missouri Botanical Garden ($1,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CARDINAL GLENNON CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION ST LOUIS, MO | TO DELIVER EXCEPTIONAL HEALTH CARE TO ALL CHILDREN IN NEED OF CARE. | $2,000,000 |
| CITY ACADEMY ST LOUIS, MO | TO OFFER AFFORDABLE EDUCATION TO PROMISING CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY. | $57,500 |
| DONALD DANFORTH PLANT SCIENCE CENTER ST LOUIS, MO | TO IMPROVE THE HUMAN CONDITION THROUGH PLANT SCIENCE. | $2,600,000 |
| DREAM BUILDERS 4EQUITY ST LOUIS, MO | FOR LOW-INCOME YOUTH TO RECEIVE TRAINING IN REHABBING PROPERTY. | $1,500 |
| EYE THRIVE ST LOUIS, MO | TO GIVE CHILDREN THE ABILITY TO THRIVE THROUGH ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL VISION SERVICES. | $5,000 |
| FOREST RELEAF OF MISSOURI ST LOUIS, MO | TO PROVIDE TREES FOR PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT PLANTINGS. | $10,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE ST LOUIS, MO | TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES TO THRIVE IN OUR REGION. | $1,500 |
| JOHN BURROUGHS SCHOOL ST LOUIS, MO | TO SUPPORT ACADEMIC, PHYSICAL AND CREATIVE FULFILLMENT FOR STUDENTS. | $3,000 |
| KIDS VISION FOR LIFE ST LOUIS MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO | TO ELIMINATE POOR VISION AS A BARRIER TO LEARNING IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE HIGHER OUTCOMES. | $25,000 |
| LOYOLA ACADEMY OF ST LOUIS ST LOUIS, MO | TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY THROUGH EDUCATION FOR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS. | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Robert B. Smith III — Chairman of the Board
- Virginia V. Smith — President/Secretary
- Sally Duffield — Trustee
- Carrie D. Pittenger — Trustee
- John J. Wolfe — Trustee
The foundation operates with limited paid staffing, relying primarily on board members who contribute minimal hours.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIRGINIA V SMITH | PRESIDENT/SECRETARY | 15 | — |
| ROBERT B SMITH III | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD | 0.5 | — |
| SALLY DUFFIELD | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| CARRIE D PITTENGER | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| JOHN J WOLFE | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 8000 Maryland Ave, Suite 1165, Saint Louis, MO 63105
Phone: (314) 862-1150
Email: info@bellwetherstl.org
Website: https://www.bellwetherstl.org/
Office Hours: Meetings by appointment only
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Bellwether Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to promote the ideals and aspirations of its founders by improving the quality of life for all people, primarily in St. Louis, through the support of innovative programs that make a positive impact for present and future generations. The foundation supports St. Louis area-based 501(c)(3) organizations with a focus on: • **Arts & Sciences** — Projects that feed creativity and generate new ideas • **Education** — Quality education programs that support underserved comm…
How do I apply for a grant from The Bellwether Foundation?
**Grant Types & Support:** • Programmatic support (preferred) • General operations • Capital support • Endowment support • Multi-year grants (available for prior grant recipients with payments over two or three years) **Grant Sizes:** • Typical grant range: Up to $25,000 for program/operating support • Average grant: $120,897 • Median grant: $4,000 • Range: $1,000 – $2,600,000 **Recent Activity:** In 2024, the foundation distributed $6,181,500 in grants across 27 awards. Notable recent grants i…
Where does The Bellwether Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the St. Louis, Missouri region and surrounding area.
What size grants does The Bellwether Foundation award?
In 2024, The Bellwether Foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $6.2M — an average of about $229K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Bellwether Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Bellwether Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Bellwether Foundation's EIN?
The Bellwether Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2635309. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Bellwether 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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