The Newman Charitable Foundation is a major funder of civic institutions in the St. Louis region, making large, targeted gifts to universities, hospitals, cultural institutions and public-park projects. Their support emphasizes capital and campus projects, institutional strengthening, and health/medical programs (including patient care initiatives). While primarily local, they will also fund affiliated higher‑education science and research projects outside the region when tied to Newman family priorities.
Among the largest recent gifts from Eric P & Evelyn E Newman Charitable Foundation Dtd 8/1/2013 was a $1,565,000 grant to Washington University for Newman campus planning fund and childhood undernutrition. That mix captures a pattern visible across the foundation’s recent giving: major support for St. Louis institutions, paired with targeted university, medical, cultural, and park projects. The foundation’s grantmaking reaches across higher education, health care, public parks, performing arts, botanical institutions, and history organizations. In St. Louis, its gifts have supported Washington University, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Saint Louis Zoo, St Louis Symphony, Forest Park Forever, and Missouri Botanical Garden. Outside Missouri, it has also funded projects at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Swarthmore College, Harvard University, Teachers College, and New York Botanical Garden. Recent grants show a preference for specific designations rather than broad, open-ended support. Examples include educational support, capital campaign funding, medical support, annual contributions, and named program funds such as Evelyn's House and targeted goals of care. The foundation also funds individuals, broadening its reach beyond institutions.
In higher education, the foundation has backed campus and research work at Washington University, including a $1,560,000 grant for educational support, COVID research, and Tower, plus a $1,000,000 grant to Massachusetts Institute of Technology for educational support and rehab of Newman Lab. It has also supported John Burroughs School with educational and building support. Health care is another clear theme. Barnes Jewish Hospital received $700,000 for Evelyn's House and targeted goals of care, following earlier support of $620,000 for medical support, Evelyn's House, Kodner's Fund, and targeted goals of care. The foundation’s giving also includes $470,000 to the hospital for similar purposes in 2023. Cultural and community institutions appear throughout the list. Saint Louis Zoo received $1,015,000 for annual contribution and best practices visits, while St Louis Symphony received $1,010,000 for general gift and capital campaign and another $300,000 for capital campaign. Forest Park Forever was supported with $545,000 for basketball courts, playscape program, and entry at Four Corners.
$5.2M
$61M
$5.9M
$5.5M
Most grants fall between $5K and $20K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$20K
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small set of institutional grantees (many repeat recipients). Emphasis on capital/campaign gifts and institutional strengthening rather than many small grants; primarily local/regional focus with occasional support for related national research partners.
Notable grantees: Washington University, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Saint Louis Zoo, Forest Park Forever, St. Louis Symphony
The typical grant size is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $20,000 at the 75th percentile, while the recent grant list also includes several seven-figure awards. Giving is recurring: Washington University, Saint Louis Zoo, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Forest Park Forever, and St Louis Symphony appear in multiple years. The foundation’s structure includes support for individuals, and it does not make program-related investments. Recent awards are often designated gifts, annual contributions, or capital-project support rather than unrestricted operating grants.
Grantmaking is heavily centered in Missouri, which accounts for 46% of grants and is the top state by grant count. St. Louis is the clearest hub, with repeated grants to institutions there, including Washington University, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Saint Louis Zoo, and Forest Park Forever. Outside Missouri, the recent list includes Cambridge, Massachusetts; Bronx, New York; New York, New York; Washington, DC; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; and Cambridge, Massachusetts again. All recorded recipient grants in the dataset are in the United States.
The distribution is small-to-mid sized at the center: the 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $20,000. Even so, the recent record also includes several grants above $1 million, showing that the foundation uses both modest gifts and large project support.
Yes. Washington University, Saint Louis Zoo, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Forest Park Forever, and St Louis Symphony each appear in multiple recent years. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards only.
Recent grants show support for campus planning, educational support, COVID research, medical support, capital campaigns, annual contributions, playscapes, basketball courts, and targeted goals of care. The named recipients include universities, hospitals, cultural institutions, public-park organizations, and schools.
