Sage Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving on prominent St. Louis-area institutions, splitting major gifts between environmental public programming and higher education. Recent grants to the Missouri Botanical Garden and Washington University indicate a local focus on public-facing science/environmental education and academic support. The foundation appears to make relatively large, targeted grants rather than many small awards.
Concentrated, large one-off grants to a small number of local flagship institutions (roughly equal split between environment/public garden and higher education).
Missouri Botanical Garden, Washington University
A $55,000 grant to the Missouri Botanical Garden in 2025 is the largest recent award on file for Sage Charitable Foundation C/o Jennifer Davis, and it fits a pattern of focused support for St. Louis institutions. The foundation’s recent giving also includes a $50,000 grant to Washington University in 2023, showing that higher education is a regular part of the portfolio alongside environmental work. Beyond those anchors, the grant list points to a broad but still place-based set of interests: public media, health care, arts organizations, religious institutions, civil rights advocacy, and music education. Grants have gone to St. Louis Public Radio, the Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Arch City Defenders, and Jazz St. Louis, among others. The common thread is support for organizations that serve civic life in and around St. Louis, with some awards extending to a small number of grantees outside Missouri. The foundation’s profile is not one of many small transactions; instead, it shows targeted gifts at levels that often reach five figures, with a handful of larger awards shaping the overall pattern.
Environmental and botanical work appears at the center of the foundation’s giving. In 2025, it gave $55,000 to Missouri Botanical Garden for environment, and it also gave $10,000 to Saint Louis Zoo for environment. Education is another clear lane: Washington University received $50,000 in 2023 for education, while Micds received $10,000 in 2025 and City Academy received $10,000 in 2023, both in education. The foundation also supports public information and civic access through media and journalism, including $25,000 to Nine Pbs in 2025, $25,000 to St Louis Public Radio in 2025, and $25,000 to River City Journalism Fund in 2025. In arts and culture, it backed Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, Jazz St Louis, Opera Theatre of St Louis, and Saint Louis Dance Theatre.
Typical awards are relatively concentrated in the middle of the distribution: p25 is $1,500, median grant size is $6,000, and p75 is $19,000. That spread shows a mix of smaller cultural gifts and larger anchor grants. The recent record includes repeated support for several recipients across 2023 and 2025, including Central Reform Congregation, River City Journalism Fund, St Louis Public Radio, Starkloff Disability Institute, The Foundation for Barnes-jewish Hospital, and Opera Theatre of St Louis. Sage Charitable Foundation C/o Jennifer Davis is classified as a regular funder, not a donor-advised fund, and it does not fund individuals. The pattern is regional rather than national, with grants largely concentrated in Missouri.
$3.1M
$967K
$435K
$3.1M
Most grants fall between $2K and $19K, with a median of $6K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$6K
75th Percentile
$19K
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Grantmaking is heavily concentrated in Missouri, with 78% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state. St. Louis and Saint Louis account for most of the named recipient locations, including Missouri Botanical Garden, Washington University, St Louis Public Radio, and The Foundation for Barnes-jewish Hospital. Outside Missouri, the foundation has granted to organizations in New Orleans, Los Angeles, New York, and Denver. All recent grants in the provided list went to U.S. recipients.
The recent grant list shows a mix of environmental, education, media, health care, arts, religious, civil rights, and music education organizations. Repeated recipients include Missouri Botanical Garden, Washington University, St Louis Public Radio, The Foundation for Barnes-jewish Hospital, and Opera Theatre of St Louis, which suggests a portfolio built around civic and cultural institutions.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution centers on a median of $6,000, with a lower quartile of $1,500 and an upper quartile of $19,000. That means many awards are in the low-to-mid five-figure range, while some are smaller operating or program gifts.
Yes. Several recipients appear in both 2023 and 2025, including Central Reform Congregation, River City Journalism Fund, St Louis Public Radio, Starkloff Disability Institute, The Foundation for Barnes-jewish Hospital, and Opera Theatre of St Louis. That points to recurring support rather than only one-time gifts.
