How We Help
About Us
How We Help
Chiron Community Giving Foundation (CCGF) is a nonprofit organization designated as a private foundation. Its purpose is to provide opportunity, resources, and support for organizations that are aligned with CCGF’s mission, vision, and goals.
The work of CCGF is accomplished through the volunteerism of its Board of Directors and its Advisory Team. In addition, the work is supported by paid consultants who oversee the day-to-day operations of CCGF and staff many of the funded projects.
Grant Programs
Aya Mini-Grants
Aya Mini-Grants offer organizations whose activities are aligned with CCGF priorities to apply for up to $5,000 to cover unexpected expenses related to existing programs or services that seek to increase access to high-quality, affordable mental healthcare. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Aya (pronounced as “eye–ah”) is a West African symbol that means “fern” in Twi, an African language, and represents strength, endurance, resourcefulness, independence, and defiance against oppression. Aya is also part of Adinkra, visual symbols linked to the (former) Gyaman kingdom (Côte d’Ivoire) and Ashanti culture (Ghana).
Capacity-Building Grants
In addition to providing monetary grants to selected organizations, Chiron Community Giving Foundation provides support to grantees through capacity-building training. The Foundation uses the following definition of “capacity-building”:
Capacity-building is whatever is needed to bring a nonprofit to the next level of operational, programmatic, financial, or organizational maturity, so it may more effectively and efficiently advance its mission into the future. Capacity-building is not a one-time effort to improve short-term effectiveness, but a continuous improvement strategy toward the creation of a sustainable and effective organization. (Chandler, J. & Kennedy, K.S., 2015)
The Foundation’s Capacity-Building grant program accepts funding applications from invited eligible organizations seeking to ready themselves to successfully apply for and implement a Promising Project grant application. This program was initially developed (2019 – 2022) by the funders and their advisors through a donor advised fund held at the St. Louis Community Foundation. Selected organizations receive funding to support work with qualified consultants, access professional data analysis services, and participate in no-cost training provided by Foundation consultants and volunteers.
Reference
Chandler, J. & Kennedy, K.S. (2015.) A Network Approach to Capacity Building, Washington, D.C.: National Council on Nonprofits.
Promising Project Grants
The Foundation’s Promising Project grant program invites a highly selective group of organizations the opportunity to seek funding for projects that increase access to high-quality, affordable mental healthcare for the most vulnerable St. Louisans. This program was developed and piloted (2019 – 2022) by the funders and their advisors through a donor advised fund held at the St. Louis Community Foundation.
Discretionary Grants
The Foundation’s Discretionary Grant Program is an ongoing program originally begun in 2019 through a donor-advised fund held at the St. Louis Community Foundation. In the future, the program will consist of the following activities: 1) provision of some amount of operating support to prior Promising Project grantees; 2) grantmaking consistent with the vision, mission, purpose, and goals of the Foundation that does not fall within the other three grantmaking programs of the Foundation; 3) a grantmaking program guided by older-generation Foundation board members and advisors that teaches the younger-generation board directors about grants management and due diligence principles.
Eligibility
Funding applications for competitive grant programs are accepted from 501(c)(3) organizations located in St. Louis City and St. Louis County. Preference is given to those applications that foster meaningful partnerships between grassroots/ community-based organizations and other nonprofit organizations. Successful applicants are able to demonstrate a strong organizational commitment to principles of non-discrimination, anti-racism and equity, and effective inclusion.
Please see grant application materials for complete eligibility criteria for the current year.
Interested in sharing your ideas with us?
Chiron Community Giving Foundation seeks to build relationships with our grantees beyond just funding by providing opportunities to connect and learn together. All organizations awarded Capacity-Building and Promising Projects grants become a part of a collegial network built around the shared goal of increasing access to high-quality, affordable mental healthcare in the St. Louis region. Chiron Community Giving Foundation invites organizations interested in becoming a part of this special cohort of grantees to submit a one page general letter of interest by using our online form.
This letter should describe how the organization currently provides access to mental healthcare services or referral to mental healthcare services. In addition, please share how a grant would help maintain long-term programming that provides one or more of the following:
- High-quality mental healthcare referral or clinical services for individuals, ages 0-26 and/or their families
- Support for clinicians providing trauma-informed care to individuals, ages 0-26 and/or their families
- Support for non-clinical staff providing trauma-informed care to individuals, ages 0-26 and/or their families
Applicants must be 501(c)(3) community-based or grassroots organizations OR schools/ training organizations that serve a substantial number of individuals residing in the following zip codes: 63106, 63107, 63113, 63115, 63136, 63147.
We anticipate extending invitations to apply for funding to several organizations in the third quarter of 2023. Letters of interest will be accepted until August 24, 2023.
