Lutheran Schools | Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis

Funding Goal

To support a system of Lutheran schools dedicated to excellence in Christian education.

Outcomes

Outcomes describe, in broad terms, the measurable change within each Funding Focus Area that Lutheran Foundation would like to see in the lives of those served by funded partners.

Organizations seeking funding from the Foundation must demonstrate how their program will address one or more of the following outcomes:

OUTCOME #1

Children served by Lutheran schools will experience improved academic and/or social-emotional outcomes.

OUTCOME #2

Lutheran Schools will be more or better equipped to strengthen the student learning experience through innovation and experimentation.

OUTCOME #3

Lutheran Schools will advance holistic strategies for long-term student success and flourishing beyond high school.

Lutheran Foundation strives to invest in services that show measurable impact in the lives of hurting people by supporting services that are:

Comprehensive and collaborative in addressing the complicated and complex needs of the targeted population;

Intentionally designed:

- Evidence-based/informed and/or utilize best or promising practices.

- Informed by community/lived experience.

Interested applicants must be:

an accredited K-12 school that is a member of the Lutheran Elementary School Association (LESA) and located in the geographic area supported by the Lutheran Foundation; OR

a Lutheran educational organization supporting Lutheran schools located in the geographic area supported by the Lutheran Foundation.

Applicants must provide programs and services in the geographic area supported by the Lutheran Foundation which includes the following counties in the St. Louis metropolitan area:

Missouri: Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and Warren

Illinois: Clinton, Jersey, Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair

Lutheran Foundation is highly relational and seeks to develop relationships with funded partners to build mutual understanding and partnership. Organizations that anticipate applying for funding are highly encouraged to request a consultation with Foundation staff.

The average annual grant from the Lutheran Foundation is approximately $50,000 with a maximum grant award of $100,000.

Lutheran School Mini Grants (one time per year)

These grants are available for up to $10,000 for the following:

New academic enhancement or enrichment activities such as curriculum, launching new educational models or specialties (i.e., makerspace, STEM academies);

Accreditation renewal activities; and/or

Capacity building activities such as professional development and strategic initiatives to increase enrollment.

A school can only apply for the Lutheran School Mini Grant once per year (March 1st).

Program Grants

Program grants are restricted grants awarded to support a specific project, initiative, or set of services/activities carried out by the applicant. The funds are designated for clearly defined purposes, outcomes, and timeframes and are not intended for general operating expenses.

Organizations are typically funded by annual grants. Grants may be renewed for up to three years; however, funded partners must apply annually.

Capacity Building Grants

Capacity building refers to investments that strengthen an organization’s internal ability to fulfill its mission effectively and efficiently. Rather than funding specific programs, capacity‑building support focuses on the systems, skills, leadership, and infrastructure that enable an organization to do its work well over time.

Click here to learn more about capacity building funding.

Multi-Year Grants

Multi-year grants are awarded for up to three years. These grants are rare and are by invitation only.

Funding requests into the Foundation are most often for programmatic support. The following are examples of programs/services/activities which the Foundation will consider for funding (not an exhaustive list):

Academic quality improvement initiatives/activities.

Adopting new educational models or specialties

Supportive services for students

Student learning experiences

College and career planning/preparation initiatives

Programming that fosters the social, emotional, spiritual, and/or mental well-being of students

Capacity-building support is available for organizations that have an established relationship with the Foundation and are able to demonstrate that the funding will enable organizations to operate more effectively and efficiently. Click here to learn more about capacity-building funding.

The Foundation will generally not consider the following requests:

Salaries for principals or teachers

Fundraising professionals

Occupancy costs for churches

Annual appeals/special events/fundraisers/sponsorships

Grants to specific individuals

Lobbying activities

Operating deficits

Scholarships

Preschool activities

Services outside the Foundation’s defined St. Louis metropolitan area

Capital campaigns or major capital expenditures that are not directly related to program implementation

For Lutheran School Mini Grants, Lutheran Foundation has one grant cycle per year. The due date is March 1st (if that date falls on a weekend, the due date will be the following business day).

For Program and Capacity-building Grants, Lutheran Foundation has two grant cycles per year. The due dates for those are June 1st and December 1st (if that date falls on a weekend, the due date will be the following business day). 

Click here to view our application timelines.

For questions regarding funding in this focus area, please contact Treena Thompson, Senior Program Officer. She can be reached at treena@lutheranfoundation.org or 314-231-2244 ext. 102.

For current funded partners with specific questions regarding grant reporting, payment, and contracts, please contact Juliet Holden, Grants Manager. She can be reached at juliet@lutheranfoundation.org or 314-231-2244 ext. 111.