Missouri Grants for Nonprofits

NOTE:  Anthem Foundation has recently undergone a strategy refresh to ensure we are best positioned to improve the health of the socially vulnerable in our communities through strategic partnership and programs. At this time, we are accepting letters of inquiry related to one of our newly refined areas of focus: Maternal Health.

The Anthem Foundation funds specific public health–related initiatives that positively affect conditions identified through our signature Healthy Generations program.

Healthy Generations Program

We believe that targeting specific, preventable health concerns by making strategic charitable choices will help us create a healthier generation of Americans.

The Healthy Generations initiative uses innovative social mapping technology and analyzes public health data to provide a snapshot of the major health issues in each state. This allows us to drill down to the zip code level and target initiatives that positively affect the conditions that matter most. We call this putting science behind the art of grant-making.

Today, we’re emphasizing efforts in five areas, while also supporting behavioral health efforts and programs that benefit people with disabilities.

Healthy Hearts

The Anthem Foundation is investing in preventive programs that minimize controllable cardiovascular diseases and strokes, including efforts to reduce smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and stressful and inactive lifestyles. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., with about 600,000 deaths each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronary heart disease alone costs the U.S. $108.9 billion a year in healthcare services, medications and lost productivity.

Cancer Prevention

Prevention offers the most cost-effective, long-term strategy for the control of cancer. The Anthem Foundation partners with organizations that implement lifesaving cancer-prevention and early-detection programs. More than a million people in the United States get cancer each year. At least a third of all cancer cases are preventable if people make healthy choices such as not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, eating right, keeping active, and getting recommended screening tests.

Healthy Maternal Practices

The Anthem Foundation focuses on programs that encourage and facilitate first-trimester prenatal care and help at-risk mothers commit to behaviors that reduce the numbers of low-birthweight babies. Preterm birth is among the leading causes of newborn death, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Prenatal care is an important part of a healthy pregnancy, and known strategies can lower the risk of an early birth.

Healthy Diabetes Prevention

More than 25 million Americans are living with diabetes and a third of obese adults are at risk for developing this condition. The Anthem Foundation invests in programs that stem the spread of diabetes through healthy lifestyle changes and increased physical activity.

Healthy Active Lifestyle

The Anthem Foundation supports programs that raise awareness for, educate on, and encourage new behaviors, resulting in healthy, active lifestyles that offer long-term benefits. Regular physical activity helps reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, colon cancer and diabetes. It also improves mental well-being, assists with weight control, reduces depression and anxiety, and helps healthy muscles and joints.

The Anthem Foundation’s support of healthy, active lifestyles for individuals with disabilities seeks to reduce healthcare disparities and improve access to care.

Community Relations & Sponsorships

We support nonprofit fundraising and sponsor initiatives that reflect the objectives of our signature Healthy Generations program. Rather than try to cover many broad health-related needs in the community, Anthem funds targeted grants that align with the initiative.

NOTE: Program grant applications are open year-round and prioritized based on the scope and nature of the request. 

Anthem Foundation

The Anthem Foundation funds specific public health–related initiatives that positively affect conditions identified through our signature Healthy Generations program.

Program Grants

Anthem Foundation Program Grants support ongoing community health programs with proven and measurable outcomes. Generally, our grant terms are one year, with a few exceptions (mostly for national grants).

Approach

We invest in traditional and nontraditional problem-solving approaches. These include programs that provide services directly to people and those that change systems to transform healthcare. Although we fund some research and policy requests, such proposals are by invitation only. 

Measurable Results

We favor initiatives that prioritize obtaining strategic, measurable results over isolated grant activities. For example, a physical fitness initiative that increases physical activity or improves diet in general as a key goal is less likely to be favored than an initiative that increases physical activity or improves diet as a specific means to reduce BMI for a target population. Our gauge for a successful grant is a measurable result that is evident within the grant period.

Operating Principles

We want to create the greatest human gain for the grant dollars we have available. Rather than try to cover many broad health-related needs in the community, the Foundation funds targeted grants that align with our signature Healthy Generations program.

The Anthem Foundation evaluates the projected ability of grant requests to yield meaningful results by asking three simple questions of each proposal:

• What results will be achieved?
• Will this organization deliver on its proposed commitments?
• Is this grant the best possible use of the Foundation’s resources?

Healthy Generations

We believe that targeting specific, preventable health concerns by making strategic charitable choices will help us create a healthier generation of Americans.

