The Opportunity Trust is a St. Louis, Missouri–based public charity that supports efforts to improve public schools and expand children’s access to quality education. It provides grants and other support to schools, educators, families, nonprofits, and community stakeholders, with a stated goal of increasing the percentage of St. Louis children attending quality public schools.
Key facts about The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education
In short: The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education gave $12.8M across 36 grants in 2025 (avg $356K), mostly in Missouri. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 82-1838644
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $12,802,662
- Grants made (2025)
- 36
- Average grant
- $355,630
- Median grant
- $156,750
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (13 of 36, 2025)
- Total assets
- $4,041,644
- Primary geography
- Missouri (87% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The available information describes an interest form for school or district leaders seeking School Improvement Funding and an application process for returning grantees. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$4.0M
+1.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$12.8M
+115.3% YoY
Grant Count
36
+28.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$356K
+67.4% YoY
Is The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 36 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $162K; repeat grants $465K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $274K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization states that it invests in educators and school systems eager to build the capacity required to make significant and measurable change. Its website describes a broader aim of accelerating school improvement and increasing access to effective public schools.
Its work includes supporting parent and student leaders; building, expanding, and improving public schools; cultivating and retaining educators; and supporting early learning. Its school-improvement priorities include child wellness and engagement, curriculum and learning growth, adult wellness and development, family and community partnership, and effective operations. It also provides grant funding for capacity building, expansion, curriculum development, research, and strategic planning.
The Opportunity Trust supports a range of schools and organizations. For example, Kairos Academies describes its mission as providing a free public education where students find their voice and shape their futures. The Leadership School says it aims to grow students’ leadership capacity through academically rigorous, culturally relevant, relationship-oriented education. Navigate STL Schools describes its work as advocating for equitable enrollment and sharing information about school options with St. Louis City families.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, The Opportunity Trust reported 36 grants totaling **$12,802,662**. Grant amounts ranged from **$5,500 to $1,488,050**, with a median grant of **$156,750**.
Review Cycle
has passed.
How to Apply
for returning grantees. The Charter School Program is described as a competitive, peer-reviewed subgrant program, but no application materials or deadline are specified here.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education
Charter School Program (CSP)
The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education
Amount
Approximately $2,000,000 per award
Deadline
Rolling / Open
School Improvement Grant
The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
St. Louis Pre-K Cooperative
The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ready to take the next step with The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization’s website describes its work as focused on St. Louis. In 2025, 87% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in Missouri, 12% to Indiana, and 1% each to Texas and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.1M (2019) to $12.8M (2025). In 2025 it made 36 grants totaling $12.8M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Believe Schools ($1.5M). Together the top 10 received $9.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
148 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 58 grants of 148 (39%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Believe Schools Indianapolis, IN | New Schools | $1,488,050 |
| Gateway Science Academy of St Louis St. Louis, MO | Existing School Expansion | $1,307,077 |
| Kairos Academies St. Louis, MO | New Schools | $1,265,207 |
| The Leadership School Pagedale, MO | New Schools | $991,848 |
| St Louis Voices Academy St. Louis, MO | New Schools | $842,131 |
| Atlas Public Schools St. Louis, MO | New Schools | $819,270 |
| Friendly Academy Saint Louis, MO | New Schools | $746,607 |
| The Foundation for Barnes Jewish Hospital Saint Louis, MO | New Schools | $740,000 |
| Premier Charter School St. Louis, MO | Existing School Improvement | $714,750 |
| Bridge 2 Hope St. Louis, MO | Parent & Student Leadership | $650,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,041,644 | $21,580,942 | $21,538,891 | $12,802,662 (36 grants) |
| 2024 | $3,999,593 | $12,600,936 | $14,089,865 | $5,946,913 (28 grants) |
| 2023 | $5,488,522 | $14,021,553 | $12,750,091 | $5,117,675 (34 grants) |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,041,644 | $3,999,593 | $5,488,522 |
| Revenue | $21,580,942 | $12,600,936 | $14,021,553 |
| Expenses | $21,538,891 | $14,089,865 | $12,750,091 |
| Net Investment Income | $262,196 | $274,971 | $63,945 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 6, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 30, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 3, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Keith Williamson as chair; Bishop Michael Jones Sr., John Lemkemeier, John W. Kemper, Jessica Pena, Cindy Brinkley, and Jemina Bernard as directors; Eric Scroggins as chief executive officer; Jesse Dixon as partner; and Ayanna Banks as employee.
The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education is led by Eric Scroggins, Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2019; 7 of 14 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Eric Scroggins
Chief Executive Officer
On filings since 2019
50 hrs/week
$304K (2019) → $428K (2025)
Keith Williamson
Chair
Director → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Pena
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Lemkemeier
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John W. Kemper
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bishop Michael Jones Sr.
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cindy Brinkley
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jemina Bernard
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jesse Dixon
Partner
On filings since 2022
50 hrs/week
$170K (2022) → $221K (2025)
Rachel Donnice Powers
Partner
Employee → Partner, 2024
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$125K (2023) → $176K (2025)
Tanesia Lashay Simmons
Partner
Employee → Partner, 2024
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$167K (2023) → $174K (2025)
Antonio Pacifico
Employee
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$140K (2024) → $145K (2025)
Brandi Chin
Partner
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$193K (2024) → $196K (2025)
Ayanna Banks
Employee
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$137K (2025)
Former officers (8)
- Former: Tiara Sheree Jordan (2023–2024) — Employee
- Former: Amelia Corl (2024) — Employee
- Former: Todd R. Schnuck (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Anthony Thompson (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Elizabeth Adefioye (2023) — Director
- Former: Mia Howard (2021) — Key Employee
- Former: Marcus Robinson (2019–2020) — Key Employee
- Former: Michael Jones (2019–2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $428K, to Eric Scroggins (Chief Executive Officer). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 5501 Delmar Blvd Suite A300, St Louis, MO 63112
Phone: (314) 328-5688
Website: https://theopportunitytrust.org
Frequently asked questions about The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education
How much does The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education give each year?
The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education gave $12.8M across 36 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $5.9M across 28 grants.
What is The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education's typical grant size?
The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education's median grant in 2025 was $156,750, and its average grant was $355,630, across 36 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education that year got $162K on average.
Where does The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education give grants?
The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education gives mostly in Missouri: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Indiana (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were St. Louis, MO (29 grants).
Does The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 36 grants with a stated purpose on The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Existing School Improvement" (13 grants), "New Schools" (7 grants) and "Existing School Expansion" (4 grants).
Who are The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education's largest grantees?
The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education's largest 2025 grantees include Believe Schools ($1,488,050), Gateway Science Academy of St Louis ($1,307,077) and Kairos Academies ($1,265,207), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education?
The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education reported $4.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $21.6M.
What does The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education fund?
The organization states that it invests in educators and school systems eager to build the capacity required to make significant and measurable change. Its website describes a broader aim of accelerating school improvement and increasing access to effective public schools. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education?
The available information describes an interest form for school or district leaders seeking School Improvement Funding and an application process for returning grantees. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education's EIN?
The Opportunity Trust D/B/a Zest Education's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-1838644. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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