Trio Foundation of St. Louis Grant

The Trio Foundation of St. Louis Grant aims to enhance community well-being and promote equity through its new funding framework. Established over two decades ago, the foundation focuses on empowering marginalized groups, particularly those facing discrimination based on race, gender, and socioeconomic status. The grant supports initiatives in women's economic empowerment, arts accessibility, and environmental justice, fostering authentic relationships with community partners to create lasting impact in the St. Louis region.

Our New Funding Framework
In 2001, the Trio board established the grantmaking framework which has effectively guided our giving for over 20 years, with the mission statement: “The Trio Foundation of St. Louis values community enhancement, fulfillment of human potential and ecological well-being. The Foundation expresses these values through supporting programs that promote independence, equality of opportunity, creativity, and environmental preservation.”
Over the last few years the Trio board undertook a planning and vision process to define a framework for Trio’s future grantmaking.
Trio will focus even more on increasing opportunity for everyone, particularly those who may experience discrimination in regard to their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and/or physical ability.
The Trio Foundation of St. Louis values community enhancement, fulfillment of human potential and ecological well-being. The Foundation expresses these values through supporting programs and organizations that promote equity of opportunity, independence, equitable access to the creative experience, ecological preservation, and environmental justice.
Our Focus Areas
Trio will continue to focus the vast majority of giving in the St. Louis City and immediate near counties
The new framework includes the following three strategic funding areas:

• Women's Economic Empowerment

Giving women and girls in the St. Louis region the opportunities to participate in all aspects of society and care for themselves and their families in all stages of life. Trio supports all organizations that propel all women, girls, non-binary and gender-expansive people towards long term economic security in the following areas:

• EducationJob TrainingEmployment
• Arts

Support for arts and cultural organizations in the St. Louis region that increase opportunities to engage with a creative experience with a focus on:
Small and mid- sized arts organizationsEfforts to provide equitable access to the arts for undeserved communitiesEfforts that emphasize diversity and inclusion through the arts
Environment
Provide for the betterment of the environment and ecology in the St. Louis area in the following areas:

• Biodiversity and climate changeEnvironmental EducationEnvironmental JusticePreservation of Natural Resources ( air, land, water)
• Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Eligibility

Grants for international programs will be made only through U.S.-based or affiliated 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations.The Foundation generally focuses its grantmaking in the St. Louis region, primarily programs and organizations operating in St. Louis City and St. Louis County, with a limited number in East St. Louis, IL.Program and operating support awards are for one year.The Foundation will be considering grants for general operating purposes where there is a positive historical relationship between the Foundation and the applicant.Capital campaign support is provided in rare instances. Organizations considering applying for a capital campaign should contact a program officer.Only one application per year per agency will be accepted.

Ineligibility

The Foundation is not interested in supporting the production of videos, CD-Roms, conferences, seminars, feasibility studies, the purchasing of computer hardware or software, event sponsorship, charter schools or the development of strategic plans.The Foundation does not make grants to individuals or for scientific or medical research projects.It is the policy of the Foundation not to make grants to Type III supporting organizations that are not functionally integrated.