Meramec Regional Community Foundation
A trusted resource for philanthropy serving the Meramec region.
4 Industrial Drive | St. James, MO 65559 | (573) 265-2993 | Email Us
Our Mission
Our mission is to enhance the quality of life in the eight-county Meramec region through resource development, community grantmaking, collaboration and public leadership.
Meramec Regional Community Foundation is the charitable partner of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission, serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties.
Since our founding on June 4, 2010, Meramec Regional Community Foundation has distributed more than $1.3million to support the region. We now hold assets totaling $3,582,935 as of June 30, 2022.
Our Leadership
Jared Niederer, Chair
Our foundation is led by citizens of our eight-county region.
- Jared Niederer, Chair (Gasconade County)
- Richard Cavender, Vice Chair (MRCF At-Large)
- Randy Becht, Secretary/Treasurer (Pulaski County)
- Gary Brown (Dent County)
- John Craig (Crawford County)
- Tony Hayden (Osage County)
- Deborah Henderson (Maries County)
- Amy Pendleton (Phelps County)
- Vacancies: Washington County, At-Large
At-Large Members:
- Steve Vogt
- Bonnie Prigge, MRPC Executive Director
- Maria Bancroft, Foundation Coordinator
Three local nonprofits receive $500 MRCF community grants
Aug. 9, 2022 — Meramec Regional Community Foundation awarded three nonprofits with grants for community projects. Christ Church Episcopal’ s Back Door Ministry, The Community Partnership’s Capable Kids and Families program, and Council for a Healthy Dent County Project RISE each received $500. The checks were presented at MRCF’s March meeting at the Meramec Regional Planning Commission office in St. James. This year, the MRCF board reviewed a total of 22 grant applications, requesting a total of $10,905 and representing projects in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties.
Christ Church Episcopal Back Door Ministry works as an outreach program to serve the homeless in Rolla. They provide hygiene items, batteries, mending kits, warm blankets, shoes, socks, underwear and clothing. The funds will work to purchase these items to be distributed.
The Community Partnership Capable Kids and Families program is working to provide books for children with developmental disabilities and delays. The funds will work to purchase books to give to program participants during home visits.
Project RISE (Reaching Independence through Support and Education) is a community support program that replicates the Northwest Project in Springfield. The goal is to provide the necessary tools and education to help families overcome the challenges that have kept them in poverty and begin building and sustaining a thriving lifestyle outside of poverty. This program is available to qualifying residents of Dent County and the funds will be going towards the continuation of administering the program.
MRCF is an outgrowth of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission and was formed in 2010. Its 12-member board includes representation from each of the eight Meramec counties and from MRPC.
Currently, MRCF has 59 funds totaling over $3.9 million. MRPC, in addition to establishing the regional foundation and providing the initial investment to create a grant program, provides staff support to MRCF.
Meramec Regional Legacy Society
- Shawn and Maria Bancroft
- Richard and Jeanne Cavender
- Lucia Flaim
- Mike* and Virgie Mahan
- Stephen and Joanne Zap
*Deceased
Funds
Phelps County Extension Cash Fund
RBDA Historic Fountain Plaza Fund
The Rolla Mission Capital Fund
Koch-Lange Family Scholarship Fund
Dalton Newton Memorial Scholarship Fund
Ozark Actors Theatre Endowment Fund
Dr. Henry and Laura Antolak Charitable Fund
Dent County Disaster Relief Fund
Mae, Grace and George Bacon Scholarship Fund
Newburg Community Grantmaking Endowment Fund
Gasconade County Disaster Relief Fund
Crawford County Disaster Relief Fund
Groves Family Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Community Partnership Fund
Belle Lions Club Memorial Scholarship in memory of David R. Sassmann Fund
Phelps County Senior Center Fund
Meramec Regional Community Foundation Capacity Building Fund
The Kaleidoscope Discovery Center Fund
Osage County Disaster Relief Fund
Meramec Regional Community Foundation Community Grantmaking Fund
Party/Butler Family Scholarship Fund
Ted and Edna Leffler Scholarship Fund
The Claude and Irene Morgan Scholarship Fund
Meramec Regional Planning Commission Capacity Fund
CASA of South Central Missouri Capacity Fund
Maries County R-II Archery Club Scholarship Fund
Richard and Jeanne Cavender Scholarship for Public Service
Maries County R-2 Project Graduation Fund
Maries County Disaster Relief Fund
Maries County R-II School Foundation Community Scholarship Fund
Maries County R-2 PTO Scholarship Fund
Kaeding-Winter Scholarship Fund
Rolla Area Animal Shelter Building Fund (S.A.V.E.)
The Ruth and Gene Ridenhour MD Scholarship Fund 2
Phelps County Disaster Relief Fund
The Ruth and Gene Ridenhour MD Scholarship Fund
Pulaski County Disaster Relief Fund
Rolla Area Animal Shelter Endowment Fund (S.A.V.E.)
Phelps County PHA Capacity Building Fund
Schierloh Family Fund for Maries County R-II Schools
Route 66 Neon Park Development Fund
Schierloh Family Fund for State Technical College of Missouri
Alan D. and Yvonne L. Skouby Scholarship Fund
Washington County Disaster Relief Fund