Most grants go to Missouri recipients, and 78% of grants were made to organizations in the headquarters state of Missouri. The most common recipient locations in the recent list are St. Louis and Saint Louis, with additional grants to New Orleans, Los Angeles, New York, and Denver.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $2,010,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| FOREST PARK FOREVER | ST LOUIS, MO | $501,000 | 2026 | ENVIRONMENT |
| GATEWAY ARCH PARK FOUNDATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $100,000 | 2026 | ENVIRONMENT |
| STARKLOFF DISABILITY INSTITUTE | ST LOUIS, MO | $100,000 | 2026 | HEALTH CARE |
| CENTRAL REFORM CONGREGATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $100,000 | 2026 | RELIGIOUS |
| GRAND CENTER INC | ST LOUIS, MO | $67,485 | 2026 | ARTS |
| MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN | ST LOUIS, MO | $35,000 | 2026 | ENVIRONMENT |
| THE FOUNDATION FOR BARNES-JEWISH HOSPITAL | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2026 | HEALTHCARE |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2026 | RELIGIOUS |
| RIVER CITY JOURNALISM FUND | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| NINE PBS | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2026 | MEDIA |
| JAZZ ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2026 | ARTS |
| JOHN BURROUGHS SCHOOL | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| ST LOUIS ART MUSUEM FOUNDATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2026 | ARTS |
| OPERA THEATRE OF ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2026 | ARTS |
| OCA SAINT LOUIS CHAPTER | ST LOUIS, MO | $3,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY ACTION |
| FLANCE EARLY LEARNING CENTER | ST LOUIS, MO | $1,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| CITY ACADEMY | ST LOUIS, MO | $1,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN | ST LOUIS, MO | $55,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| CENTRAL REFORM CONGREGATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $30,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS |
| RIVER CITY JOURNALISM FUND | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| JOHN BURROUGHS SCHOOL | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| ELLIS MARSALIS CENTER FOR MUSIC | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $25,000 | 2025 | ARTS |
| NINE PBS | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | MEDIA |
| ST LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | MEDIA |
| THE FOUNDATION FOR BARNES-JEWISH HOSPITAL | ST LOUIS, MO | $20,000 | 2025 | HEALTHCARE |
| STARKLOFF DISABILITY INSTITUTE | ST LOUIS, MO | $18,000 | 2025 | HEALTH CARE |
| BALLET HISPANICS | NEW YORK, NY | $11,000 | 2025 | ARTS |
| SAINT LOUIS ZOO | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| MICDS | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| JAZZ ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | ARTS |
| ST LOUIS ART MUSUEM FOUNDATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $6,000 | 2025 | ARTS |
| SAINT LOUIS DANCE THEATRE | ST LOUIS, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | ARTS |
| OPERA THEATRE OF ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | ARTS |
| GRAND CENTER INC | ST LOUIS, MO | $4,500 | 2025 | ARTS |
| THE GARDEN CONSERVANCY | GARRISON, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| MENTOR | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| FRIENDS OF BOGARDUS PLAZA | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| COVENANT PLACE FOUNDATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $1,000 | 2025 | HEALTH CARE |
| DONALD DANFORTH PLANT SCIENCE CENTER | OLIVETTE, MO | $1,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| GATEWAY ARCH PARK FOUNDATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $1,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| CITY ACADEMY | ST LOUIS, MO | $1,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| FLANCE EARLY LEARNING CENTER | ST LOUIS, MO | $1,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY CITY CHILDREN'S CENTER | UNIVERSITY CITY, MO | $1,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BE LOUD SOPHIE FOUNDATION | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $500 | 2025 | HEALTH CARE |
| Nine PBS | St Louis, MO | $25,000 | 2024 | Media |
| RIVER CITY JOURNALISM FUND | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS |
| ST LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2024 | MEDIA |
FOREST PARK FOREVER
$501,000ENVIRONMENT
CENTRAL REFORM CONGREGATION
$100,000RELIGIOUS
GRAND CENTER INC
ARTS
RIVER CITY JOURNALISM FUND
$25,000EDUCATION
OPERA THEATRE OF ST LOUIS
$10,000ARTS
OCA SAINT LOUIS CHAPTER
$3,000COMMUNITY ACTION
FLANCE EARLY LEARNING CENTER
$1,000EDUCATION
MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN
$55,000ENVIRONMENT
CENTRAL REFORM CONGREGATION
$30,000RELIGIOUS
RIVER CITY JOURNALISM FUND
$25,000EDUCATION
ELLIS MARSALIS CENTER FOR MUSIC
$25,000ARTS
NINE PBS
$25,000MEDIA
ST LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO
$25,000MEDIA
BALLET HISPANICS
$11,000ARTS
SAINT LOUIS ZOO
$10,000ENVIRONMENT
MICDS
$10,000EDUCATION
OPERA THEATRE OF ST LOUIS
$5,000ARTS
GRAND CENTER INC
$4,500ARTS
MENTOR
$2,500EDUCATION
FRIENDS OF BOGARDUS PLAZA
$1,000ENVIRONMENT
COVENANT PLACE FOUNDATION
$1,000HEALTH CARE
FLANCE EARLY LEARNING CENTER
$1,000EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY CITY CHILDREN'S CENTER
$1,000EDUCATION
BE LOUD SOPHIE FOUNDATION
$500HEALTH CARE
RIVER CITY JOURNALISM FUND
$25,000EDUCATION
ST LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO
$25,000MEDIA