About the Foundation

The Greater University Service Foundation (GUSF) is a private, independent institution dedicated to supporting the leadership development and service skills of select persons, especially students, with a primary geographic focus on St. Louis County and St. Louis City. Washington University alumni passionate about St. Louis founded GUSF to support the entire community. GUSF achieves its mission primarily through financial support and project mentorship.

GUSF provides small grants to projects that often lay outside the purview of traditional grant-making bodies. Many grantees are individuals rather than organizations, who have less access to resources. We recognize that there is no shortage of creativity, motivation, and drive in St. Louis, but there often is a lack of funding and resources. The goal of the foundation is to bring life to these projects, which may just need help getting off the ground, or may not even be able to exist without additional resources. Additionally, with the initial funding of a private organization, our grantees can gain credibility and support to seek additional funding or resources as is necessary.

Foundation directors and our alumni network act as mentors to grant recipients when their scope of expertise includes the grant recipient’s project or research topic. We believe that success is often achieved in collaboration with one’s peers and as a result of substantive feedback and revision. As a result, the Foundation acts as a body of personal consultants for the ongoing success of our grant recipients and their initiatives.

Although projects funded by the Foundation may take on any issue relevant to a university or a specific community, the GUSF takes a particular interest in projects that exemplify our values: innovation, community, interaction, environment, awareness, action, egolessness, service, and non-profit venture capital.

The Foundation was incorporated in the State of Missouri in 2006 and granted 501(c)(3) public charity status in 2007.