History

1920
The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis started as a program created by Meta Bettman for the St. Louis section of the National Council of Jewish Women. Its mission was to make financial resources available to young Jewish St. Louisans of limited means so they could pursue higher education. The first loan — $15 — helped a young immigrant woman attend business college. The organization incorporated as the St. Louis Jewish Scholarship Foundation in 1929. 

1953

Eligibility for the Foundation’s interest-free loan program expanded to include all qualified applicants without regard to religion. African American students received the first awards made to non-Jewish St. Louisans. 

1960s

The organization became independent and non-sectarian as The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis. 

1960

St. Louis marketing entrepreneur and philanthropist Evelyn Newman launched ScholarShop, a high-quality resale retail store which generated revenue for Foundation programs. The Foundation grew significantly in the next two decades.

1989

The Foundation hired inaugural executive director Faith Sandler and initiated a long-term strategic plan to improve and expand services. 

1994

The Student Advocate and Advising Program was created to address students’ need for information and assistance in navigating college admission and financial aid.  

2000s

The Foundation began expanding scholarship grant opportunities through the Bravo Grant program. A second location of ScholarShop opened in Webster Groves. 

2009

The Foundation helped lead the effort to create St. Louis Graduates, a nonprofit collaborative project with the goal of radically increasing postsecondary degree attainment. St. Louis Graduates connected leaders of area educational institutions, community service providers, businesses, and philanthropic organizations. In 2021, it merged with Missouri College Access Network to become MOCAN (Missouri College & Career Attainment Network).

2016

The Foundation’s Board voted to close ScholarShop in response to changing retail dynamics. In 2017, both ScholarShop locations ended operations after 57 years.

2020

In honor of the Scholarship Foundation’s 100th anniversary, the History Sub-Committee created several timelines chronicling its history. 

2021

Contributions to the Foundation’s Designated Scholar Loan (DSL) program formed the bedrock of its interest-free loan program for its 40-year history. Recognizing the changing student financial aid landscape, the Foundation sunset the DSL program. DSL funds continue to be recycled to support new students, and all DSLs will be listed in perpetuity.

2021

A botched federal roll-out of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), growing insolvency among higher education institutions, and policies at the state, federal, and institutional levels created chaos and barriers for low-income students – and highlighted the importance of the Foundation’s advising, funding, and advocacy. 

Learn more about the Foundation’s impact today.