The St. Louis Local Development Company (LDC) is partnering with the City of St. Louis, St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC), and the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (STL Partnership) to provide up to $5,000 in immediate loan assistance to small businesses adversely affected by the May 16th tornado.

• The business must have suffered damage from the storm (either physical or a disruption in business operations), with priority given to businesses located within the defined footprint/path of the May 16th tornado.

• The business must be for-profit and have had a City business license current through May 31, 2025.

• The business must have been current on all taxes owed to the City of St. Louis through March 31, 2025.

• The business must be in good standing with the Missouri Secretary of State.

• The business must be operating in the City of St. Louis or plan to reopen the business in the City of St. Louis.

• If the business ceases operations or moves out of the City of St. Louis during the term of the loan, the loan will be immediately repayable in full.

Deadline: Friday, August 29, 2025 at 5 p.m.

CBN aims to share funding opportunities that are related to community building and community development. If you have a funding opportunity you’d like to post here, please reach out to us at info@communitybuildersstl.org.

Check out this page on the Community Opportunity Alliance website for more community development funding opportunities! CBN is a NACEDA member.

EMERGENCY TORNADO RELIEF FOR NON-PROFITS

Apply by September 19 at 4 PM

In response to the May 16, 2025 tornado, the City of St. Louis is offering reimbursement grants up to $150,000 to eligible non-profits that supported impacted residents and neighborhoods. Funded by Rams Settlement Funds and administered by United Way of Greater St. Louis, the total grant pool is $3.5 million (minus administrative fees). Grants cover expenses incurred from May 16 to August 31, 2025. Applications are open through September 19, 2025, via the online portal. Grants will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with award notifications sent to the organization’s primary contact.

2026 Commercial Facade Improvement Program

Deadline September 6, 2025

The City of St. Louis’ Community Development Administration is offering forgivable loans from $5,000 to $50,000 to help small businesses improve their storefronts. Funded by the federal CDBG program, the initiative supports exterior upgrades like awnings, signage, painting, lighting, and full renovations in key commercial corridors and neighborhood revitalization areas. Applications are open through September 6, 2025. Eligible businesses must submit an application, photos, design plans, cost estimates, and other documentation. Visit the CDA’s Salesforce portal to apply and invest in your business and neighborhood’s curb appeal.

LDC Tornado Recovery SMALL BUSINESS Loan Program

Deadline: Friday, August 29, 2025 at 5 p.m.

The St. Louis Local Development Company (LDC) is partnering with the City of St. Louis, St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC), and the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (STL Partnership) to provide up to $5,000 in immediate loan assistance to small businesses adversely affected by the May 16th tornado.

• The business must have suffered damage from the storm (either physical or a disruption in business operations), with priority given to businesses located within the defined footprint/path of the May 16th tornado.

• The business must be for-profit and have had a City business license current through May 31, 2025.

• The business must have been current on all taxes owed to the City of St. Louis through March 31, 2025.

• The business must be in good standing with the Missouri Secretary of State.

• The business must be operating in the City of St. Louis or plan to reopen the business in the City of St. Louis.

• If the business ceases operations or moves out of the City of St. Louis during the term of the loan, the loan will be immediately repayable in full.

Northside Resilience Fund: $3,000 Emergency Grants Available

Tornado Recovery Funding - InvestSTL

The Northside Resilience Fund is offering $3,000 in direct cash assistance to residents living north of Delmar Blvd whose homes received a red sticker from the City after the May 16 tornado. To qualify, you must:

• Have lived in one of the eligible neighborhoods at the time of the storm (e.g., The Ville, Kingsway East, College Hill — full list online), and

• Have received a red sticker from the City's Building Division indicating severe structural damage.

Renters and homeowners are eligible. One application per household.
A photo ID and recent proof of residency (utility bill, paystub, or benefit letter from April–June) is required. Apply online through Submittable and receive confirmation when your application is complete. [Apply Here] Questions? Call (314) 384-1145

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

2026 CDBG Non-Housing Funding Cycle Timeline

Deadline August 1, 2025

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is annual federal funding the City of St. Louis receives to support neighborhood and community development activities. While part of CDBG funding supports affordable housing, each year the City also administers a funding cycle for non-housing activities, including economic development, public facilities, and other eligible community priorities. The CDA has posted the 2026 CDBG Non-Housing Funding Cycle Timeline to help organizations and residents stay informed and prepared to participate.

• The application period opens Friday, August 1, 2025.

