Konstantin Karlovich Grot (December 31, 1814 - October 18, 1897) was a prominent figure and theorist in the field of charity. Over 60 years of service, he held high positions, including state secretary, and led administrative and charitable institutions.

Coming from a well-known German family in St. Petersburg and graduating from the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, Grot began his government service at the age of 20. His first assignment was related to philanthropy: in 1844 and 1845, he conducted an audit of the Orders of Public Charity in the Belarusian and Baltic provinces at the request of Nikolai Milyutin.

In 1851 and 1861, Grot served as the governor of Samara, where he improved the city's economy and contributed to the construction of a theater, gymnasium, and library. However, he is most remembered for his reform of vodka sales, which caused significant resonance. His principled stance was highly appreciated by Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich, who offered Grot the position of director of the Department of Non-Tax Revenues, where he reformed the production and distribution system of strong drinks. Grot held this position for eight years but left due to exhaustion and intrigue.

In 1870, Grot became a member of the State Council and dealt with issues related to the prison system. He also headed institutions created from charitable donations by Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna. At the request of Empress Maria Feodorovna, he led the Office of Institutions of Empress Maria, eliminating the budget deficit and curbing financial abuses.

Grot paid great attention to helping the blind and visually impaired. During the Russo-Turkish War, he organized treatment for over 1,500 blinded soldiers. In 1881, the Mariinsky Guardianship for the Blind was opened, where Grot worked for 15 years, creating a system of almshouses, shelters, and hospitals. He considered it important to teach the blind crafts and publish literature for them.

In St. Petersburg, with his funds, schools for blind children were opened, which were later united into the Alexander-Mariinsky School. To finance it, Grot attracted a donation of 1 million rubles from Alexander II. In 1890, a new building with amenities for blind children was constructed.

From 1883 to 1892, similar schools were opened in various provincial centers. For additional funding, Grot organized annual collection drives in churches, raising over 1.2 million rubles for the needs of the blind.

In 1891, Grot proposed to update the charity legislation, including defining rights to charity and sources of funding. He suggested convening a government commission to analyze these issues. Emperor Alexander III supported this idea, and Grot headed the commission, which became an intellectual center for improving the charity system.

Grot was respected for his integrity and hard work. He sought to alleviate the suffering of the sick and poor. In 1906, a monument to Grot was unveiled in St. Petersburg, created by sculptor Mark Antokolsky. During the Soviet era, the monument was moved to the courtyard of a boarding school for blind children. There is a street in St. Petersburg named in his honor. Grot is buried in a Russian cemetery in Helsinki, and his grave has been preserved.