Clayton Community Foundation outlines projects, pushes operating endowment and Hanley House restoration

Alex, executive director of the Clayton Community Foundation, told the Clayton Board of Aldermen on Jan. 28 that the foundation will prioritize securing an operating endowment and increasing household donors while continuing support for public‑art, parks and historic‑site projects across the city.

The foundation outlined a portfolio of projects and fundraising goals that include public art on Wydown Boulevard, traffic‑signal box artwork, a $100,000 matching campaign for Hanley House, Century Home plaques, Remembrance Park amenities and recognition signage for a recently completed Shaw Park splash pad. Alex said CCF currently reaches roughly 5% of Clayton donor households and called that number “a little bit small,” adding, “I’d like it to be 50%.”

The presentation, given during the board’s discussion session, was intended to surface where the foundation needs council support and to ask aldermen to refer potential donors to CCF. “We have a menu,” Alex said of CCF’s donor options, describing how staff match donor interests to projects. He said the foundation’s strategy relies heavily on one‑to‑one engagement and donor events in residents’ homes.

Why it matters: CCF’s plans intersect with city priorities for parks, historic preservation and public art. The foundation says more stable operating revenue — an operating endowment — would allow staff to spend less time chasing annual operating gifts and more time completing and maintaining projects that supplement city services.

Key project and funding details discussed - Hanley House: Alex said the foundation is running a $100,000 match campaign and is pursuing a federal grant of about $70,000 and some Missouri state funding, but said the house needs approximately $2.5 million for full restoration. He emphasized immediate priorities such as fire‑suppression and alarm upgrades as baseline infrastructure the site requires. - Remembrance Park and Shaw Park: CCF has sponsored trees, benches, a living wall and a splash pad now installed in Shaw Park; staff will work on donor recognition signage in 2025. - Public art and historic markers: Projects mentioned include Wydown Boulevard placements coordinated with the St. Louis Art Museum, traffic‑signal box art outreach to the Saint Louis Art Fair, and historic markers in DeMun, Philippine Village, Oak Knoll Park and Hillcrest; several markers are partly funded. - Fundraising and assets: Alex described the Centene gift (five payments of $400,000 over multiple years) as operating like a defacto endowment in prior years when interest income was higher; that revenue stream no longer produces the same interest. He identified an annual revenue stream tied to Barry‑Wehmiller gifts and other restricted amounts used for Chapman maintenance and other projects.

Board feedback and asks Aldermen praised CCF’s work and asked for clearer communications and help channeling potential donors to the foundation. Suggestions included neighborhood‑level asks for projects such as the Hillcrest historic marker, fundraising in donor homes, improved visibility at events like Oak Knoll Music Nights, and clearer donor recognition at projects that residents see.

Several aldermen asked about how the foundation prioritizes limited staff time between community events and building annual, unrestricted support. Alex said community events are valuable but that sustained annual unrestricted revenue is essential for operations and long‑term planning; he described a goal of achieving “full financial independence by 2026.”

What was not decided or acted on No formal city action was taken on CCF proposals at the meeting. Several board members asked CCF to provide an executive summary of its budget and three‑year goals so aldermen can help identify potential donors and partnerships. Alex agreed to follow up with the requested summary.

Ending Aldermen thanked CCF for its report and invited the foundation to return with a short executive budget summary and specific requests for board assistance. The discussion closed without motions or votes; CCF will continue applying for grants and soliciting private support for projects including Hanley House restoration and the foundation’s operating endowment.