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Non-profit

FOCUS St. Louis

Website:

focus-stl.org/
Location:

St. Louis, MO
Tax ID:

43-1750172
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $1,412,035
Expenses: $1,178,044
Assets: $2,618,589
Type:

Leadership Group
Formation:

1996
CEO:

Yemi Akande-Bartsch
Budget (2022):

Revenue: $1,125,595

Expenses: $1,162,975

Assets: $2,098,057 1

References

  1. Focus St. Louis. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax. (Form 990), 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/431750172/202410329349300341/full

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FOCUS St. Louis is a leadership development organization based in St. Louis, Missouri.

Background

FOCUS St. Louis was created in July 1996 following the merger of two nonprofit organizations in the St. Louis area: the Leadership Center of Greater St. Louis and Confluence St. Louis. In March 1997, FOCUS St. Louis was established as a tax-exempt charitable nonprofit. 1 2

Activity

FOCUS St. Louis offers career and leadership development programming intended to improve St. Louis, Missouri. As of August 2024, the organization offered a youth leadership program for high school juniors from participating schools, an “emerging leaders” program for early career professionals, a professional development program for women at all stages of their careers, a leadership program for already established community leaders in St. Louis, and a regional orientation program for executives coming to St. Louis. 3

Additionally, the organization offers “custom programs” to interested individuals and firms that do not find that one of the organization’s current offerings meet their needs. According to FOCUS St. Louis’s website, past clients that have participated in custom programs include MasterCard, Bank of America, and the Urban League of Greater St. Louis. 4

Funding

FOCUS St. Louis has received funding from the Dana Brown Charitable Trust, Edward Jones, Emerson, Reinsurance Group of America Foundation, Wells Fargo Advisors, William T Kemper Foundation, Ameren Missouri, Papa John’s Foundation, Saigh Foundation, Norman J. Stupp Foundation, St. Louis Asian American Chamber of Commerce, Blues for Kids, Cardinals for Care, Jewish Federation of St. Louis, Mary Ranken Jordan and Ettie A. Jordan Charitable Foundation, Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis, St. Louis Development Corporation, and the Urban League of Metropolitan Saint Louis. 5

Leadership

Leann Chilton is the chair of FOCUS St. Louis’s board of directors, the vice president of BJC HealthCare, a member of the Government Relations Council of Greater St. Louis, as well as a member of the boards of Hawthorn and the Missouri Partnership. 6

Yemi Akande-Bartsch is the president and CEO of FOCUS St. Louis. Previously, she was the senior director of civic education for the Cleveland Leadership Center, managing partner at YsA Group, a lecturer at The Boler School of Business, assistant professor of communication and theatre arts at John Carroll University in Ohio, and the host of a weekly radio show, “Making the Case,” on WJCU 88.7 FM in Cleveland. Bartsch sits on the boards of the Sheldon Arts Foundation, Greater St. Louis, Inc. and the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy, and is a member of the Association of Leadership Professionals and the International Leadership Association. 7

Shalia Ford is the director of leadership programs at FOCUS St. Louis. Previously, she was the prevention education director at YWCA Metro St. Louis. 8

Becky Rasmussen is the director of marketing and communications at FOCUS St. Louis. Previously, she was the managing editor for the Missouri Athletic Club and the deputy director of AMR Management Services, an association management company in Chesterfield, Missouri. 9

Michelle Stevens is the director of development at FOCUS St. Louis. Previously, she was the director of corporate and foundation relations at Bi-State Development and vice president of Grand Center, Inc. 10

References

  1. “FOCUS ST. Louis.” ProPublica. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/431750172
  2. “Leadership Program FAQs.” FOCUS St. Louis. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://focus-stl.org/programs/faqs/#:~:text=leadership%20development%20programs%3F-,FOCUS%20St.,Louis.
  3.  “Find Your FOCUS Program.” FOCUS St. Louis. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://focus-stl.org/programs/find-your-program/
  4. “Customized Programs.” FOCUS St. Louis. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://focus-stl.org/programs/custom-programs/
  5. “Partners.” FOCUS St. Louis. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://focus-stl.org/partners/
  6. “2024-25 Board of Directors.” FOCUS St. Louis. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://focus-stl.org/about-focus/board/
  7. “Yemi Akande-Bartsch, Ph.D.” FOCUS St. Louis. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://focus-stl.org/about-focus/our-team/yemi-akande-bartsch/
  8. “Shaila Ford.” FOCUS St. Louis. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://focus-stl.org/about-focus/our-team/shalia-ford/
  9. “Becky Rasmussen.” FOCUS St. Louis. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://focus-stl.org/about-focus/our-team/becky-rasmussen/
  10. “Michelle Stevens.” FOCUS St. Louis. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://focus-stl.org/about-focus/our-team/michelle-stevens/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: June - May
  • Tax Exemption Received: March 1, 1997

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2021 Jun Form 990 $1,412,035 $1,178,044 $2,618,589 $419,627 N $748,013 $555,757 $53,656 $179,270
    2020 Jun Form 990 $1,205,861 $1,312,379 $2,055,520 $371,478 N $538,949 $596,815 $52,604 $175,335 PDF
    2019 Jun Form 990 $1,412,862 $1,418,234 $2,013,221 $191,900 N $575,593 $781,137 $66,407 $150,000 PDF
    2018 Jun Form 990 $1,580,849 $1,476,895 $2,096,191 $263,113 N $675,538 $733,966 $48,716 $151,754 PDF
    2017 Jun Form 990 $1,484,491 $1,441,628 $2,042,197 $279,075 N $644,082 $801,685 $35,414 $147,589
    2016 Jun Form 990 $1,007,467 $1,269,453 $1,908,654 $314,696 N $355,277 $810,054 $27,151 $123,900 PDF
    2015 Jun Form 990 $1,503,936 $1,149,864 $2,020,954 $225,299 N $523,030 $769,972 $23,899 $152,138 PDF
    2014 Jun Form 990 $1,415,693 $1,339,861 $1,987,631 $345,481 N $508,439 $749,709 $30,009 $160,991 PDF
    2013 Jun Form 990 $1,382,112 $1,209,000 $1,892,097 $383,227 N $626,307 $737,289 $22,047 $128,801 PDF
    2012 Jun Form 990 $1,283,947 $1,277,474 $1,673,839 $421,009 N $604,980 $667,923 $19,430 $150,956 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    FOCUS St. Louis

    815 OLIVE ST STE 110
    St. Louis, MO 63101-1509