Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Entrepreneur Startup Business Development Corporation

EIN 27-4875945 · Saint Louis, MO

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ARCH GRANTS ADVANCES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION BY PROVIDING EQUITY-FREE GRANTS OF UP TO $100,000 AND DYNAMIC WRAPAROUND SUPPORT TO STARTUP ENTREPRENEURS WILLING TO HEADQUARTER THEIR BUSINESSES IN ST. LOUIS. ARCH GRANTS CONDUCTS A RIGOROUSLY COMPETITIVE ANNUAL STARTUP COMPETITION TO RETAIN AND ATTRACT THE BEST INNOVATORS TO ST. LOUIS. THIS PROGRAM IS AN AGGRESSIVE EFFORT TO INCREASE ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY IN ST. LOUIS TO SEED THE NEXT GENERATION OF EMPLOYERS, CIVIC LEADERS, AND PHILANTHROPISTS IN ST. LOUIS.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
8.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
12
Volunteers
310
Highest pay
$204,859, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $2.8 million spent. GRANT PROGRAM - FULFILLING THE MISSION OF ARCH GRANTS THROUGH THE PROVISION OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE PRIMARY MEANS OF COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAMS, THE PURPOSES OF WHICH ARE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LACK OF ACCESS TO ADEQUATE SOURCES OF CAPITAL, TO DEVELOP ENTREPRENEURS IN STARTUP BUSINESSES IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, CREATE JOBS, COMBAT BLIGHT, AND CREATE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. DURING 2024, 19 NEW GRANTS WERE AWARDED INCLUSIVE OF 6 RELOCATION GRANTS THROUGH THE ANNUAL STARTUP COMPETITION (19 FULL $75,000 AWARDS AND 6 RELOCATION GRANTS OF $25,000), IN ADDITION TO 3 FOLLOW-ON GRANTS TO PREVIOUSLY FUNDED COMPANIES THROUGH A NEW GROWTH GRANTS PROGRAM (3 FULL $100,000 AWARDS). (SEE SCHEDULE O)AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024, ARCH GRANTS HAS AWARDED $18.7 MILLION IN GRANTS TO 272 COMPANIES. SINCE THE LAUNCH IN 2012, SEVERAL THOUSAND APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FROM AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING APPLICATIONS FROM 49 STATES AND 93 COUNTRIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2011.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.