No. Missouri is the top giving state, but the recent grants also reach Cambridge, Bronx, New York, Washington, DC, Swarthmore, and New York City. The dataset shows recipients in the United States only, with 151 grants recorded there.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY | ST LOUIS, MO | $1,550,000 | 2026 | NEWMAN CAMPUS PLANNING FUND, CHILDHOOD UNDERNUTRITION, NEXT |
| BARNES JEWISH HOSPITAL | ST LOUIS, MO | $1,300,000 | 2026 | EVELYN'S HOUSE |
| SAINT LOUIS ZOO | ST LOUIS, MO | $1,000,000 | 2026 | ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION |
| FOREST PARK FOREVER | ST LOUIS, MO | $300,000 | 2026 | ENTRY AT FOUR CORNERS |
| ST LOUIS SYMPHONY | ST LOUIS, MO | $300,000 | 2026 | POWELL HALL CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| ST LOUIS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | ST LOUIS, MO | $250,000 | 2026 | ASTHMA RESEARCH |
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $100,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT - LABS |
| MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY | ST LOUIS, MO | $95,000 | 2026 | WORLD'S FAIR EXHIBIT, DIGITATION AT LIBRARY AND RESEARCH CENTER |
| CAMP NEBAGAMON | LAKE NEBAGAMON, WI | $70,000 | 2026 | KEEP THE FIRES BURNING CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION |
| CITY ACADEMY | ST LOUIS, MO | $50,000 | 2026 | LEAP PROGRAM |
| SWARTHMORE COLLEGE | SWARTHMORE, PA | $50,000 | 2026 | CHESTER CHILDREN'S CHORUS |
| THE MAGIC HOUSE | ST LOUIS, MO | $35,000 | 2026 | PLAY DAY IN THE PARK, CARDBOARD CONSTRUCTION |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $30,000 | 2026 | BUSINESS SCHOOL CLASS REUNION FUND, ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION |
| SAINT LOUIS SCIENCE CENTER | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2026 | MARK WRIGHTON'S PERFORMANCE AT WONDER EVENT |
| FRIENDS OF BOSS INC | BOULDER, UT | $16,000 | 2026 | HONORARIUM |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $15,000 | 2026 | ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION |
| WOODLANDS ACADEMY OF SACRED HEART | LAKE FOREST, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| ROSE BOWL INSTITUTE | PASADENA, CA | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL GIFT |
| CHILDREN'S ORGAN TRANSPLANT ASSOCIATION | BLOOMINGTON, IN | $2,000 | 2026 | ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION |
| WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY | ST LOUIS, MO | $1,565,000 | 2025 | NEWMAN CAMPUS PLANNING FUND, CHILDHOOD UNDERNUTRITION |
| SAINT LOUIS ZOO | ST LOUIS, MO | $1,015,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION, BEST PRACTICES VISITS |
| BARNES JEWISH HOSPITAL | ST LOUIS, MO | $700,000 | 2025 | EVELYN'S HOUSE, TARGETED GOALS OF CARE |
| FOREST PARK FOREVER | ST LOUIS, MO | $545,000 | 2025 | BASKETBALL COURTS, PLAYSCAPE PROGRAM, ENTRY AT FOUR CORNERS |
| ST LOUIS SYMPHONY | ST LOUIS, MO | $300,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY | ST LOUIS, MO | $200,000 | 2025 | WORLD'S FAIR EXHIBIT |
| MUSEUM OF COLLECTIONS | ST LOUIS, MO | $100,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION |
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT |
| JOHN BURROUGHS SCHOOL | ST LOUIS, MO | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL AND BUILDING SUPPORT |
| SWARTHMORE COLLEGE | SWARTHMORE, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | CHESTER CHILDREN'S CHORUS |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $30,000 | 2025 | BUSINESS SCHOOL CLASS REUNION FUND |
| THE MAGIC HOUSE | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | PLAYDATE IN THE PLAYSCAPE |
| CAMP NEBAGAMON | LAKE NEBAGAMON, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION |
| BUSINESS OF SPORTS SCHOOL FRIENDS OF | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION |
| ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART | ST CHARLES, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION |
| CHILDREN'S ORGAN TRANSPLANT ASSOCIATION | BLOOMINGTON, IN | $2,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION |
