Our Strategy
In pursuit of our vision and in light of gaps in community capacity, Deaconess pursues a focused, power-building strategy to advance child well-being through racial equity and public policy.
RESULTS
Deaconess supports policy development, advocacy and organizing efforts that pursue positive systemic change for the well-being of children and families in the metropolitan region including Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois in alignment with Deaconess policy priorities. We expect efforts supported through these grants to propel our work and the movement for community well-being in alignment with our 100-year vision.
Health Care
All children of the St. Louis region should have universal access to comprehensive mental, physical and dental care, supported by a trauma informed care approach, a network of school-based health centers and the benefits of Medicaid expansion.
Economic Mobility
Families in the St. Louis region should be able to achieve economic stability within one generation in an environment marked by fair chance employment practices, family-supporting wages and asset-building supports.
Justice and Equity
All children of the St. Louis region should receive just treatment under the law, with specific emphasis on contact with the state’s systems for juvenile justice and foster and adoptive care.
Early Childhood Education
All children of the St. Louis region should enjoy full access to quality early childhood care and education from birth to Pre-Kindergarten.
Upcoming funding opportunities and their application links are listed here.
Deaconess Foundation recognizes that significant gaps in civic infrastructure, resources and power inhibit the health and well-being of children and families in the St. Louis region. Expanding community capital through mission-related investments is just one of Deaconess’ strategies to strengthen the region, system, and community’s capability to achieve positive outcomes through collaborative engagement and investment with diverse partners.
Deaconess seeks to explore use of the best tools to partner with nonprofit groups to facilitate organizations maximizing their impact consistent with the Foundation’s funding strategies, return expectations and risk parameters. Our investment policy establishes a goal of spending up to 2 percent of the market value of our endowment, yielding up to $1 million in community investment.
Mission-Related Investments will support the efforts of community development financial institutions (CDFI), development finance agencies (DFA), credit unions, nonprofits, and social enterprises with:
- organizational strength and readiness for borrowing,
- a track record of lending or investment,
- a clear business model for repayment of the investment, and
- proposed use of capital in alignment with Deaconess policy priorities to advance well-being for metropolitan St. Louis children and families.
Movement Building Grants will be awarded for one year in two categories: 1. General Operating or 2. Policy Campaign/Issue Specific.
- General operating grants are available for partners engaged in systems change work that have not been previously funded by Deaconess Foundation. Applicants for general operating support will be considered through the lens of strengthening community wide infrastructure for movement building in the region.
- Policy Campaign/Issue Specific grants are targeted to partners engaged in timely and urgent issue-based campaigns that aim to improve conditions for community level well-being.
The maximum award amount is $20,000.
Deaconess Foundation recognizes that significant gaps in civic infrastructure, resources and power inhibit the health and well-being of children and families in the St. Louis region. Our strategy is designed to address these gaps by strengthening the region, system, and community’s capability to achieve positive outcomes through collaborative engagement and investment with diverse partners.
Policy Campaign/Collaborative Grants will offer up to $100,000 in general operating funding to support timely and urgent issue-based campaigns to advance public policy through grassroots advocacy, civic engagement and community organizing aligned with our desired impacts.
Policy Campaign/Collaborative Grants are designed to support expanded capacity to movement infrastructure. This strategy propels our work and the movement of child and community well-being.
Grants may support:
- Efforts which advance coordinated local or state public policy advocacy and organizing campaigns driving meaningful, systemic change;
- Development of research and analysis, convenings and community campaigns that generate innovative approaches to solving policy challenges; and/or
- Opportunistic or innovative initiatives that are well-positioned to advance policy change (i.e. Ballot initiatives, collective impact efforts, etc.).
Grants will be awarded for one year and may be awarded to collaborative efforts. The maximum award amount is $100,000.
The Deaconess Nursing Scholarship Program honors the nursing heritage of the Deaconess mission by supporting local students with demonstrated financial need. These grants are administered through a partnership with the Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis and the St. Louis American Foundation.
The Racial Healing + Justice Fund is the commitment to change the conditions of systemic racism that reinforce disparities and endanger lives and to heal the core of our community.
Deaconess Foundation, Forward Through Ferguson, and Missouri Foundation for Health, with the thought leadership of InPower Institute have collaborated to establish the St. Louis Racial Healing + Justice Fund to invest in healing community trauma and changing the conditions that reinforce systemic racism.
Deaconess Foundation recognizes that significant gaps in civic infrastructure, resources and power inhibit the health and well-being of children and families in the St. Louis region. Our Just for Kids strategy is designed to address these gaps by strengthening the region, system, and community’s capability to achieve positive outcomes through collaborative engagement and investment with diverse partners.
Special Health Grants honor heritage and mission of Deaconess Foundation and its donors to support health centers and nonprofit hospitals, kidney dialysis equipment, and rehabilitation services for children. For 2017, two opportunities include:
- Nonprofit Hospitals and Health Centers Grant
A one-time $50,000 grant will support nonprofit hospitals and health centers in their efforts to provide uncompensated care services for children and expand CHIP and Medicaid eligibility and services - Child Rehabilitation Grant
A one-time $50,000 grant will support health care providers, primarily health centers and nonprofit hospitals in their efforts to provide uncompensated rehabilitation services for children
DEADLINE
Deaconess Special Health Grants are announced as they become available.