Our Mission
As a ministry of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, our mission is to make real the healing love of Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word.
What We Do
As a foundation in community with others, we:
Listen
Learn
Envision
Engage
Invest
Listen and learn through research to identify needs
We believe it’s both effective and respectful to engage the communities we serve in devising their own solutions, and to leverage data & research to guide investment.
Convene stakeholders and funders
We pursue solutions to complex issues that require diverse stakeholders to work together.
Fund organizations to advance equity
Our grant funding is one tool of many that we use to effect change. We fund innovative solutions that are addressing the root causes of poverty and effective work that addresses issues of racial disparity and creates opportunity.
Empower youth for leadership
As we listen, convene, and fund, our role often allows us to see “gaps.” In these cases, we leverage our relationships, funding, and infrastructure to launch creative, cross-sector strategies.
Current Collaborations
The Incarnate Word Foundation is a catalyst and funder of innovative projects to respond to our community’s most pressing needs. Here are some examples of the initiatives which the Foundation collaborates on with other community leaders:
The St. Joseph Housing Initiative is a faith-based, nonprofit entity seeking to produce quality housing for low- and moderate-income families in the St. Louis area, launched by Archbishop Carlson and the Incarnate Word Foundation in the summer of 2018.
STL Youth Jobs connects young people ages 16-24 with meaningful employment while building transferable job skills. STL Youth Jobs’ mission is to bridge the divide between our region’s youth and the growing skills gap in our workforce.
St. Louis Survivors Legal Support helps victims get effective legal relief in the form of thorough and enforceable Orders of Protection and other companion orders.
The Art Place Initiative seeks to build wealth and equity for low- and moderate-income artists of all disciplines in the Gravois Park area of St. Louis. Artists who qualify will have a commitment to living and working in St. Louis, demonstrate professionalism at their craft, and prove financial capacity.
…and more
In Fall 2019, Incarnate Word Foundation hosted the second convocation of Missouri funders who invest in child-serving agencies to discuss the “Effects of Missouri Budget & Policy on Children and Families.” Presenters included Missouri State Representative Kip Kendrick, Ruth Ehresman of the Missouri Budget Project, along with many care center representatives sharing their experiences from the field.
The pandemic has exacerbated long-running issues for people living in poverty in the St. Louis area and across the country. This disenfranchisement has made access to virus testing and essential medical and behavioral health services nearly impossible. The Incarnate Word Foundation is supporting the work of St. Louis area health care advocates and leaders to address this need.
Grant Partner Spotlight
We deeply value the work of our grantees and view each one as a partner toward enacting community change. If you are interested in becoming a partner, take a look at our grant opportunities.
A Vision for St. Louis
The Incarnate Word Foundation believes in a community where the poor and marginalized have the ability to attain quality of life. Through our grant making processes, IWF supports the work of organizations who also believe in this kind of community and are actively working to advance equity and well-being in St. Louis. As we work together to envision and bring forth this reality, we asked grant partners to talk to us about their vision for St. Louis and highlight ways they are working toward this vision.