Emerson Charitable Trust
OVERVIEW: The Emerson Charitable Trust supports the communities where its parent company operates. Its funding priorities are health and human services, civic, arts and culture and workforce development needs. Operating in the U.S. and abroad, this funder also supports higher education with an emphasis on STEM, engineering programs, skilled trades and first-generation college students.
IP TAKE: The Emerson Charitable Trust supports grants in the communities where its employees live and work. This corporate philanthropic trust is more accessible than others and will accept unsolicited applications. The trust will consider requests from “all qualified organizations,” but will only prioritize “those from nonprofit institutions and groups in the communities where the company has facilities.”
Reach out to the trust before sending a complete grant proposal so you gain a better understanding of whether your project aligns with its priorities. At the very least, reaching out will put you on its radar. Another way to secure funding from Emerson is through its employee-matching program. The Emerson Company will match “all U.S. employee contributions, up to a combined total of $10,000 annually, for eligible educational institutions, cultural organizations and, as of 2019, youth development organizations.”
PROFILE: Established in 1944, the Emerson Charitable Trust (ECT) is a corporate foundation based in St. Louis, Missouri. Originally known as the Emerson Electric Manufacturing Company Charitable Trust, ECT is the grantmaking arm of the global technology and engineering company, Emerson. The foundation aims to help “the communities where we operate thrive through our corporate philanthropy and employee volunteerism, with a special emphasis on STEM education and preparing the workforce of the future.” In 2019, the trust conducted about $28.6 million in grantmaking. It also funds local efforts for health, human services, arts and culture, civic engagement.
Emerson Charitable Trust funds work with the “goal of enriching human lives, providing services directly to those in need and increasing the impact of contributed funds.” To guide its grantmaking, the trust has adopted the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with an emphasis on Goal #4 (education), Goal #5 (gender equality), Goal #6 (Clean water and sanitation), as well as Goals #7, #8, #9, #12, and #17.
Grants for STEM Education and Workforce Development
The trust’s education program aims to develop and train “future generations through schools, universities and related programs.” To this end, it has funded K-12 and higher education programs that invest in STEM – specifically, engineering education; skilled trades training and first-generation college students. Its STEM giving is centered on “women and minorities who are traditionally underrepresented in the engineering and manufacturing industries.”
STEM higher education grants typically range from $10,000 to $150,000. Past grantees include Ranken Technical College, San Jacinto College, Marian Middle School, Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls, Junior Achievement USA, The Magic House, National Science Teachers Association, St. Louis Community College Foundation, St. Louis Science Center Foundation, Texas A&M University, University of Missouri-St. Louis, and Washington University STEM Teacher Quality Program, among others. Geographic priorities in the U.S. include, but are not limited to Ohio, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Missouri and Georgia. Emerson operates worldwide, with operations in China, the Philippines, Romania, India, Mexico, Russia, Costa Rica, and Turkey, among others.
The trust also offers STEM scholarships to various students, but prioritizes Emerson employees’ children.
Grants for Diseases and Public Health
The trust’s health and human services grantmaking focuses on “[s]upporting the health and well-being of residents of all ages.” Emerson does not have a grantmaking program dedicated to supporting disease related organizations; however, its tax filings indicate an interest in this funding field. In doing so without naming specific disease-related grantmaking strategies, the trust funds this area broadly, considering an array of applicants.
Grantmaking to organizations focused on diseases tends to be more modest. Disease grants typically range from $10,000 to $20,000.Past disease grantees include the American Cancer Society and Action for Autism. At the global level, the trust has funded the Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) relief program initiated by the Red Cross Society of China. Public health-related grantees include the St. Louis YMCA, among others.
Grants for Civic Engagement and Community Development
The Emerson Charitable Trust funds civic engagement work through its initiative dedicated to civic needs. Grants related to civic interests work to promote prosperity in the cities and regions where the foundation’s corporate sister has a business presence. Funding here invests in “infrastructure initiatives and community development.” Though its smallest area of giving, the trust still invests about $3.8million a year to housing, which is still a generous amount.
Past community development and civic grantees include Houston Habitat for Humanity, Inc., Beyond Housing Inc., Health + Homes STL, and the United Way.
Grants for Arts and Culture
The trust’s arts and culture program broadly supports organizations “[e]nhancing the quality of life through the support of cultural activities and arts programs.” Emerson does not have a grantmaking program dedicated to supporting the theater, however; its tax filings indicate an interest in this funding field.
Arts and culture grants tend to be smaller and range from $10,000 to $20,000. Past theater grantees include the Municipal Theater Association and the Indiana Repertory Theatre. The trust awards grants to theater organizations across the United States, however; it prioritizes organizations located in or serving regions in which Emerson has an employee and business presence. Other arts grantees include Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis Science Center, and The Muny (Municipal Theatre Association of St. Louis).
Grants for Missouri
The Emerson Charitable Trust provides funding to enrich human lives and help people in need. In a recent year, the company and its charitable trust contributed at least $28 million to charity. Education grants support schools and universities, while health and human services grants address the needs of residents of all ages. ECT prioritizes the revitalization of the north St. Louis County region. STEM education and workforce development are particularly important giving interests at the local level.
Grants range between about $1,000 and $500,000. Grantmaking often focuses on the corporate headquarters of St. Louis, Missouri. Past local grantees include the St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis Science Center, and the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Important Grant Details:
Overall, Emerson grants range from $1,000 to $500,000 depending on its area of grantmaking. This funder prioritizes the geographic areas where it does business. The funder also awards grants in Ohio, Iowa, and Louisiana in the U.S., as well as global efforts in China, India, and other countries.
The Emerson Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited grant applications and requests for funding and does not provide a clear way for applicants to get in touch. Direct general questions to the staff at 314-553-2000. The trust can be contacted at the address below.
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LINKS:
CONTACT:
Emerson Charitable Trust
8000 West Florissant Avenue
P.O. Box 41000
St. Louis, Missouri 63136