The Berges Family Foundation's mission is to make St. Louis a great place to live by investing philanthropic dollars in ways that lead to specific and systemic change over time, benefiting communities on a meaningful, measurable level. The focus is on supporting organizations that enhance the quality of life in St. Louis through various initiatives.
The grant program from the Berges Family Foundation aims to empower youth and strengthen families, nurture S.T.E.M futures, support community heroes, and ensure a thriving St. Louis through investments in arts, culture, and civic-minded organizations. It seeks to fund programming, general operations, and capital projects within these areas. The foundation emphasizes the importance of measurable impact, engaged and effective leadership, diversified financials, a network mindset, and community building. It values organizations that can demonstrate a record of achieving successful outcomes, have a sustainable revenue stream from diverse sources, collaborate effectively with other organizations, and foster an inclusive culture. While prioritizing mature organizations with proven track records, the foundation is also open to early-stage organizations that have shown high impact and have a solid plan for future development.