To create a thriving, cooperative region by engaging citizens to participate in active leadership roles and to influence positive community change.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
60¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 477 volunteers and 17 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $111K a year · 9% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
60%
of spending
Worth a look: 60% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$193K
to officers and key staff · 16% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 16% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $2.3M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 2.0 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
9
named funders · $267K
Looks good: 9 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$484K
17% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 17% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
29
of 29 voting members
Looks good: 29 of 29 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.4M
+7% vs prior year
Spent
$1.2M
To programs
60%
Net assets
$2.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$1.4M
FY2025▲ +7%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.2M
FY2021$1.4M
FY2022$1.5M
FY2023$1.1M
FY2024$1.3M
FY2025$1.4M
Expenses
$1.2M
FY2025▲ +2%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.3M
FY2021$1.2M
FY2022$1.2M
FY2023$1.2M
FY2024$1.2M
FY2025$1.2M
Net assets
$2.4M
FY2025▲ +4%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.7M
FY2021$2.2M
FY2022$2.1M
FY2023$2.1M
FY2024$2.3M
FY2025$2.4M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Mar 1997.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

60 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 60% · $710K Management & general 21% · $245K Fundraising 20% · $233K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

30 people listed on the 990; $193K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$193,012Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Yemi Akande-Bartsch’s $193K as Executive Director is at the 64th percentile of top reported officer pay among 2832 $1–10M community development nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Yemi Akande-Bartsch$193,012$202,937$174,624$153,021$158,511$153,988

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Focus St Louis executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Empowers citizens to lead and create positive change for a thriving, cooperative region.

Questions for Focus St Louis

Tap to ask. Focus St Louis sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Focus St Louis answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

2 programs · $710K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Leadership ST. Louisfocus offers a continuum of five leadership programs to engage leaders from high school students to senior executives. Program alumni have been inspired to launch new nonprofit agencies, start businesses, and run for political offices.

$620Kprogram expense
02

Citizen engagementas a neutral convener and facilitator, focus engages citizens to deliberate on critical regional community issues in a trusted, nonpartisan space. A significant number of programs and events, such as breakfast connections and dialogue & drafts, give members and guests the opportunity to network while exploring regional…

$90Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 9 funders →
Grants paid · 6 grants · $262K · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$35,795
Unitemized GrantFY2023$27,590
Unitemized GrantFY2022$28,895
Unitemized GrantFY2021$42,300
Unitemized GrantFY2020$81,200
Unitemized GrantFY2019$46,470

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.4M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$678K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$401K
Investment incomeLn 3$291K
Money outPt IX
$1.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$710K
Managementcol C$245K
Fundraisingcol D$233K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$200K
Total assetsLn 16$2.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$484K
PeoplePt VI, VII
30
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a29
IndependentVI 1b29
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$401K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$113K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$678K
Investment incomeLn 3$291K
Gains on assetsLn 7$238K
Total revenueLn 12$1.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$200K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$200K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$2.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$312K
Total assetsLn 16$2.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$484K
Net assetsLn 32$2.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 517
VolunteersI 6477
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$205K$200K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$2.1M$2.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0$0
Total assetsLn 16$2.9M$2.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$585K$484K
Net assetsLn 32$2.3M$2.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$36K$36K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$206K$129K$26K$51K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$480K$301K$61K$118K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$47K$30K$6K$12K
Payroll taxesLn 10$52K$32K$7K$13K
Accounting feesLn 11c$66K$17K$49K
Investment management feesLn 11f$9K$9K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$23K$6K$17K
Office expensesLn 13$36K$478$36K
OccupancyLn 16$87K$55K$11K$21K
TravelLn 17$33K$31K$871$2K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$2K$1K$241$461
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$106K$71K$19K$16K
All other expensesLn 24e$5K$750$3K$1K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.2M$710K$245K$233K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $1.4M$1.2M$163K$2.4M 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.3M$1.2M$95K$2.3M 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.1M$1.2M−$37K$2.1M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.5M$1.2M$318K$2.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.4M$1.2M$234K$2.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.2M$1.3M−$107K$1.7M 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,351,914 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $682,108$401,347
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $586,331$678,151
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $16,803$290,600
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$25,064−$18,184
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,260,178$1,351,914
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $27,590$35,795
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $780,641$785,733
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $356,792$367,356
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,165,023$1,188,884
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $95,155$163,030
Part VI · Governance 29 of 29 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body29
VI-1b Independent voting members29
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,351,914 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$113,039
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$288,308
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$401,347
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $678,151$678,151
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $52,755$52,755
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $237,845$237,845
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$18,184−$18,184
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $678,151 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $272,416$1,351,914
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,188,884 across 14 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $35,795$35,795
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $129,337 · Management $26,388 · Fundraising $50,590$206,315
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $301,203 · Management $61,453 · Fundraising $117,814$480,470
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $29,694 · Management $6,058 · Fundraising $11,614$47,366
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $32,335 · Management $6,597 · Fundraising $12,650$51,582
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $16,945 · Management $49,121$66,066
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $8,586$8,586
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $5,845 · Management $16,945$22,790
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $478 · Management $35,923$36,401
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $54,504 · Management $11,120 · Fundraising $21,319$86,943
IX-17 TravelPrograms $30,765 · Management $871 · Fundraising $1,571$33,207
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,180 · Management $241 · Fundraising $461$1,882
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $71,115 · Management $18,877 · Fundraising $16,189$106,181
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $750 · Management $3,307 · Fundraising $1,243$5,300
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $709,946 · Management $245,487 · Fundraising $233,451$1,188,884
Part X · Balance sheet $2,931,465 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $204,906$200,190
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $238,478$73,750
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $9,495$2,952
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $16,973$21,983
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $0$0
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $2,076,481$2,299,620
X-14 Intangible assets$20,707
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $381,880$312,263
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,928,213$2,931,465
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $39,839$33,387
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $156,460$129,715
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $389,028$321,335
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $585,327$484,437
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,857,979$2,133,456
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $484,907$313,572
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,342,886$2,447,028
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,928,213$2,931,465
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,447,028 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,351,914
XI-2 Total expenses$1,188,884
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$163,030
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,342,886
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$58,888
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,447,028

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.