• Proposals are due at 4 PM on September 5, 2025. 

Workforce development grant

Letters of Interest for this cycle are due July 9. 

The St. Louis Community Foundation has launched a new Workforce Development funding opportunity as part of its Economic Mobility Fund, focused on expanding job access and creation for adults facing barriers to employment. Grants will support organizations that promote sustained, living-wage employment, especially for residents in high-need zip codes or those affected by tornado-related job loss and federal funding cuts. Applicants should demonstrate use of best practices, wraparound services, and clear pathways for professional advancement. Grants will range from $25,000 to $50,000, with $150,000 total available.

Missouri Housing Trust Fund Disaster Relief

Posted 7/8/25 rolling deadline

The Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) has launched the Missouri Housing Trust Fund - Disaster Relief program for community organizations in disaster impacted areas. Community-based organizations, local governments, and home repair or financial service providers serving households at or below 75% of Area Median Income (AMI) in a federally declared disaster area are eligible to apply. Funds can be applied towards Application fees, Security and utility deposits, Rental and mortgage Assistance, Rental and mortgage arrears, Utility assistance and arrears, Hotel/Motel vouchers, and Essential supplies and appliances. Organizations can apply for up to $1M. MHDC has identified the following grant types to meet the needs of disaster-impacted Missourians: 

1. Disaster Relief Housing Services: Available to organizations to provide housing services to eligible households who have been impacted by the disaster.  

2. Disaster Relief Home Repair: Available to organizations that provide housing services for the payment of repairs to uninsured and under-insured single family owner-occupied homes. Emergency Home Repair: Cannot exceed $5000 and must address a life-threatening issue (ex. gas leak, exposed wires, misaligned chimney). Standard Home Repair: Cannot exceed $50,000 and requires a 5 year Regulatory Agreement

3. Case Management Funds: Available for organizations that apply for Disaster Relief Housing Services or Disaster Relief Home Repair for the purpose of paying salaries and benefits necessary for the administration of MHTF-DR. (Limited to 10% of direct assistance.)

4. Administration: Available for organizations that apply for Disaster Relief Housing Services or Disaster Relief Home Repair for the purpose of supporting the administration of MHTF-DR. (Limited to 3% of direct assistance.)

Please direct any questions to cp.programs@mhdc.com.

Small DOlLARS ACTION & Northside resilience FUNDs (2025)

SDAF Fall 2025 Application

July 17 - August 14

Invest STL is accepting Fall Applications for the Small Dollar Action Fund (SDAF), a resource for St. Louis residents seeking to make a difference in their neighborhoods through small, impactful projects. The Fall Application opens July 17, 2025 and closes August 14, 2025. The webinar will cover what the SDAF is and how it works, who’s eligible, the application process and timeline and a Q&A with fund administrators. For questions, contact sdaf@investstl.org.

Invest STL has also launched the Northside Resilience Fund to support community-led projects that increase climate resilience and housing stability in North St. Louis. The fund is aiming to raise $4 million to provide $3,000 in direct cash assistance to up to 1,300 North St. Louis households whose homes received a red-sticker designation from the tornado damage. The fund has already secured over $2 million toward that goal! Eligible residents living north of Delmar Blvd can apply now through Invest STL’s website, with funds intended to help address immediate needs as families begin recovery, and help neighborhoods respond to ongoing challenges like extreme weather, displacement, and environmental injustice.

EMERGENCY TORNADO RELIEF FOR NON-PROFITS

Apply by September 19 at 4 PM

In response to the May 16, 2025 tornado, the City of St. Louis is offering reimbursement grants up to $150,000 to eligible non-profits that supported impacted residents and neighborhoods. Funded by Rams Settlement Funds and administered by United Way of Greater St. Louis, the total grant pool is $3.5 million (minus administrative fees). Grants cover expenses incurred from May 16 to August 31, 2025. Applications are open through September 19, 2025, via the online portal. Grants will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with award notifications sent to the organization’s primary contact.

2026 Commercial Facade Improvement Program

Deadline September 6, 2025

The City of St. Louis’ Community Development Administration is offering forgivable loans from $5,000 to $50,000 to help small businesses improve their storefronts. Funded by the federal CDBG program, the initiative supports exterior upgrades like awnings, signage, painting, lighting, and full renovations in key commercial corridors and neighborhood revitalization areas. Applications are open through September 6, 2025. Eligible businesses must submit an application, photos, design plans, cost estimates, and other documentation. Visit the CDA’s Salesforce portal to apply and invest in your business and neighborhood’s curb appeal.