| ROSE BOWL INSTITUTE | PASADENA, CA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL GIFT |
| WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY | ST LOUIS, MO | $1,560,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, COVID RESEARCH, TOWER |
| SAINT LOUIS ZOO | ST LOUIS, MO | $1,010,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT |
| BARNES JEWISH HOSPITAL | ST LOUIS, MO | $620,000 | 2024 | MEDICAL SUPPORT, EVELYN'S HOUSE, KODNER'S FUND, TARGETED GOALS OF CARE |
| FOREST PARK FOREVER | ST LOUIS, MO | $525,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC PARK SUPPORT, BASKETBALL COURTS |
| ST LOUIS SYMPHONY | ST LOUIS, MO | $310,000 | 2024 | GENERAL GIFT, CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY | ST LOUIS, MO | $200,000 | 2024 | ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION |
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $100,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT |
| JOHN BURROUGHS SCHOOL | ST LOUIS, MO | $60,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL AND BUILDING SUPPORT |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $30,000 | 2024 | CLASS REUNION FUND |
| CAMP NEBAGAMON | LAKE NEBAGAMON, WI | $20,000 | 2024 | ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION |
| BUSINESS OF SPORTS SCHOOL FRIENDS OF | NEW YORK, NY | $14,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT |
| WEBSTER UNIVERSITY | WEBSTER GROVES, MO | $10,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT |
| ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART | ST CHARLES, MO | $10,000 | 2024 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
NEWMAN CAMPUS PLANNING FUND, CHILDHOOD UNDERNUTRITION, NEXT
BARNES JEWISH HOSPITAL
$1,300,000EVELYN'S HOUSE
SAINT LOUIS ZOO
$1,000,000ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION
FOREST PARK FOREVER
$300,000ENTRY AT FOUR CORNERS
ST LOUIS SYMPHONY
$300,000POWELL HALL CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
ST LOUIS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$250,000ASTHMA RESEARCH
MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$95,000WORLD'S FAIR EXHIBIT, DIGITATION AT LIBRARY AND RESEARCH CENTER
KEEP THE FIRES BURNING CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION
SWARTHMORE COLLEGE
$50,000CHESTER CHILDREN'S CHORUS
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
$30,000BUSINESS SCHOOL CLASS REUNION FUND, ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION
FRIENDS OF BOSS INC
$16,000HONORARIUM
WOODLANDS ACADEMY OF SACRED HEART
$10,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
CHILDREN'S ORGAN TRANSPLANT ASSOCIATION
$2,000ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION
NEWMAN CAMPUS PLANNING FUND, CHILDHOOD UNDERNUTRITION
SAINT LOUIS ZOO
$1,015,000ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION, BEST PRACTICES VISITS
BARNES JEWISH HOSPITAL
$700,000EVELYN'S HOUSE, TARGETED GOALS OF CARE
FOREST PARK FOREVER
$545,000BASKETBALL COURTS, PLAYSCAPE PROGRAM, ENTRY AT FOUR CORNERS
MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$200,000WORLD'S FAIR EXHIBIT
MUSEUM OF COLLECTIONS
$100,000ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION
SWARTHMORE COLLEGE
$50,000CHESTER CHILDREN'S CHORUS
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
$30,000BUSINESS SCHOOL CLASS REUNION FUND
BUSINESS OF SPORTS SCHOOL FRIENDS OF
$15,000EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART
$10,000ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION
CHILDREN'S ORGAN TRANSPLANT ASSOCIATION
$2,000ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION
BARNES JEWISH HOSPITAL
$620,000MEDICAL SUPPORT, EVELYN'S HOUSE, KODNER'S FUND, TARGETED GOALS OF CARE
FOREST PARK FOREVER
$525,000PUBLIC PARK SUPPORT, BASKETBALL COURTS
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
$30,000CLASS REUNION FUND
BUSINESS OF SPORTS SCHOOL FRIENDS OF
$14,000EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
WEBSTER UNIVERSITY
$10,000EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART
$10,000TUITION ASSISTANCE