We’re searching for organizations that embrace new perspectives and innovative approaches to creating programs or providing services for disadvantaged children (up to age 18) in the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). These grants allow them to access resources they would not be able to receive otherwise.
Most of Dana Brown’s lifetime philanthropic efforts were centered in his beloved St. Louis, where he built the Safari Coffee brand and the place he called home. As a result, The Dana Brown Charitable Trust proudly limits our grants to the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). We are honored to support local nonprofit organizations as they follow in Dana Brown’s footsteps, displaying the courage, ambition, and entrepreneurial spirit needed to influence positive change and innovate for a better St. Louis.
The Dana Brown Charitable Trust honors the legacy of the great philanthropist, entrepreneur, and adventurer, Dana Brown.
Throughout his lifetime, Dana happily shared his exotic world travels with the St. Louis community through broadcast television and Safari Coffee commercials. Dana believed that exposure to the beauty of nature and wild animals deeply enriched others. We continue this tradition by providing grants to organizations focused on education through programs/resources enabling children to experience and expand their world knowledge by learning about wild animals and zoology.
Secondarily, we will continue to consider grant requests for programs with animals that provide services and resources for financially disadvantaged children, focusing on mental health, support, and community building.
We believe our impact on the St. Louis community should be both strong and direct and we’re proud to showcase the positive outcomes we’ve helped influence since 1994.
As with any great adventure, a few rules and guidelines are in place to ensure we all get the most out of our journey. Read the grant rules and guidelines below to understand if applying for a grant fits you.
Are you a public charity registered as a 501(c)(3) organization? If you answered yes, you are off to a good start.
How long have you had 501(c)3 status as a Nonprofit organization? Our new guidelines require all eligible nonprofit organizations to be four (4) years or older. They must also be verified on the Charity Check by Candid on our grant interface platform.
Are you a Supporting Organization or looking for funding for a feasibility study? That’s not quite in our wheelhouse. The Dana Brown Charitable Trust makes grants to organizations that will use their funds directly for the benefit of animals or children in the St. Louis Metro area.
Are you wondering how to get started? The first step is to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI). All potential grant recipients must complete this requirement before being invited to submit a full grant application.
Are you wondering about deadlines? We have two grant cycles, Spring and Fall. The Spring Grant cycle launches on January 1, with a deadline of February 19 for the Letters of Intent. The Fall Grant cycle opens on July 1, with a deadline of August 27 for Letters of Intent. In both cycles, our DBCT Grant Review Committee will meet within the month to review Letters of Intent and invite organizations to complete our full grant application.
If invited, full grant applications begin March 24 with a deadline of May 5 for the Spring. Fall grant applications start on September 20 and end on October 29.
For more grant rules and guidelines, view our Frequently Asked Questions.
