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Grant funders / Missouri / Jefferson Foundation

Jefferson Foundation

Festus, Missouri  ·  EIN 900898945  ·  Private foundation

Based in Festus, Missouri, Jefferson Foundation has awarded $44.3M across 1,157 grants in our index of public IRS filings, with giving recorded as recently as 2024. Its largest grant on record went to Mercy Health Foundation Jefferson. This profile covers its focus areas, top grant recipients, year-by-year giving, and how a nonprofit should approach it.

$7.1M
Annual giving (FY2020)
$176.4M
Total assets
1,157
Grants tracked
2024
Most recent grant

What Jefferson Foundation funds

Jefferson Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on adult education, arts & culture, civil rights & social justice, community improvement, criminal justice, and related causes.

Adult EducationArts & CultureCivil Rights & Social JusticeCommunity ImprovementCriminal JusticeDisability ServicesDomestic ViolenceEarly Childhood EducationEducationDisaster Relief & Emergency Aid

Populations it has supported include children, disabled, families, foster youth, homeless population, immigrants & refugees.

childrendisabledfamiliesfoster youthhomeless populationimmigrants & refugeesjustice involvedlow-income communities

Grant history

The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for Jefferson Foundation, by amount:

RecipientLocationGrantYear
Mercy Health Foundation Jefferson
TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF PSYCHIATRIC SPECIALISTS FOR THE INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM.
Chesterfield, MO$1.2M2019
Chestnut Health Systems
TO INCREASE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
Maryville, IL$1.0M2019
Mercy Health Foundation Jefferson
TO OPEN AN INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM FOR ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
St Louis, MO$1.0M2017
Jefferson County Health Department
TO INCREASE DENTAL SERVICES AT ASSISTED LIVING AND NURSING HOME FACILITIES THROUGH A MOBILE VAN.
Hillsboro, MO$1.0M2017
Chestnut Health Systems
TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT AND PREVENTION
Hillsboro, MO$1.0M2020
Chestnut Health Systems
PROJECT ACCESS
Granite City, IL$550K2022
St Louis Area Foodbank
FOOD ON THE MOVE AND CAPITAL PROJECT FOR FOOD PANTRIES
Bridgeton, MO$550K2023
Catholic Family Services
CATHOLIC FAMILY SERVICES WILL OPEN AN OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH OFFICE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
St Louis, MO$467K2017
Mercy Health Foundation Jefferson
TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE AND SUPPORT FOR THOSE IN NEED
Festus, MO$432K2020
Jefferson County Health Department
REPLACEMENT FOR CURRENT AGING MOBILE HEALTH SERVICES VEHICLE AND ADDRESSING HEALTH EQUITY TO REDUCE BARRIERS IN HEALTH CARE
Hillsboro, MO$425K2023
Chestnut Health Systems
PROJECT ACCESS
Hillsboro, MO$345K2024
Jefferson County Health Department
ASPEN SUSTAINABILITY
Hillsboro, MO$338K2022
Mercy Health Foundation Jefferson
MERCY HOSPITAL JEFFERSON DA VINCI ROBOTIC SURGEON PHASE TWO
St Louis, MO$312K2024
Pony Bird Inc
STRENGTHENING OUR MISSION: PONY BIRD AND NEXTSTEP FOR LIFE MERGER
Mapaville, MO$300K2022
Upward Smiles Inc
WHEELING IN UPWARD SMILES MOBILE DENTISTRY
Festus, MO$250K2022

Jefferson Foundation giving by year

Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:

2017$6.5M
2019$7.2M
2020$7.1M
2022$8.3M
2023$7.6M
2024$7.7M

How to apply for funding from Jefferson Foundation

Jefferson Foundation's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at jfmo.org.

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Frequently asked questions about Jefferson Foundation

Does Jefferson Foundation accept grant applications?
Jefferson Foundation's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
What does Jefferson Foundation fund?
Jefferson Foundation's grants focus on adult education. Recent recipients include Mercy Health Foundation Jefferson, Chestnut Health Systems, Mercy Health Foundation Jefferson. Its full grant history is listed above.
How much does Jefferson Foundation give in grants?
Jefferson Foundation reported $7.1M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $44.3M over 1,157 grants.
Where is Jefferson Foundation located?
Jefferson Foundation is based in Festus, Missouri. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 900898945.
How can I find foundations similar to Jefferson Foundation?
Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like Jefferson Foundation, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.

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Foundations similar to Jefferson Foundation

Other Missouri grantmakers with overlapping priorities:

About this profile. This page is built from Jefferson Foundation's public IRS Form 990-PF and 990 filings, indexed by Bespoke Grants alongside 13M+ grants from 225,000+ U.S. foundations. Grant figures reflect filings available to date; IRS data publishes on a 1–2 year lag. Bespoke Grants is not affiliated with Jefferson Foundation. Always confirm current giving priorities and application procedures with the foundation directly before applying.