The Willett Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving on health-related research and patient support—particularly neurodegenerative disease (Lewy body dementia), ovarian cancer research, and pediatric catastrophic disease—while also making a significant local legacy gift in the form of a memorial college scholarship tied to Saint Jerome Church. Grants are large and targeted, often directed to national disease-focused nonprofits and one named scholarship that reflects a family or parish connection.
A $100,000 scholarship grant to Saint Jerome Church’s Christine Willett Memorial Scholarship Program is the clearest signal in The William Gerald Willett Charitable Foundation’s recent giving: the foundation combines memorial higher-education support with targeted health and human-services funding. Its largest grants in the latest filing also went to disease-focused nonprofits working on Lewy body dementia, ovarian cancer research, and pediatric catastrophic disease. Alongside those national and medical gifts, the foundation supports local Missouri organizations serving children, families, veterans, animals, and people facing crisis. The pattern is narrow but varied within those lanes. Health-related awards include support for research, outreach, education, treatment, and patient assistance rather than broad general operating support. The foundation also makes repeated gifts to the same organizations across multiple years, including the scholarship program and several health and community nonprofits. That repeat giving suggests an ongoing relationship with a small set of recipients rather than a widely dispersed grant portfolio. The latest grants show a mix of named memorial support, research funding, direct service, and local community aid, with award sizes ranging from five-figure program grants to a six-figure scholarship award.
Health research is a defining thread in the foundation’s recent grants. It gave $50,000 to Lewy Body Dementia Association Inc. in 2024 to support people affected by Lewy body dementias through outreach, education, and research, and it also gave $50,000 to Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance in 2024 to promote and support scientific research for a cure. Pediatric catastrophic disease is another clear area of support. The foundation awarded $50,000 to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in 2023 to advance cures through research and treatment, and it provided $25,000 to St Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation in 2024 to support children’s healthcare and related services. Beyond medical research, the foundation funds direct community services. It gave $30,000 to Lydia’s House in 2024 to end domestic violence by serving abused adults and their children, and $25,000 to No Kid Hungry - Share Our Strength in 2024 to end childhood hunger and poverty in the United States and abroad.
$599K
$4.2M
$678K
$618K
Most grants fall between $25K and $50K, with a median of $28K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$28K
75th Percentile
$50K
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Concentrated giving with a small number of sizable grants; repeats at least one health nonprofit (Lewy Body Dementia Association) and splits support between disease-specific national charities and a named local scholarship.
Notable grantees: Christine Willett Memorial Scholarship / Saint Jerome Church, Lewy Body Dementia Association, Inc., Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, Inc.
Typical grant size sits in the mid-five-figure range: the 25th percentile is $25,000, the median is $27,875, and the 75th percentile is $50,000. The recent record also includes a $100,000 scholarship grant, which stands above the rest of the distribution. The foundation shows repeat support for a limited set of recipients across 2023 and 2024, including the Christine Willett Memorial Scholarship Program, Lewy Body Dementia Association Inc., Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance / The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Inc., St Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation, Make-a-wish Foundation of Missouri and Kansas, Humane Society of Missouri, Stray Rescue of St Louis, Lydia’s House, Dogs for Our Brave, No Kid Hungry - Share Our Strength, and Tree House of Greater St Louis. It does not fund individuals and makes no program-related investments. The pattern is consistent with targeted grantmaking rather than open application-based giving.
Grants are concentrated in Missouri recipients, which account for 62% of grants and make Missouri the top state by grant count. St. Louis appears repeatedly through organizations such as St Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation, Lydia’s House, Dogs for Our Brave, Humane Society of Missouri, and Stray Rescue of St Louis. Other Missouri locations include Ballwin, Wentzville, Des Peres, and Fayetteville? The data also shows recipients in Washington, DC; New York, NY; Lilburn, GA; Memphis, TN; and Fancy Farm, KY. All recent grants in the file go to US recipients.
Its recent grants concentrate on health-related research and patient support, especially Lewy body dementia, ovarian cancer research, and pediatric catastrophic disease. The foundation also supports a memorial scholarship and local human-services and animal-welfare organizations in Missouri.
Recent grants cluster in the mid-five figures. The 25th percentile is $25,000, the median is $27,875, and the 75th percentile is $50,000. The latest file also includes a $100,000 scholarship grant, which is above the usual range.
Yes. Several recipients appear in both 2023 and 2024, including the Christine Willett Memorial Scholarship Program, Lewy Body Dementia Association Inc., St Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation, Make-a-wish Foundation of Missouri and Kansas, Humane Society of Missouri, Stray Rescue of St Louis, Lydia’s House, Dogs for Our Brave, and Tree House of Greater St Louis.
Missouri is the top state by grant count, with 62% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. St. Louis-based organizations show up frequently, alongside recipients in Ballwin, Wentzville, and Des Peres.
