Hundreds of St. Louis middle schoolers now have a shot at something many adults never see: a professionally managed investment account with roughly $5,000 in it, earmarked for their future. The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis is now running the St. Louis Junior Bonds program and has reopened applications, offering about $5,000 in seed investments to roughly 300 eighth‑grade students across the city and select county districts. The application window opened March 3 and runs through June 1, 2026, and foundation staff say they plan to move quickly to fill remaining spots. The accounts are designed to grow until beneficiaries meet program conditions as young adults and then be used for higher education, a first home, a business, or retirement savings.
How the accounts work
Each selected student is assigned a share of a pooled fund seeded at roughly $5,000 and professionally managed by Edward Jones; disbursements are scheduled to begin in January 2030 once beneficiaries reach age 18 and meet program requirements, according to the program website. The initiative pairs those investment accounts with free financial‑education modules and planning support, and Edward Jones has waived management fees for the program. Programs Forward Platform materials lay out the eligibility rules and withdrawal timeline in detail.
Who’s running the rollout
The pilot began under the name On Our Block and initially relied on Mobility Capital Finance (MoCaFi) for early outreach; St. Louis Magazine reports MoCaFi is no longer working on the project and that the Scholarship Foundation will now recruit and process applicants directly. In that report, Scholarship Foundation Executive Director Faith Sandler says the nonprofit’s longstanding relationships with local school districts should help build trust with families. Public filings and grant listings show backing from the James S. McDonnell Foundation and Edward Jones, and the James S. McDonnell Foundation lists a related award in 2024.
Who qualifies
Applicants must live in the City of St. Louis or in one of the eligible St. Louis County school districts and meet household income limits set at 80 percent of the 2025 area median income for St. Louis County. Students also need a Social Security number or ITIN and standard enrollment and income documents. The program’s FAQ lists Ferguson‑Florissant, Hancock Place, Hazelwood, Jennings, the Normandy Schools Collaborative, Ritenour, Riverview Gardens and University City among the eligible districts. Programs Forward Platform materials and the Scholarship Foundation’s website both note the March 3–June 1 application window. Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis
Slots and the timeline
The initiative aims to serve 300 students in total; St. Louis Magazine reports the Scholarship Foundation estimates about 200 slots remain and hopes to fill them by June 1, 2026. The same outlet notes that families who applied during the program’s earlier outreach phase will be notified whether they have been selected. Once the portal closes, organizers will complete verification and final selections before any money is distributed later on.
Researchers will track outcomes
Washington University’s Brown School will evaluate the pilot using baseline surveys and a mixed‑methods design to measure impacts on education, homeownership and entrepreneurship over time. The Brown School at Washington University says the evaluation will run through 2034 and include annual withdrawal surveys once beneficiaries reach adulthood. Backers say the academic study is intended to produce evidence about whether early asset building meaningfully changes long‑term economic opportunity.
How to apply
Families can start applications via the Scholarship Foundation’s site, which links to the program portal and lists required documents along with contact information for help. The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis provides the main entry point and support details for applicants; the FAQ highlights proof of income, school enrollment and guardian ID as typical requirements. The application portal closes June 1, 2026, and incomplete submissions after that date will not be considered.
