Best Monroe County Grants for Nonprofits in Illinois

Lutheran School Mini Grants

The Foundation continues to encourage congregations to reach out to their surrounding communities through organized, effective social service outreach ministry efforts. We also recognize congregations are looking for innovative ways, outside the traditional social service outreach model, to build relationships and engage their communities.

We look to accomplish this in two ways:

• Supporting congregations as they work to engage and serve their neighbors and community through planning and program implementation grants.
• Strengthening the ability of congregations to engage in community engagement efforts through coaching assistance, mentoring, and training (through Send Me St. Louis).Examples of Possible Ministry Projects

Congregation Community Engagement is defined for this Funding Focus Area as activities, services, or efforts designed to reach out to others on a local level (St. Louis metropolitan region). Examples include both serving the immediate needs of people and efforts to engage and build relationships with the community. The focus is on bringing the care of Jesus Christ into the lives of hurting people in the community, rather than serving the congregation’s own members. This funding focus area is not meant to support “Word and Sacrament” activities.

• Health care/mental health services
• Fitness/healthy living programs
• English as a second language
• After-school mentoring/tutoring
• Social activities for seniors
• Community revitalization
• Recreation activities
• Home repair/beautification
• Partnerships with local schools/other institutions
• Social enterprise/business that benefits the community and/or creates space for relationships
• One-time events (run by the congregation) to meet a need in the community

Idea Exploration

Congregations should know what they want to do and have an idea of how to get started. If you are not at this point, coaching services to assist your congregation are offered through Lutheran Foundation’s relationship with Send Me St. Louis. Services include coaching and guidance on:

• mapping the congregation’s and community’s assets, 
• researching opportunities for social service outreach ministry, and/or
• planning for a social service outreach ministry.

There are no grant deadlines for the Congregation Mini Grants. Application can be made at any time of the year.

PLTW Computer Science

Ameren has partnered with PLTW to inspire students and provide the hands-on STEM learning experiences necessary to thrive in life beyond the classroom. Ameren is a long-time supporter of K-12 STEM education in the region and is working with PLTW to provide grant support to high schools interested in implementing or expanding their PLTW Computer Science programs.

At a time when computer science affects how we work and live, PLTW Computer Science empowers students in grades 9-12 to become creators, instead of merely consumers, of the technology all around them. The program's interdisciplinary courses engage students in compelling, real-world challenges. As students work together to design solutions, they learn computational thinking – not just how to code – and become better thinkers and communicators. Students take from the courses in-demand knowledge and skills they will use in high school and for the rest of their lives, on any career path they take.

Through this partnership, Ameren has committed funds to support PLTW grants to schools interested in starting or expanding PLTW Computer Science programs beginning in the next academic year.

PLTW Program Status

New Program

PLTW Computer Science

Ameren has partnered with PLTW to inspire students and provide the hands-on STEM learning experiences necessary to thrive in life beyond the classroom. Ameren is a long-time supporter of K-12 STEM education in the region and is working with PLTW to provide grant support to high schools interested in implementing or expanding their PLTW Computer Science programs.

At a time when computer science affects how we work and live, PLTW Computer Science empowers students in grades 9-12 to become creators, instead of merely consumers, of the technology all around them. The program's interdisciplinary courses engage students in compelling, real-world challenges. As students work together to design solutions, they learn computational thinking – not just how to code – and become better thinkers and communicators. Students take from the courses in-demand knowledge and skills they will use in high school and for the rest of their lives, on any career path they take.

Through this partnership, Ameren has committed funds to support PLTW grants to schools interested in starting or expanding PLTW Computer Science programs beginning in the next academic year.

PLTW Program Status

Program Expansion