LDC Tornado Recovery SMALL BUSINESS Loan Program

Deadline: Friday, August 29, 2025 at 5 p.m.

The St. Louis Local Development Company (LDC) is partnering with the City of St. Louis, St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC), and the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (STL Partnership) to provide up to $5,000 in immediate loan assistance to small businesses adversely affected by the May 16th tornado.

• The business must have suffered damage from the storm (either physical or a disruption in business operations), with priority given to businesses located within the defined footprint/path of the May 16th tornado.

• The business must be for-profit and have had a City business license current through May 31, 2025.

• The business must have been current on all taxes owed to the City of St. Louis through March 31, 2025.

• The business must be in good standing with the Missouri Secretary of State.

• The business must be operating in the City of St. Louis or plan to reopen the business in the City of St. Louis.

• If the business ceases operations or moves out of the City of St. Louis during the term of the loan, the loan will be immediately repayable in full.

Northside Resilience Fund: $3,000 Emergency Grants Available

Tornado Recovery Funding - InvestSTL

The Northside Resilience Fund is offering $3,000 in direct cash assistance to residents living north of Delmar Blvd whose homes received a red sticker from the City after the May 16 tornado. To qualify, you must:

• Have lived in one of the eligible neighborhoods at the time of the storm (e.g., The Ville, Kingsway East, College Hill — full list online), and

• Have received a red sticker from the City's Building Division indicating severe structural damage.

Renters and homeowners are eligible. One application per household.
A photo ID and recent proof of residency (utility bill, paystub, or benefit letter from April–June) is required. Apply online through Submittable and receive confirmation when your application is complete. [Apply Here] Questions? Call (314) 384-1145

Invest STL is accepting Fall Applications for the Small Dollar Action Fund (SDAF), a resource for St. Louis residents seeking to make a difference in their neighborhoods through small, impactful projects. The Fall Application opens July 17, 2025 and closes August 14, 2025. The webinar will cover what the SDAF is and how it works, who’s eligible, the application process and timeline and a Q&A with fund administrators. For questions, contact sdaf@investstl.org.

Invest STL has also launched the Northside Resilience Fund to support community-led projects that increase climate resilience and housing stability in North St. Louis. The fund is aiming to raise $4 million to provide $3,000 in direct cash assistance to up to 1,300 North St. Louis households whose homes received a red-sticker designation from the tornado damage. The fund has already secured over $2 million toward that goal! Eligible residents living north of Delmar Blvd can apply now through Invest STL’s website, with funds intended to help address immediate needs as families begin recovery, and help neighborhoods respond to ongoing challenges like extreme weather, displacement, and environmental injustice.

Funder: Trio Foundation

Funds:  The Trio Foundation of St. Louis is an organization that values community enhancement, fulfillment of human potential, and ecological well-being. They promote equity,opportunity and access by providing funding towards goals of environmental justice, ecological preservation, and the creative experience. They recently have committed to a new funding framework which highlights new focus areas. The organization primarily gives to St. Louis city and surrounding county organizations with the focus on at least one of the following areas:

Women’s Economic Empowerment:

Support for job training, education, and employment with a focus on needs like housing,healthcare, and childcare.

The Arts:

Support for the arts and cultural organizations that increase opportunities to engage with the creative experience. Focus on small/mid size arts organizations,efforts to provide equitable access to the arts, and efforts that emphasize diversity and inclusion of the arts.

The Environment:

Trio supports efforts to create a better environment and ecology in the St. Louis area. This includes Biodiversity and Climate Change, Environmental education, Environment justice, preservation of Natural resources (air, land, water)

Due: New Applicant Registration due August 30, 2024 at 5:00pm CT

Proposal deadline is September 6, 2024 at 5:00pm CT

Funder: MoCAP- Missouri Foundation for Health

Funds: The Missouri Foundation for Health has created MoCAP, a program that provides technical assistance and consulting without charge for eligible organizations pursuing federal or national funding for health or prevention programs. Through MoCAP, organizations can connect to governmental agencies that provide grant-writing assistance as well as learn more about federal and national funding opportunities. To see if you are eligible for MoCAP assistance fill out the application. 

