The BALSA Foundation is a non-profit organization run entirely by part-time volunteers. We rely on the energy and generosity of the St. Louis entrepreneurial community to fulfill our mission. Here are some ways you can help:

• Be an Idea Supporter. Idea Supporters review business ideas of first time entrepreneurs in a critical but constructive way, and are the backbone of our Idea Support program. Idea Supporters have significant business or entrepreneurial experience and are willing to write a thoughtful review roughly once a month. Idea Supporters also are the first round of review for applications. They make the decision if an application passes the basic criteria to be reviewed on a deeper level every January and July. See list of Idea Supporters. Fill Out This Form to Get Involved.

• Be an Application Reviewer. Application reviewers help us review the applications we receive every January and July. Each reviewer gets 10 applications and give us feedback on quality, quality of the plan, fit to our mission. Fill Out This Form to Get Involved.

• Be a Volunteer. Volunteers work with officers on specific tasks and typically contribute 1-3 hours per week. We are looking for help in a number of areas, including social media, community outreach, photography/video work, and web site development.

• Be an Officer. Officers work closely with the Executive Director to manage the Foundation's operations, and participate in governance as members of the Board of Directors. Officers are elected in September for one-year terms and generally contribute 2-5 hours per week. Open positions:

  • Executive Director

  • Business Director

  • Finance Director

• Contribute to the BALSA Grant Fund and In-Kind Donations. The BALSA Grant awards up to $10,000 in non-dilutive grants as well as professional services from local companies. We welcome both financial and in-kind donations to help fund the BALSA Grant. Donate here or contact us.

• Spread the Word. Being a recognized resource for first time St. Louis entrepreneurs is central to our success. We prioritize outreach to minority, immigrant, and other under-resourced communities.

If you'd like to help in any way, please contact us!  Your support of The BALSA Foundation helps empower our best and brightest to work toward a better, more equitable St. Louis.