OVERVIEW: The Joseph and Florence Roblee Foundation’s grants broadly support programs related to women and girls, early childhood development, and youth of color. Its grantmaking is geographically limited to the St. Louis, Missouri region and Miami-Dade County, Florida.
IP TAKE: This is a very accessible funder within its giving areas; however, new grantseekers will want to reach out to introduce themselves before applying as required by the foundation. This funder is responsive and approachable, so don’t hesitate to reach out.
PROFILE: Established in 1971, the Joseph H. and Florence A. Roblee Foundation was created by Louise Roblee McCarthy to continue her philanthropy legacy beyond her lifetime. The foundation is named after her parents. It seeks to promote “equity in areas of race/ethnicity and gender, with a preference for early, catalytic, upstream, or movement-building approaches.” Roblee grants invest in education, community, and family support issues.
Grants for Early Childhood Education
Roblee defines early childhood education as serving children from birth through age eight. Its grantmaking in this area focuses on underserved and marginalized communities, prioritizes collaborative initiatives, and advocates for two-generational approaches that support parents and their young children. The foundation supports “advocacy efforts to increase support for child care subsidies, medicaid, early childhood education, early childhood home visiting, and public schools,” and “anti-bias/anti-racism training for early childhood teachers, caregivers, and parents.”
Previous grantees in early childhood education include Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Illinois to facilitate 1:1 mentoring for children in East St. Louis, The Education Fund to support the Food Forests initiative, and Mindful Kids Miami, Inc. which brings “the benefits of mindfulness to the children of Miami-Dade County.”
Grants for Violence Prevention, Women and Girls
The foundation’s grantmaking in this area focuses on empowering women and girls through reproductive freedom, prevention of violence, abuse, and poverty; and women’s economic empowerment. Specifically, it funds underserved and marginalized communities, prioritizes “strategies that simplify and streamline women’s access to support services,” and supports “initiatives to coordinate duplicative service delivery among domestic violence programs.” Additionally, it supports programs and initiatives that use “training, education and coaching to accelerate economic empowerment, including women who have been recently incarcerated.”
Past grantees conducting work directly related to girls and women include Kristi House, which received funding for its work supporting sexually exploited girls; and Magdalene St. Louis, which received a grant to support for its programs serving women who have been victims of human trafficking.
Grants for Racial Justice, Criminal Justice, and Community Development
Roblee supports community development and racial justice grants through its Opportunities for Youth of Color program, which serves children and youth ages nine to 21. These grants focus on youth mentoring programs and “engagement initiatives that organize and empower youth of color at the grassroots level.” It prioritizes alternatives to juvenile detention and strategies to reduce incarceration, support for racial justice and equitable policing, and anti-bias/anti-racism training for middle and high school teachers in racially diverse schools. Finally, this program supports “advocacy efforts that increase public funding for children in foster care and other at-risk youth.”
Previous grantees in this area include Immigrant and Refugee Women's Program for in-home English language and life skills education for immigrants and refugees, and Forward Through Ferguson, which equips “advocates to catalyze systems change and advance education equity.”
Grants for LGBTQ
In the LGBTQ giving space, the foundation supports programs that protect and support LGBTQ youth and those “Advancing the rights of and encouraging services for alternative model families.” Roblee also invests in organizations promoting a better understanding between “different cultures, ethnic/racial groups, religions, and sexual orientations.” Pridelines Youth Services is a past Roblee Foundation LGBTQ grantee. Prideline received funding for its drop-in center operations and programs.
Important Grant Details:
Grants typically range from $3,000 to $20,000, though the foundation may occasionally consider grants for up to $30,000. The foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications and requests for funding; however, first time applicants must contact foundation staff at (314) 963-7713 before submitting their Applications. Roblee has two funding cycles per year, usually with deadlines falling near the beginning and middle of each year. To learn more about the types of organizations the Roblee Foundation supports and at what level, explore its grants list.
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