Funder: Marillac Mission Fund

Due: August 1, 2024 at 11:59pm CT

Funds: The Marillac Mission Fund (MMF) has opened applications for their Responsive and Capacity Building Grants. Responsive Grants will either fund programs/projects or general operating support for organizations that work with one of MMF’s focus areas: Immigrants & Refugees, Older Adults Living Independently, Veterans, Human Trafficking Prevention, Advocacy & Coalition-Building, or Improved Economic Mobility. To increase equitable access to funding for small organizations, MMF has also added the Small Organization Responsive Application this year specifically designed for organizations whose budget is less than $500,000. The Capacity Building Grant Program will focus on helping nonprofits in MMF focus areas make long-term improvements in management, governance, or organizational capacity through engagement with an outside consultant. The grants will be “pass-through grants” as the award will be made to the organization, which will pay the consultant. Applicants must reach out to MMF staff before applying and vet and select their consultants before writing the application. Lists of consultants who have worked with other MMF grantees can be provided if needed.

Funder: The Center for Community Progress

Due: July 22, 2024 12:50 CT

Funds: Community Progress’ annual Reclaiming Vacant Properties (RVP) Conference focuses on addressing vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties with innovative solutions to further community revitalization. The conference brings together more than 1,000 leaders from grassroots community organizations and will occur this fall on October 9–11. To ensure the representation of the diverse communities they serve, Community Progress is launching the Sundy Whiteside Scholarship which will cover registration for conference activities. Sundy Whiteside was a visionary leader within the St. Louis area who dedicated her life to bringing communities together through revitalization initiatives. Selected Scholars will honor her commitment by continuing to address vacant property challenges and driving positive change in their communities. 

• Demonstrated commitment to serving BIPOC communities with widespread vacancy and abandonment that have been disproportionately impacted by public health, housing, and economic crises. 

• Demonstrated commitment to racial equity

• Demonstrated financial need 

• Geographic diversity 

• Demonstration of how lived experience in neighborhood(s) impacted by vacancy and abandonment, if any, has inspired their work in the field of community development. 

Funder: Community Development Administration

Funds: CBN is excited to announce that we will be working alongside SLACO and Invest STL to provide and award small capacity-building projects in our community starting as early as this Fall. This partnership was made possible by the City of S. Louis - Community Development Administration (CDA) after their recent creation of the Neighborhood Transformation Grants. The grants were created in response to community input and the assessment of the CIty’s unmet needs identified in the City’s Economic Justice Index and the ARPA Community Needs Survey. The grants aim to enhance community-driven development, affordable housing, neighborhood capacity, comprehensive neighborhood plans, and activate vacant lots across the City of St. Louis. CBN will administer the Neighborhood Capacity Building Grants which is a small grant program ($2,000 - $10,000) intended to fund neighborhood groups, supplies, technical assistance, community engagement, and resident-led community activities/events for building and strengthening neighborhoods. To learn more about the grant opportunities with the CDA for Neighborhood Transformation please visit their website. 

Funder: Incarnate Word Foundation

Due: Letter of Intent due May 24, 2024

Funds: $3,000-10,000 for general operating support to organizations working in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, or East St. Louis with 501(c)3 status and missions in alignment with Incarnate Word’s values of equity, respect, compassion, love, joy, dignity, and inclusion.

Priorities:

• Dutchtown, Gravois Park, North City

• Catholic or faith-based

• ADEI

• Immigrants and refugees

• Youth and women

• Economic mobility and wealth-building

• Alleviating food security

Secondary Focus:

• Arts and culture

• Employment

• Ex-offenders

• Homelessness

• Support for older adults

Funder: St. Louis Community Foundation

Due: Letter of Intent due May 15, 2024

Funds: $20,000-50,000 distributed equally over two years. Organizations must include a component of arts and culture, environment, education, health, or social services, have 501(c)(3) status in the Greater St. Louis Community, have an operating budget of less than $1.5 million, and be headquartered and provide services within the Greater St. Louis Community which includes the City of St. Louis and/or the following counties: St. Louis, St. Charles, Jefferson and Franklin in Missouri or St. Clair, Madison and Monroe in Illinois. (Organizations can provide services outside this specific area but SOS will only fund the services provided to the Greater St. Louis Community.)

