Growing Capacity at Mission: St. Louis

A Capacity Building Grant from YouthBridge Community Foundation of Greater St. Louis is designed for synergy. More than simply a business buzzword, synergy involves interaction, collaboration, and a concerted effort that benefits all parties. Synergy fuels the YouthBridge Capacity Building Grant program (awards are made possible thanks to repurposed fees collected from YouthBridge fundholder accounts), and synergy is exactly what Misson: St. Louis is achieving on North Grand Boulevard.

Founded seventeen years ago by Executive Director, Josh Wilson, Mission: St. Louis exists to empower individuals for social and economic growth through relationship and opportunity. At its core is the belief that poverty is addressed at the individual level, with dignity at the center. Josh explained, “We want to remove barriers to ensure that people can flourish.”

Mission: St. Louis operates multiple programs related to education, crime reduction, housing, and workforce development. Their solution to empowerment is driven by a multi-generational approach, with a major focus on youth and education. This aligns perfectly with YouthBridge’s mission to help charities in the St. Louis region, especially those focused on children.

When Mission: St. Louis acquired an old YMCA building on North Grand Boulevard they were positioned as an ideal candidate for a YouthBridge Capacity Building Grant. Capacity Building Grants are meant to enhance the impact of nonprofit organizations in neighborhoods where YouthBridge partners already exist. The Mission: St. Louis site is in the heart of the city and walking distance from The Hub, an impact investment project that YouthBridge began supporting in 2024. This proximity provides the opportunity to accentuate existing services and offer new ones based on the needs of the community. Currently operating on three of the building’s five stories, Mission: St. Louis is home to a bank, a mental health and addiction clinic, and legal services.

The $20,000 YouthBridge Capacity Building Grant is being used for consulting costs for strategic planning for Mission: St. Louis. The grant will assist with both community and organizational assessments to determine new services needed and to complement existing services. According to Josh, lack of transportation is a challenge for many Mission: St. Louis clients. Recognizing a need for business opportunities to be accessible by residents is obvious; determining the most beneficial solutions requires more exploration. As the expansion of Mission: St. Louis on North Grand continues, watch for more services, additional cohesion, and of course, more synergy to be apparent in the area. YouthBridge is proud to play a role in supporting this growth.