ST. LOUIS (Feb. 24, 2023 UPDATED) – Deaconess Foundation (Deaconess) is currently accepting grant proposals for their Policy Campaign/Collaborative Grants. Recipients will be awarded up to $100,000 to support public policy efforts that pursue change through grassroots advocacy, civic engagement, and community organizing. Deaconess is looking to fund campaigns led by Missouri and Southern Illinois community organizations or coalitions that promote the civic engagement required to advance public policy change.

“Deaconess’ Policy Campaign/Collaborative Grants aim to support local and state public policy advocacy and organizing campaigns that drive meaningful, systemic change aligned with our desired impact for children and families,” said Bethany Johnson-Javois, president and CEO of Deaconess Foundation. “In this ever-evolving legislative and electoral landscape we are committed to investing in opportunities that are well-positioned to advance policy change. We want to incentivize collaboration to achieve big policy wins. We know that now is the time to activate.”

With these grants, Deaconess continues its dedication to fostering collaboration and community organization in Missouri and Southern Illinois. In 2019, Deaconess invested $100,000 in Missouri Jobs with Justice and Action St. Louis to support a 2020 collaborative public policy campaign to help achieve Medicaid Expansion and democracy reform in Missouri. The organizations collaborated as campaign partners focused on mobilizing their combined base. The partnership resulted in helping to successfully mobilize the electorate in support of Medicaid Expansion on the November 2020 ballot.

Grants will be awarded for one year to one or more campaigns, with a second round of grants being offered in early 2024. The maximum grant award will be $100,000 with no less than $50,000 awarded per organization/campaign. The grants are for general operating support to advance timely public policy change efforts.

The initial deadline has been extended with the addition of a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document to the website. Organizations must submit proposals for Policy Campaign/Collaborative Grants at deaconess.org/apply-for-funding by Monday, March 13, 2023.

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Deaconess Foundation is an institutional advocate that invests and mobilizes people, policy, and power for the well-being of children and their families. A ministry of the United Church of Christ, Deaconess has invested more than $85 million to improve the health of the St. Louis community since 1998. The Foundation’s advocacy and grantmaking footprint includes St. Louis City, St. Louis, Jefferson, St. Charles and Franklin Counties in Missouri and Madison, St. Clair and Monroe Counties in Illinois. For more information, visit deaconess.org Follow the Foundation on Twitter and Instagram @deaconessfound and on Facebook at facebook.com/deaconessfoundation.