Funder: Community Development Financial Institutions Fund

Due: April 16, 2024

Funds: Through the Capital Magnet Fund, the CDFI Fund competitively awards funds to CDFIs and qualified non-profit housing organizations to attract private capital to economically distressed communities. These awards can be used to finance affordable housing activities, related economic development activities, and community service facilities. Capital Magnet Fund awards must be used to leverage housing and economic development investments at least ten times the size of the award amount. Award recipients can utilize Capital Magnet Fund awards to create financing tools such as loan loss reserves, loan funds, equity funds, risk-sharing loans, and loan guarantees. At least 70% of Capital Magnet Fund dollars must be used to finance affordable housing, and recipients may use up to 30% of funds to finance economic development activities linked to affordable housing.

Funder: Community Development Administration

Due: April 30, 2024

Funds: Up to $9,668,557 to facilitate the new construction or rehabilitation of permanent supportive housing and provision of supportive services. Only applies to developments located within the City of St. Louis. Bonus points will be awarded for developing CDA-assisted and Land Reutilization Authority (LRA) owned properties.

Funder: Community Development Administration

Due: March 1, 2024

Funds: $500,000 for an interdisciplinary team to implement and administer a grant program to support stakeholders who have organized within their community to combat vacancy, slum, and blight, and to activate vacant lots.

Funder: Community Development Administration

Due: March 29, 2024

Funds: $1,600,000 of economic development sales tax funding from the City of St. Louis acting by and through the Community Development Administration (CDA) to facilitate the implementation of two adopted neighborhood plans.

Funder: Community Development Administration

Due: March 29, 2024

Funds: $2,500,000 to facilitate the repair, maintenance, and updates of vacant rental units. Only applies to rental properties located within the City of St. Louis.

Funder: Community Development Administration

Due: April 30, 2024

Funds: Up to $6,000,000 to facilitate the new construction or rehabilitation of residential or mixed-use development projects and provide homeownership assistance to homebuyers purchasing city-subsidized homes. Only applies to developments located within the City of St. Louis. Bonus points will be awarded for developing CDA-assisted and Land Reutilization Authority (LRA) owned properties.

Funder: Community Development Administration

Due: March 29, 2024

Funds: $400,000 for a third-party non-profit organization to administer a grant program, making small grants to increase the capacity of neighborhood organizations.

Funder: America’s Seed Fund

Due: February 16, 2024

Funds: Up to $200,000 to organizations that support ecosystem-building activities and provide direct assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses in commercializing innovations, with an initial grant of $50,000 for ecosystem-building activities followed by the potential for up to $150,000 in additional cash prizes.

Funder: Balsa Foundation

Due: January 31, 2024

Funds: We offer the BALSA Grant to help first time entrepreneurs get their ideas off the ground.

BALSA Grant finalists receive:

• Free (non-dilutive) cash grant of $1,000

• The Learning Series, a 10 week comprehensive entrepreneur training program that helps participants realize their potential, introduces them to the St. Louis business ecosystem and brings them industry experts every week that also includes one on one time with each presenter after the session.

  (Valued at $20,000+ in In-kind professional services

• One-on-one mentoring

The BALSA Grant is designed for first-time St. Louis entrepreneurs wanting to start or grow their early stage business in St. Louis.  We welcome applications from all business sectors, and from non-profit as well as for-profit organizations.

Funder: First Church Community Fund

Due: September 11, 2023

Funds: FCCF provides microgrants to small organizations who provide direct service, non-sectarian, social action projects in the St. Louis community. The committee prioritizes programs or projects that address issues of homelessness, poverty, and marginalized populations in the metro St. Louis area, especially St. Louis City.

Click here to apply.

Funder: Missouri Department of Economic Development

CDBG-DR Proposals Due: August 14, 2023

LIHTC/CDBG-DR Applications Due: September 23, 2023

Funds: Provides funding for new construction of affordable multi-family rental housing units in areas impacted by the flooding event

https://mcusercontent.com/7603a99d4426c770c2b088b4b/files/31061852-84ae-f945-7472-dbe27401e6fd/2023_amrr_proposal.pdf 

Funder: Environmental Protection Agency

Notice of Intent Due: July 31, 2023

Application Due: September 26, 2023

Funds: To create and expand low-income solar programs that provide financing and technical assistance, such as workforce development, to enable low-income and disadvantaged communities to deploy and benefit from residential solar.

https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/login.faces?oppId=348957&origin=vgo-apply

Funder: Missouri State Historic Preservation Fund Office

Pre Application Due: August 18, 2023

Final Application Due: October 2, 2023

Funds: These grants are used to fund projects related to the identification, evaluation, or protection of historic and archeological resources. 

https://mostateparks.com/page/84331/historic-preservation-fund-grants