Review BFF’s Grantee Selection Criteria
The Berges Family Foundation supports organizations that make Saint Louis a great place to live, work, visit, and invest. Our goal is to invest philanthropic dollars in ways that lead to specific and systemic change over time and benefit communities on a meaningful, measurable level.
In order to determine if your organization is a good fit with The Berges Family Foundation, please review the following guidelines before beginning the application process.
Step 1: Determine Eligibility
The Berges Family Foundation will consider not-for-profit organizations that meet the following profile:
- Must be a 501c3 organization based in Missouri
- Primary programming/service delivery in the St. Louis, MO metropolitan region
- Seeking funding that aligns closely with one or more of our strategic priority areas
- Please note: BFF does NOT fund: fundraising event sponsorships, direct scholarships or grants to individuals, endowment funds, or debt retirement/operational deficits.
Step 2: BFF Funding Priorities
We accept grant requests for programming, general operations, capacity building, and/or capital projects within the following funding areas:
- Empowering Youth & Strengthening Families – Addressing the needs of our most vulnerable young people to help them reach their full potential.
- Nurturing S.T.E.M. Futures – Developing curiosity, problem-solving abilities, and technical skills in future leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
- Supporting Our Heroes – Providing equipment, skill development, and resources that support first responders and veterans in our community.
- Thriving Saint Louis – Investing in arts, cultural, and civic-minded organizations that improve the quality of life for Saint Louisans.
Step 3: Review the Organizational Qualities BFF seeks in grantees:
The Berges Family Foundation seeks organizations that build deep relationships with those they serve and, over time, deliver lasting change for individuals, families, and communities across the Saint Louis region.
In selecting nonprofit partners, we seek:
Measurable impact
Organizations that are capable of measuring progress toward a well-defined set of outcomes. We believe rigorously and consistently tracking results over time is key to achieving successful outcomes and adapting programs/operations as circumstances change.
Engaged and effective leadership
Nonprofits who have high-functioning staff and board leaders who work together to: define strategy, manage resources, maintain healthy internal operations, execute and assess quality programming, and engage with stakeholders.
Diversified financials
Healthy organizations have a sustainable revenue stream, with funding from a diverse range of sources. Recognizing that the external environment is constantly evolving, taking a proactive approach to understanding, managing, cultivating, and advocating for these diverse revenue streams is important for longer-term sustainability.
Network mindset
Organizations who collaborate with and through other organizations to exchange ideas, share resources, lean on core strengths, and amplify impact.
Community Building
Organization who build relationships and utilize feedback from their beneficiaries, and intentionally implement practices that contribute to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive culture within the organization and the communities it serves.
The Berges Family Foundation seeks mature organizations who exhibit all of these elements over a sustained period of time. New organizations are typically not a good fit, however, early-stage organizations who have demonstrated who have demonstrated exceptional impact early in their tenure may be considered if a robust plan for organizational development is established.
If your organization meets BFF eligibility criteria and aligns with the organizational qualities outlined, you are welcome to submit a letter of inquiry.
Step 4: Submit a Letter of Inquiry
Phase 1 of the grant application process is to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI). LOIs are received on a rolling basis throughout the year, there is no deadline for submission. LOIs are reviewed by the Foundation on a regular basis and a response is provided to applicants within 3 months of submission.
Upon review, select applicants will be advanced to Phase 2 and asked to submit a full application for consideration at a quarterly Trustee meeting (4 meetings/year). Phase 2 full applications are accepted by invitation only.
To start an LOI, please click the button below to register your organization in the BFF online grants portal and begin your application process. *You will be able to save LOIs in draft form and return to complete at a later date.