The recent grants include scholarship programs, disease-focused nonprofits, children’s hospitals, domestic-violence services, hunger relief, animal welfare groups, and service-dog providers. Named recipients include Saint Jerome Church’s Christine Willett Memorial Scholarship Program, Lewy Body Dementia Association Inc., Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, Lydia’s House, No Kid Hungry - Share Our Strength, and Dogs for Our Brave.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTINE WILLETT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SAINT JEROME CHURCH | FANCY FARM, KY | $100,000 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION |
| LEWY BODY DEMENTIA ASSOCIATION INC | LILBURN, GA | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THOSE AFFECTED BY LEWY BODY DEMENTIA THROUGH OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF MISSOURI | ST LOUIS, MO | $53,627 | 2025 | PREVENTION OF CRUELTY, ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF ANIMALS |
| OVARIAN CANCER RESEARCH ALLIANCE | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE, ADVOCATE, AND SUPPORT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH FOR THE CURE OF OVARIAN CANCER |
| CHILDREN'S NATIONAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | SILVER SPRING, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | TO HELP FIND CURES, FUEL INNOVATION AND PROVIDE WORLD-CLASS CARE FOR EVERY CHILD |
| STRAY RESCUE OF ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $40,000 | 2025 | TO RESCUE STRAY ANIMALS, PROVIDE THEM HEALTHCARE, AND FIND ADOPTIVE HOMES |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF MISSOURI AND KANSAS | BALLWIN, MO | $35,000 | 2025 | TO CREATE LIFE-CHANGING WISHES FOR CHILDREN WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES |
| THE MISSION CONTINUES | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | EMPOWER VETERANS TO FIND PURPOSE BY CONTINUING THEIR SERVICE WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES |
| NO KID HUNGRY - SHARE OUR STRENGTH | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | TO END CHILDHOOD HUNGER AND POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA | PHOENIX, AZ | $25,000 | 2025 | TO CREATE LIFE-CHANGING WISHES FOR CHILDREN WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES |
| ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | TO ADVANCE CURES FOR PEDIATRIC CATASTROPHIC DISEASES THROUGH RESEARCH AND TREATMENT |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE THE COMFORTS OF HOME AND CARE TO FAMILIES OF SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN |
| COVENANT HOUSE MISSOURI | ST LOUIS, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS AND VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING |
| LYDIA'S HOUSE INC | ST LOUIS, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BY BEING A PLACE OF HEALING FOR ABUSED ADULTS AND THEIR CHILDREN |
| DOGS FOR OUR BRAVE | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED SERVICE DOGS TO VETERANS |
| EVEN CHANCE ST LOUIS | DES PERES, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS AND SUPPORT ANIMAL RESCUE |
| CHRISTINE WILLETT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SAINT JEROME CHURCH | FANCY FARM, KY | $100,000 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION |
| LEWY BODY DEMENTIA ASSOCIATION INC | LILBURN, GA | $50,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THOSE AFFECTED BY LEWY BODY DEMENTIAS THROUGH OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH |
| OVARIAN CANCER RESEARCH ALLIANCE | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE, ADVOCATE, AND SUPPORT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH FOR THE CURE OF OVARIAN CANCER |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF MISSOURI | ST LOUIS, MO | $40,150 | 2024 | PREVENTION OF CRUELTY, ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF ANIMALS |
| STRAY RESCUE OF ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $39,321 | 2024 | TO RESCUE STRAY ANIMALS, PROVIDE THEM HEALTHCARE, AND FIND ADOPTIVE HOMES |
| DOGS FOR OUR BRAVE | ST LOUIS, MO | $35,000 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED SERVICE DOGS TO VETERANS |
| LYDIA'S HOUSE | ST LOUIS, MO | $30,000 | 2024 | TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BY BEING A PLACE OF HEALING FOR ABUSED ADULTS AND THEIR CHILDREN |
| NO KID HUNGRY - SHARE OUR STRENGTH | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2024 | TO END CHILDHOOD HUNGER AND POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD |
| ST LOUIS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE AND RELATED SERVICES |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF MISSOURI AND KANSAS | BALLWIN, MO | $25,000 | 2024 | TO CREATE LIFE-CHANGING WISHES FOR CHILDREN WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES |
| TREE HOUSE OF GREATER ST LOUIS | WENTZVILLE, MO | $15,000 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES |
| EVEN CHANCE ST LOUIS | DES PERES, MO | $5,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS AND SUPPORT ANIMAL RESCUE |
| COVENANT HOUSE MISSOURI | ST LOUIS, MO | $5,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS AND VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING |
| LEWY BODY DEMENTIA ASSOCIATION INC | LILBURN, GA | $50,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THOSE AFFECTED BY LEWY BODY DEMENTIAS THROUGH OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH |
| CHILDREN'S NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE DELIVERY OF HEALTHCARE IN WASHINGTON, DC |
| CHRISTINE WILLETT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SAINT JEROME CHURCH | FANCY FARM, KY | $50,000 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION |
| ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $50,000 | 2023 | TO ADVANCE CURES FOR PEDIATRIC CATASTROPHIC DISEASES THROUGH RESEARCH AND TREATMENT |
| THE OVARIAN CANCER RESEARCH FUND INC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE, ADVOCATE, AND SUPPORT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH FOR THE CURE OF OVARIAN CANCER |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF MISSOURI AND KANSAS | BALLWIN, MO | $41,630 | 2023 | TO CREATE LIFE-CHANGING WISHES FOR CHILDREN WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF MISSOURI | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,750 | 2023 | PREVENTION OF CRUELTY, ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF ANIMALS |
| STRAY RESCUE OF ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,155 | 2023 | TO RESCUE STRAY ANIMALS, PROVIDE THEM HEALTHCARE, AND FIND ADOPTIVE HOMES |
| ST LOUIS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE AND RELATED SERVICES |
| NO KID HUNGRY - SHARE OUR STRENGTH | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2023 | TO END CHILDHOOD HUNGER AND POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD |
| LYDIA'S HOUSE | ST LOUIS, MO | $15,000 | 2023 | TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BY BEING A PLACE OF HEALING FOR ABUSED ADULTS AND THEIR CHILDREN |
| TREE HOUSE OF GREATER ST LOUIS | WENTZVILLE, MO | $15,000 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES |
| DOGS FOR OUR BRAVE | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED SERVICE DOGS TO VETERANS |
CHRISTINE WILLETT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SAINT JEROME CHURCH
$100,000TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
TO SUPPORT THOSE AFFECTED BY LEWY BODY DEMENTIA THROUGH OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH
HUMANE SOCIETY OF MISSOURI
$53,627PREVENTION OF CRUELTY, ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF ANIMALS
TO PROMOTE, ADVOCATE, AND SUPPORT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH FOR THE CURE OF OVARIAN CANCER
CHILDREN'S NATIONAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
$50,000TO HELP FIND CURES, FUEL INNOVATION AND PROVIDE WORLD-CLASS CARE FOR EVERY CHILD
TO RESCUE STRAY ANIMALS, PROVIDE THEM HEALTHCARE, AND FIND ADOPTIVE HOMES
TO CREATE LIFE-CHANGING WISHES FOR CHILDREN WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES
EMPOWER VETERANS TO FIND PURPOSE BY CONTINUING THEIR SERVICE WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES
TO END CHILDHOOD HUNGER AND POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD
TO CREATE LIFE-CHANGING WISHES FOR CHILDREN WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES
TO ADVANCE CURES FOR PEDIATRIC CATASTROPHIC DISEASES THROUGH RESEARCH AND TREATMENT
TO PROVIDE THE COMFORTS OF HOME AND CARE TO FAMILIES OF SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN
TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS AND VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
LYDIA'S HOUSE INC
$15,000TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BY BEING A PLACE OF HEALING FOR ABUSED ADULTS AND THEIR CHILDREN
EVEN CHANCE ST LOUIS
$5,000TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS AND SUPPORT ANIMAL RESCUE
CHRISTINE WILLETT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SAINT JEROME CHURCH
$100,000TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
TO SUPPORT THOSE AFFECTED BY LEWY BODY DEMENTIAS THROUGH OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH
TO PROMOTE, ADVOCATE, AND SUPPORT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH FOR THE CURE OF OVARIAN CANCER
HUMANE SOCIETY OF MISSOURI
$40,150PREVENTION OF CRUELTY, ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF ANIMALS
TO RESCUE STRAY ANIMALS, PROVIDE THEM HEALTHCARE, AND FIND ADOPTIVE HOMES
LYDIA'S HOUSE
$30,000TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BY BEING A PLACE OF HEALING FOR ABUSED ADULTS AND THEIR CHILDREN
TO END CHILDHOOD HUNGER AND POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD
TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE AND RELATED SERVICES
TO CREATE LIFE-CHANGING WISHES FOR CHILDREN WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES
TREE HOUSE OF GREATER ST LOUIS
$15,000TO PROVIDE EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
EVEN CHANCE ST LOUIS
$5,000TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS AND SUPPORT ANIMAL RESCUE
TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS AND VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
TO SUPPORT THOSE AFFECTED BY LEWY BODY DEMENTIAS THROUGH OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH
CHILDREN'S NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
$50,000TO SUPPORT THE DELIVERY OF HEALTHCARE IN WASHINGTON, DC
CHRISTINE WILLETT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SAINT JEROME CHURCH
$50,000TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
TO ADVANCE CURES FOR PEDIATRIC CATASTROPHIC DISEASES THROUGH RESEARCH AND TREATMENT
TO PROMOTE, ADVOCATE, AND SUPPORT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH FOR THE CURE OF OVARIAN CANCER
TO CREATE LIFE-CHANGING WISHES FOR CHILDREN WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES
HUMANE SOCIETY OF MISSOURI
$25,750PREVENTION OF CRUELTY, ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF ANIMALS
TO RESCUE STRAY ANIMALS, PROVIDE THEM HEALTHCARE, AND FIND ADOPTIVE HOMES
TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE AND RELATED SERVICES
TO END CHILDHOOD HUNGER AND POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD
LYDIA'S HOUSE
$15,000TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BY BEING A PLACE OF HEALING FOR ABUSED ADULTS AND THEIR CHILDREN
TREE HOUSE OF GREATER ST LOUIS
$15,000TO PROVIDE EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES