Home - Deaconess Foundation

We invest in organizing, advocacy and policy change in Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois.

Why it matters

It is difficult to survive and thrive in a racist set of systems.

“It is incredibly difficult to characterize the challenges or opportunities for improvement because it’s all compounded. Each issue dramatically impacts the others. The entire system is interconnected and broken…creating pain in every area. The compound effect of it all is crushing.”

Learn More

Recent News

December Newsletter | RelationSHIFT: Lessons from the Life of Naomi

Deaconess Community, As the year bends toward its close, the world itself feels like it is exhaling from the exhaustion…

Featured image for “Deaconess Foundation Awards $450,000 to Organizations Dedicated to Youth and Older Adults in Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois”

Deaconess Foundation Awards $450,000 to Organizations Dedicated to Youth and Older Adults in Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois

The community-stewarded grantmaking approach identified key cross-generational themes in the types of support needed by both seniors and young people…

July/August Newsletter | A Reckoning that Calls Us to Reflect and Rebuild

Deaconess Community, As summer turns to fall, our region is not merely reflecting — it is reckoning. The May 16…

We support and learn from our region’s leading community organizations.

Partner Highlight

Rustic Roots Sanctuary

Rustic Roots Sanctuary is a sustainable farm and retreat space located in the Spanish Lake community of North St. Louis County. It is intended as a holistic healing space for residents...

Partner Highlight

MOVE

The Missouri Organizing and Voter Engagement Collaborative (MOVE) exists to empower ordinary people to reclaim democracy in the state of...

Children’s Advocates for Change

Children’s Advocates for Change promotes the needs of Illinois children through public forums, social media, and advocacy work with elected...

The T

The T is a nonprofit organization that promotes holistic healing from trauma related to bullet injuries and overdose in St....

Action St. Louis and United Congregations of Metro East

The greater St. Louis region experienced historic flooding in late July, with the most devastating impact located in predominantly Black communities....

Get Funding

View All Partners

Latest Tweets

Deaconess Foundation @deaconessfound

The Request for Proposals for our Policy Campaign Grants is open through January 30th. These grants offer up to $100,000 in general operating support for timely and urgent issue-based campaigns. Learn more and apply here: https://ow.ly/9CYq50XGsR4. #grants #apply #RFP

Deaconess Foundation @deaconessfound

Our Policy Campaign Grant cycle closes on January 30th. The grants may support efforts advancing coordinated local or state public policy advocacy and the expansion of organizing capacity to respond to the evolving legislative and electoral landscape. https://ow.ly/4sec50XGpZb

Deaconess Foundation @deaconessfound

In Deaconess Foundation's most recent eNewsletter, President & CEO Bethany Johnson-Javois invites us to take a moment to realign our hearts and relationships in anticipation of the year ahead. Read her full piece in the December eNewsletter here: https://deaconess.org/december-newsletter-relationshift-lessons-from-the-life-of-naomi/

Deaconess Foundation @deaconessfound

The Request for Proposals for our Policy Campaign Grants is open through January 30th. These grants offer up to $100,000 in general operating support for timely and urgent issue-based campaigns. Learn more and apply here: https://ow.ly/9CYq50XGsR4. #grants #apply #RFP

Deaconess Foundation @deaconessfound

Our Policy Campaign Grant cycle closes on January 30th. The grants may support efforts advancing coordinated local or state public policy advocacy and the expansion of organizing capacity to respond to the evolving legislative and electoral landscape. https://ow.ly/4sec50XGpZb

Deaconess Foundation @deaconessfound

In Deaconess Foundation's most recent eNewsletter, President & CEO Bethany Johnson-Javois invites us to take a moment to realign our hearts and relationships in anticipation of the year ahead. Read her full piece in the December eNewsletter here: https://deaconess.org/december-newsletter-relationshift-lessons-from-the-life-of-naomi/

Deaconess Foundation @deaconessfound

The Request for Proposals for our Policy Campaign Grants is open through January 30th. These grants offer up to $100,000 in general operating support for timely and urgent issue-based campaigns. Learn more and apply here: https://ow.ly/9CYq50XGsR4. #grants #apply #RFP

Deaconess Foundation @deaconessfound

Our Policy Campaign Grant cycle closes on January 30th. The grants may support efforts advancing coordinated local or state public policy advocacy and the expansion of organizing capacity to respond to the evolving legislative and electoral landscape. https://ow.ly/4sec50XGpZb

Deaconess Foundation @deaconessfound

In Deaconess Foundation's most recent eNewsletter, President & CEO Bethany Johnson-Javois invites us to take a moment to realign our hearts and relationships in anticipation of the year ahead. Read her full piece in the December eNewsletter here: https://deaconess.org/december-newsletter-relationshift-lessons-from-the-life-of-naomi/

Deaconess Foundation @deaconessfound

The Request for Proposals for our Policy Campaign Grants is open through January 30th. These grants offer up to $100,000 in general operating support for timely and urgent issue-based campaigns. Learn more and apply here: https://ow.ly/9CYq50XGsR4. #grants #apply #RFP

Deaconess Foundation @deaconessfound

Our Policy Campaign Grant cycle closes on January 30th. The grants may support efforts advancing coordinated local or state public policy advocacy and the expansion of organizing capacity to respond to the evolving legislative and electoral landscape. https://ow.ly/4sec50XGpZb

Deaconess Foundation @deaconessfound

In Deaconess Foundation's most recent eNewsletter, President & CEO Bethany Johnson-Javois invites us to take a moment to realign our hearts and relationships in anticipation of the year ahead. Read her full piece in the December eNewsletter here: https://deaconess.org/december-newsletter-relationshift-lessons-from-the-life-of-naomi/