Mission Statement
To partner with donors to help charities, especially those focused on children, become financially sound through leadership, grants and donors services.
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Brief History
YouthBridge began in 1877 as the German General Protestant
Orphan’s Home founded by a group of German Americans who sought a loving home
for children orphaned during the cholera epidemic. It began as a rented house
on 13th and Chouteau, and moved and grew many times over the
century, adding schooling, recreation, sports, counseling and medical and
dental care.
The home always had a loving family environment. Children
who grew up there return to serve, and some board members are third generation.
In 1917, 10-year-old August Moenkhaus moved into the home and grew up there. He
later became successful in business and volunteered at the home. He was elected
to the board in 1946. His son, Norman Moenkhaus, is an Executive Director
today.
In 2001, the name changed to YouthBridge Association and
became the YouthBridge Campus. Today,
HavenHouse St. Louis, Good Shepherd School for Children and the YouthBridge
Community Foundation reside there. The mission expanded in 2005 to help other
children’s charities become sustainable organizations, and to help donors set
up giving funds.
Six years ago, YouthBridge started the annual YouthBridge
Social Enterprise and Innovation Competition, in which nonprofits can compete
for seed money; and the free Washington University Skandalaris Seminar Series,
where nonprofits can gain the business skills to help make their social
enterprise ideas a sustainable reality.
Goals
YouthBridge Community Foundation has two basic goals. One is
to help charities that serve children and youth build productive capital, so
they can be sustainable and fulfill their mission. The other is to help philanthropists leverage
their gifts to maximize the return on their social investment.
Who We Serve
- children’s charities seeking capacity-building alternatives
- individuals and families who wish to help
children at risk and insure a social return on their investment
- professional advisers serving their
clients’ charitable gift planning needs
What We Offer
For children's charities, we offer:
- Education - Through grants given to Washington University in St. Louis, YouthBridge energizes the St. Louis region's entrepreneurial spirit with free business seminars and the largest business plan competition in the U.S., the YouthBridge SEIC. For more information, go to www.youthbridge.org/seic.
- Enterprise - Grants and mentoring to help social entrepreneurs implement their business plans
- Endowment Building - Guiding the process to build capital reserves
For donors, we leverage your gift with our capacity-building services to maximize the social return on your investment. We also:- provide financial tools, investment options and administrative support
- convert private foundations to Donor-Advised Funds to reduce costs and increase flexibility
- create a giving strategy to boost the impact of your gift without taking from you and your family
- document your values and life stories to build your legacy for future generations through our Priceless Conversations
For financial advisers, we:
- collaborate and partner with you to help your clients achieve optimal outcomes with their philanthropy
- lighten your load because we focus exclusively on philanthropy and are skilled at addressing concerns of your high-net-worth clients
- offer full assurance that your clients can maintain their funds under your management