Opportunity Fund

Through our Opportunity Fund, we’re challenging outmoded ways of thinking and testing concepts that explore ways to disrupt the status quo.

What kind of ideas are we looking for?

Woman speaking into a microphone on an informational panel

The Opportunity Fund enables us to respond to emerging issues and test new or innovative approaches that may be unique to the state. Ideas can also be based on existing, promising, or effective models that can be tested with new audiences or geographies. Projects may also test the viability and sustainability of an idea on a small scale.


Through previous Opportunity Fund projects, we have made strategic investments in ideas that have worked to tackle structural inequities and shift power structures, built collaborative networks, reached broad populations, or generated community-led solutions.


Some of the most promising Opportunity Fund ideas have authentically engaged impacted communities, had policy or practice implications that reached beyond an individual organization, or used creative problem solving. We want to partner with you to build on those successes.

How can a strategic investment turn into sustainable change?

Changemaker model

Graphic showing that with a $35,000 strategic investment with Missouri Appleseed, research findings were delivered to legislators and media, resulting in over $113,000 in new state funding for period products in prison.

Thanks to Appleseed’s efforts, findings from the research were passed to Missouri legislators. With bipartisan support, more than $113,000 was set aside in Missouri’s 2020 budget to purchase period products for state prisons. Through our partnership with Appleseed, we were able to turn a strategic investment into long-term sustainable change.

Other Opportunity Fund projects

Clean, Safe Neighborhoods

Healthy Teeth and Gums

To share your idea with us, submit a brief concept paper to tell us more about it. Staff will review concept papers and then send invitations to organizations to submit full proposals if the idea fits with Opportunity Fund and aligns with our mission and values

Concept papers are due April 30 at noon.

People collaborating on a laptop and an ipad
Woman smiling outside of a restaurant

Additional questions?

Get in Touch

If you have any questions not answered in the FAQ, please reach out to one of our contacts for more information.

portrait of Alyssa Curran
Alyssa Curran, MS
Strategist – Responsive Philanthropy
Portrait of Reana Thomas
Reana Thomas, MPH
Strategist – Responsive Philanthropy
Portrait of Ben Zeno
Ben Zeno
Senior Strategist – Responsive Philanthropy