The Healthy Generations initiative uses innovative social mapping technology and analyzes public health data to provide a snapshot of the major health issues in each state. This allows us to drill down to the zip code level and target initiatives that positively affect the conditions that matter most. We call this putting science behind the art of grant-making.

Today, we’re emphasizing efforts in five areas, while also supporting behavioral health efforts and programs that benefit people with disabilities.

Healthy Hearts

The Anthem Foundation is investing in preventive programs that minimize controllable cardiovascular diseases and strokes, including efforts to reduce smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and stressful and inactive lifestyles. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., with about 600,000 deaths each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronary heart disease alone costs the U.S. $108.9 billion a year in healthcare services, medications and lost productivity.

Cancer Prevention

Prevention offers the most cost-effective, long-term strategy for the control of cancer. The Anthem Foundation partners with organizations that implement lifesaving cancer-prevention and early-detection programs. More than a million people in the United States get cancer each year. At least a third of all cancer cases are preventable if people make healthy choices such as not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, eating right, keeping active, and getting recommended screening tests.

Healthy Maternal Practices

The Anthem Foundation focuses on programs that encourage and facilitate first-trimester prenatal care and help at-risk mothers commit to behaviors that reduce the numbers of low-birthweight babies. Preterm birth is among the leading causes of newborn death, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Prenatal care is an important part of a healthy pregnancy, and known strategies can lower the risk of an early birth.

Diabetes Prevention

More than 25 million Americans are living with diabetes and a third of obese adults are at risk for developing this condition. The Anthem Foundation invests in programs that stem the spread of diabetes through healthy lifestyle changes and increased physical activity.

Healthy Active Lifestyle

The Anthem Foundation supports programs that raise awareness for, educate on, and encourage new behaviors, resulting in healthy, active lifestyles that offer long-term benefits. Regular physical activity helps reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, colon cancer and diabetes. It also improves mental well-being, assists with weight control, reduces depression and anxiety, and helps healthy muscles and joints.

The Anthem Foundation’s support of healthy, active lifestyles for individuals with disabilities seeks to reduce healthcare disparities and improve access to care.

Under the visionary leadership of founder Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s is leading North America’s largest conservation movement. Together with our partners in conservation, we’re positively shaping the future of the outdoors through donations, grant-making and advocacy.

• Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s – As the premier outdoor and conservation company Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s supports initiatives inspiring everyone to enjoy, love and conserve the great outdoors.
• The Outdoor Fund – The 501c3 Outdoor Fund raises funds to support conservation efforts by activating more than 200 million passionate sportsmen and women rounding up their purchases in Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s stores.
• Conservation Foundation – A national not-for-profit, the Conservation Foundation convenes and mobilizes leading conservationists, organizations and industry partners to shape the future of conservation.

Cabela's Donation/Sponsorship Request Guidelines

Cabela's is proud to partner with local and national organizations in support of our mission to inspire everyone to enjoy, love and conserve the great outdoors.

Our community giving priorities align with our mission and focus on projects that make a difference in conserving the outdoors and inspiring the next generation of conservation stewards. Our giving supports:

• Conserving fish and wildlife: Initiatives that ensure the health of our precious fish and wildlife resources including habitat improvement and restoration, water quality and species health.
• Introducing new audiences to the outdoors: Programs that foster passion in the next generation including youth and family outdoor adventures, outdoor skills training and multicultural outreach.
• Protecting our hunting and fishing heritage: Projects that protect our hunting and fishing heritage including second amendment rights, outdoor recreational access and conservation advocacy.
• Military and veterans: Initiatives that care for our military and veterans in honor of their service to our country and our freedom, particularly programs that help military and veterans enjoy the outdoors.

Bass Pro Shops' Focus Areas

Thank you for your interest in Bass Pro Shops' giving programs. Bass Pro Shops is proud to partner with local and national organizations in support of our mission to inspire people to enjoy, love and conserve the great outdoors. In the past five years alone, Bass Pro Shops has donated more than $100 million to conservation, community and outdoor education programs.

Bass Pro Shops is committed to our role as a conservation leader. We believe in protecting our natural resources, our rights, and in inspiring people to conserve the Great Outdoors. We support conservation and community efforts in three main areas:

Conserving Wildlife and Habitat – Bass Pro Shops funds initiatives that ensure the health of our precious fish & wildlife resources for generations to come. This includes projects and events that support:

• Species Health through the North American Model of Conservation
• Habitat Improvement and Restoration
• Water Quality

Connecting New Audiences to the Outdoors – Bass Pro Shops funds initiatives that introduce new audiences to the outdoors and foster future generations of stewards. This includes projects and events that support:

• Youth and Family Outdoor Adventures
• Outdoor Skills Training
• Multicultural Outreach

Access and Advocacy – Bass Pro Shops fund initiatives that protect our hunting and fishing heritage. This includes projects and events that support:

• 2nd Amendment Rights
• Outdoor Recreation Access Issues
• Conservation Leadership & Advocacy

Military and Veterans Initiatives – Bass Pro Shops funds initiatives that care for our men and women in uniform, giving preference to activities that connect veterans to the outdoors.

Creating Healthy & Active Lifestyles and Communities (Missouri Ozarks Only) – As one of the largest employers in the Missouri Ozarks, Bass Pro Shops invests in initiatives that ensure the Missouri Ozarks remains a thriving community. This includes projects and events that support:

• Health and Wellness
• Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Initiatives
• Arts and Quality of Life

NOTE: For nonprofit organizations new to U.S. Bank Foundation, a Letter of Interest will be available in January 2021. Community Affairs Managers will review Letter of Interest submissions periodically to learn about new and innovative programs and organizations in their regions and markets. After reviewing a Letter of Interest, a Community Affairs Manager may reach out with a request for a full application. You can access the Letter of Interest by clicking the “Submit a letter of interest” link at the bottom of this page. Letters of Interest may be submitted at any time during the year.

Community Possible Grant

Through U.S. Bank’s Community Possible® grant program, we invest in efforts to create stable jobs, safe homes and communities.

Funding Types

Within these general guidelines, we consider the following funding request types:

Operating grants

An operating grant is given to cover an organization’s day-to-day, ongoing expenses, such as salaries, utilities, office supplies and more. We consider operating support requests from organizations where the entire mission of the organization fits a Community Possible grant focus area.

Program or project grants

A program or project grant is given to support a specific, connected set of activities, with a beginning and an end, explicit objectives and a predetermined cost. We consider highly effective and innovative programs that meet our Community Possible grant focus areas.

Capital grants

A capital grant is given to finance fixed assets. The U.S. Bank Foundation considers a small number of requests for capital support from organizations that meet all other funding criteria, whose entire mission statement fits a Community Possible grant focus area, and with which the Foundation has a funding history. All organizations requesting capital funding must also have a U.S. Bank employee on the board of directors. U.S. Bank does not fund more than 1% of the non-endowment total capital campaign fundraising goal. All capital grant requests are reviewed and approved by the national U.S. Bank Foundation Board or by the U.S. Bank Foundation President.

Focus Area: PLAY

Creating vibrant communities through play.

Play brings joy, and it’s just as necessary for adults as it is for kids. But in low-income areas there are often limited spaces for play and fewer people attending arts and cultural events. That’s why we invest in community programming that supports ways for children and adults to play and create.

Access to artistic and cultural programming and arts education

Our investments ensure economic vitality and accessibility to the arts in local communities, as well as support for arts education. Examples of grant support include:

• Programs that provide access to cultural activities, visual and performing arts, zoos and aquariums and botanic gardens for individuals and families living in underserved communities
• Funding for local arts organizations that enhance the economic vitality of the community
• Programs that provide funding for arts-focused nonprofit organizations that bring visual and performing arts programming to low- and moderate-income K-12 schools and youth centers

Supporting learning through play.

Many young people across the country do not have the resources or access to enjoy the benefits of active play. Supporting active play-based programs and projects for K-12 students located in or serving low- and moderate-income communities fosters innovation, creativity, and collaboration and impacts the overall vitality of the communities we serve. Funding support includes:

• Support for organizations that build or expand access to active play spaces and places that help K-12 students learn through play and improves the health, safety and unification of neighborhoods in low- and moderate-income communities
• Programs that focus on using active play to help young people develop cognitive, social and emotional learning skills to become vibrant and productive citizens in low- and moderate-income communities

Focus Area: WORK

Supporting workforce education and prosperity.

We know that a strong small business environment and an educated workforce ensure the prosperity of our communities and reducing the expanding wealth gap for communities of color. We provide grant support to programs and organizations that help small businesses thrive, allow people to succeed in the workforce, provide pathways to higher education and gain greater financial literacy.

Investing in the workforce.

