Marillac Mission Fund is a charitable foundation based in St. Louis, devoted to supporting and partnering in efforts to enhance the wellbeing and dignity of individuals facing poverty. This is achieved through funding grants, community engagements, research, and advocacy. It aims to identify and address critical unmet issues in the metro St. Louis area, focusing on those experiencing poverty and vulnerability.
The grant programs offered by Marillac Mission Fund, including the Capacity Building Grant and the Comprehensive Organizational Assessment & Reports (COAR) Grant Program, aim to provide vital support to nonprofits that demonstrate readiness and alignment with the fund’s mission and focus areas. With a particular emphasis on aiding those who are poor and vulnerable, these grants focus on strengthening the organizational capacities of nonprofits, thereby enabling them to perform more effectively and sustainably. The foundation supports projects in four key focus areas: Older Adults Living Independently, Immigrants & Refugees, Veterans (currently limited to existing grantees), and Human Trafficking Prevention, along with Advocacy & Coalition-Building. The Organizational Capacity Building Grant Program is designed to enhance key functions within grantee organizations, leading to greater program impact. The COAR Grant Program supports organizational assessments to help nonprofits evaluate their current state, identify strengths and areas for improvement, and develop action plans for growth and improved governance and management practices, all through a cultural equity lens.
Preference is afforded to initiatives designed to assist elderly individuals in remaining autonomous in their own homes, as opposed to those that facilitate living in independent living communities.