AUGUST 2021 NEWSLETTER
Celebrating a Season of Beginning
Although cooler weather usually conveys we are nearing the end of the year, autumn is a season of beginnings at the Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund.
The beginning of support for our newest grant recipients.
- This year we invested $216,000 in 10 nonprofits. Learn about our new grantees and their work here: https://spiritstlwomensfund.org/impact/2021-spirit-awards/
- At our virtual Summer Soiree in August, we learned more about our new grantee, Dream Builders 4 Equity. Executive Director and Co-Founder Michael Woods gave an engaging presentation and discussion. Check out their mission on their website here: https://www.dreambuilders4equity.org/
The beginning for our 2021/2022 Board of Directors.
- A special thank you to Amy Garrison for leading SOS as president for the past two years and to our retiring board members for their contributions to our growth and impact.
- Meet our board members: https://spiritstlwomensfund.org/about-us/board-members/
The beginning of our annual grant review process.
- I encourage all members to participate in one or more phases of the grant review process. It is an amazing way to learn about the nonprofits landscape in our region.
- Members, please sign up to review letters of inquiry by September 8th on your profile in our new member website.
The beginning of our events season.
- We offer member education and grant-making training that leads to informed, strategic philanthropic giving and promotes increased civic and community engagement. All are welcome to join us for an active calendar of stimulating events.
- Please join us for our Fall Kickoff Event on September 22 at 5:30 at Home Sweet Home https://homesweethomestl.org/ in Brentwood, MO, with Executive Director Betsy Reznicek as our featured speaker.
- Mark your calendars for our 2021-2022 events. https://spiritstlwomensfund.org/events/ (Our Board appreciates your patience and flexibility as our committees work to plan and safely host events.)
The beginning of a milestone year for SOS.
- This year we celebrate 15 years of investment in our region. We are part of a growing philanthropic movement in collective giving that empowers women to join together, invest their resources, and strengthen their community through transformative grants to nonprofits.
- Over the last 15 years, SOS has invested over $2.9 million in the St. Louis community.
- Visit our interactive impact map to learn about our grantees over the years: https://spiritstlwomensfund.org/map-our-impact/
Turning good into greater good. It’s why we give together. Thanks for all you do!
Katy Dowd
President and Proud Member
Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund
Committee News Grants
COME JOIN A Letter of Inquiry (LOI ) REVIEW TEAM
Become more familiar with the SOS process, small community nonprofits, and other SOS members.
LOI Review Teams review Letters of Inquiry and evaluate them based on SOS guidelines.
General Schedule
October 1 – November 3: Teams review LOIs
November 8: Recommendations due to Grant Chairs
November 18: Agencies selected for Site Visits
Time commitment for an LOI team member is 6-8 hours:
- Attend an introductory team meeting in early October (date determined by availability of team members)
- Review estimated 10-15 LOIs, at your convenience, during October into early November
- Attend a final team meeting in early November (date determined by availability of team members)
Remember to sign up by September 8th!
Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund – My profile
Welcome New Members
Martha Daly
Jennifer Nixon
Parker McMillan (returning member)
More Ways to Donate (part 2)
You can define something you think is important and give designated gifts just for that. Examples:
- Many child-focused nonprofits have vans or buses. Many buy used vehicles. So a $10,000 gift can make a difference. You can designate a gift of any size for just transportation expenses.
- One SOS member gives primarily for capacity building – she funds staff development for nonprofit executives, boards, development staff, program staff, etc. Since many small to medium nonprofits are unable to budget to develop, train or build their staff skills to the next level these gifts are extremely valuable.
- Another SOS member focuses on funding strategic plans for small nonprofits.
- Some donors value the arts, music, and dance for under-served kids. They direct funds just for that purpose. (Under-served school districts routinely cut art, music, dance, everything but football when their budgets are tight. What if that’s a kid’s only interest in life?)
- Some donors value job training.
- Some donors value helping people out of poverty.
- Some donors value mental health.
- Some donors value people of color and want to help provide more opportunities for folks that have suffered headwinds in their lives.
- Some donors want to address and reduce discrimination – against LGBTQ people, against persons with disabilities, against Black, indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC)
- Some donors want to address domestic violence
- Some donors want to give a hand up to people getting out of prison.
- Some donors want to address problems of homelessness.
- Some want to address food insecurity
What do you value?
Interested in Becoming an SOS Member?
Come to an informal info session on
Thursday September 14 – 12:30-1 p.m.
If interested, please contact Katy Dowd
katydowd@hotmail.com
Membership in the Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund is open to all women.
You can join anytime.
2021-2022 Education and Social events for SOS
https://spiritstlwomensfund.org/events/
About Our Members
Jill Petzell
Is one of 84 women profiled and photographed in HER SELF an exhibit at the St. Louis Artists’ Guild, 12 North Jackson Avenue, Clayton. The show is up July 30-Aug 28, 2021.
Betsy Schmidt
Was named CEO of the St. Louis Jewish Light newspaper.
With compassion we announce the passing of Vicki Dimmich, SOS class of 2018. Her passion was solving for food insecurities. Her family requests that donations be made to our grantee, St. Louis Metro Market, in lieu of flowers.
https://www.schrader.com/obituary/vicki-dimmich-nee-anderson
Grantees Corner
At the Sheldon’s 4th annual Golf the Galleries show, Perennial (alongside Jenny), designed and built hole #7 completely out of upcycled materials! The hole is a visual reminder to think about how a circular economy (and a little creativity) can transform discarded items into something beautiful.
https://www.ksdk.com/article/entertainment/television/show-me-st-louis/golf-the-galleries-returns-for-its-4th-season/63-eb0836af-41f2-4457-9389-b188f0d439ff
Urban Harvest sat down with Meet St. Louis to discuss their work and their mission. View the episode here:
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Check out what Dream Builders 4Equity, one of our 2021-22 grantees, is up to:
Find Out More
Food For Thought
Check out this thoughtful OpEd piece from the NY Times by Melinda Wenner Moyer
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/15/opinion/raise-non-racist-children.html
Social Corner
Some of our members attended an IN-PERSON event at the Ferguson Farmers Market but due to unpredictable weather ended up at the The Florissant City Diner,
1060 St. Francois Street, in Florissant.
On August 13 SOS members volunteered at The Collective Thread, a 2021-22 SOS grantee.