We fund organizations that provide training for small business development, as well as programs that support individuals across all skill and experience levels, to ensure they have the capability to gain employment that supports individuals and their families. Examples of grant support include:

Small business technical assistance programs

Job-skills, career readiness training programs with comprehensive placement services for low- and moderate-income individuals entering or reentering the labor force

Providing pathways for educational success.

To address the growing requirements for post-secondary education in securing competitive jobs in the workplace, we support:

• Organizations and programs that help low- and moderate-income and at-risk middle and high school students prepare for post-secondary education at a community college, university, trade or technical school and career readiness
• Programs and initiatives at post-secondary institutions that support access to career and educational opportunities for low- and moderate-income and diverse students

Teaching financial well-being for work and life.

Financial well-being is not only critical for financial stability, it’s crucial in helping individuals be successful in the workplace. Examples of grant support include programs that positively impact:

• K-12 and college student financial literacy
• Adult and workforce financial literacy
• Senior financial fraud prevention
• Military service member and veteran financial literacy

Focus Area: HOME

Working to revitalize communities one neighborhood at a time.

Children and families are better positioned to thrive and succeed in a home that is safe and permanent. Access to sustainable low-income housing is increasingly challenges for low-moderate income families. In response, our giving supports efforts that connect individuals and families with sustainable housing opportunities.

Access to safe, affordable housing

We provide financial support to assist people in developing stability in their lives through access to safe, sustainable and accessible homes. Examples of grant support include:

• Organizations that preserve, rehabilitate, renovate or construct affordable housing developments for low- and moderate-income families, individuals, seniors, veterans, and special-needs populations
• Organizations that provide transitional housing as a direct steppingstone to permanent housing
• Organizations that focus on Veterans housing and homeownership
• Construction of green homes for low- and moderate-income communities
• Energy retrofit programs for low- and moderate-income housing developments

Home ownership education

Owning and maintaining a home requires significant financial knowledge, tools, and resources. We support programs that assist low- and moderate-income homebuyers and existing homeowners. Examples of grant support include:

• Homebuyer education
• Pre- and post-purchase counseling and coaching
• Homeownership-retention programs designed to provide foreclosure counseling

Background

The Penn National Gaming Foundation, a 501(c)3 private foundation, was launched in 2005 by Penn National Gaming, Inc. in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to provide assistance to the nearly 2,000 Penn National employees impacted by the storm. The Foundation awarded over $1.4 million in grants for immediate needs such as food, water, clothing, shelter and medical needs.

The Foundation also supported relief efforts across the Gulf Coast through donations to organizations such as Hope Haven Shelter in Bay St. Louis, the MS Law Enforcement and Firefighter Katrina Relief Fund, KaBOOM! and its efforts to rebuild playgrounds on the Coast, and the Gulf Coast-area Salvation Army. 

Today, the Penn National Gaming Foundation is proud to support numerous local non-profit organizations in the communities in which Penn National operates, focusing on projects that promote community development, education, human services, cultural affairs and diversity, health services, and programs that provide support and services to veterans, active members of the military and their families. 

Our Commitment

Penn National Gaming Foundation, Inc. grants shall be used to address the broad needs of the residents of the communities in which Penn National Gaming, Inc. (PNGI) operates or has a business interest, which currently includes the following states: Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia. 

Funding Criteria

Foundation grants shall generally fall in the following categories: 

Community Development. Projects and programs related to community infrastructure improvements, public safety, economic development, housing, historic preservations, citizen involvement, civic leadership training, and other general community activities. 

Education. Programs which support per-school, elementary and secondary education, post-secondary education and special education programs.

Human Services. Programs which address the needs of children and youth, senior citizens and disadvantages populations, especially in times of natural or man made disaster.

Cultural Affairs & Diversity. Programs and facilities designed to foster an understanding, appreciation and celebration of different cultures and encourage participation among individuals of different cultures and belief systems.

Health. Local health and medical-related programs.

The Bellwether Foundation is a charitable foundation located in St. Louis, Missouri. The mission of The Bellwether Foundation is to promote the ideals and aspirations of its founders and supporters beyond their lifetime by providing funds to organizations for projects which anticipate the future in the areas of the arts, computer science, education, finance, health care, medicine, and the social sciences, including research in any of these areas. Bellwether will receive, manage, and disburse funds on an annual or more frequent basis to provide for opportunities in any geographic region deemed appropriate by the Board of Trustees.

Areas of current funding interest include:

• Education 
• Conservation
• St. Louis Civic Institutions