Responsive Portfolio is sponsored by Jefferson Foundation. Provides support for charitable and educational activities promoting individual and community health and well-being in Jefferson County, Missouri.

2026 Grant Guidelines - Responsive Portfolio The mission of the Jefferson Foundation is to provide support for charitable and educational activities that promote individual and community health and well-being. To carry out the mission of the Jefferson Foundation, the following grant guidelines have been established for 2026. It is anticipated that these guidelines will be reviewed and changes will be considered annually.

Grant sizes will be a minimum of $5,000 and a maximum of $250,000. Larger or smaller grants are awarded at the discretion of the Jefferson Foundation Board of Directors. Grants will be awarded to qualified public charities and government units that are located in or serve residents of Jefferson County, MO.

Grants will be made to qualified public charities and government units to support activities that increase the health and well-being of Jefferson County residents.

Grant topics include but are not limited to: Basic needs limited to food, shelter and rent/mortgage and utility assistance Drug and alcohol abuse (treatment and prevention) Exercise and healthy lifestyle education Foster care and adoption services Health and health-related education Homelessness and domestic violence shelters and services Physical and mental disabilities Transportation assistance Funding will be awarded in the following categories: program support; capacity building; and capital projects.

Applications can be submitted for more than one category; however, only one proposal will be awarded of each grant category per year. Grants received through the proactive portfolio do not exclude grants that can be received through the responsive portfolio. Grants will be awarded in June and December.

For the June cycle, applications must be received on February 5, 2026, and for the December cycle, applications must be received on July 16, 2026. Grants will be made only to tax-exempt public charities as defined in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code with a designation of 509(a)(1) or (2). Grants to government units will be made under special circumstances.

Grants will not be awarded for endowment funds, loans, deficit financing, travel, political activities, fundraising activities or to individuals. Grants will not be awarded to programs that are political in nature. Grants will not be awarded for lobbying activities or to influence political elections.

Grants will be awarded to religious organizations as long as the agency does not discriminate based upon clients’ religious preference. Grants will not be awarded for general operating expenses of churches. Grants will not be provided to fund overhead or the payment of general, administrative, or other expenses that are not directly associated with the activities related to the Grant.

Grants will not be made for dinners or other ticketed events. Organizations are only eligible to receive one grant per grant category during the grant year (January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026). All progress and final grant reports that are due for any previous grant must be on file before the next grant will be awarded.

Grant proposals are evaluated according to the following criteria: The proposal meets all of the eligibility criteria of the Foundation Increased health and well-being is clearly defined with stated need(s) and The project or program has broad and/or strong community impact; The grant funds will be utilized efficiently and effectively. Grant applications are submitted through an online application process.

Only requested grant application materials will be accepted. Please do not submit items that are not requested such as letters of recommendation or testimonials. The Foundation receives numerous grant requests and is unable to fund all projects.

The Foundation will only consider grant applications that are fully completed. To learn more about the grant process and to obtain a grant application, please contact Missy Endres at 636-638-1400 or mendres@jfmo. org .

Final decisions on grant applications will be made by the Foundation’s Board of Directors at the April and October board meetings. You will be informed of the board’s decision within two weeks of the board meeting at which your proposal is discussed. If a grant is awarded, you will be asked to sign a Grant Agreement that includes reporting and other requirements.

Funding will not be disbursed until a signed Grant Agreement is received.