Through an active network of committees, the members of the Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund develop stimulating education programs, an active calendar of membership events and a terrific grantmaking process. All members are encouraged to participate beyond their annual dues. Membership offers opportunities to build relationships with other committed women, united in their interest to improve the St. Louis region. Leverage your grant dollars and join a committee where you can develop skills, mentor others, and become an informed, experienced philanthropist.
Beyond volunteering in various committees, the SOS Board Nominating Committee asks our members to reflect on how their skills could be utilized in the leadership of the organization. If you would like to be considered for future board leadership in SOS, or if you would like to nominate a member, please contact Vicki Sheehan, vsheehan@sheehanproperties.com. To help us, please fill in our Board Nomination Form. Click here for more information on our SOS Board Nomination Process. Thank you for taking the time to let us hear from you! We are stronger together!
The Communication/Marketing Committee is constantly looking for new ways to spread the word about SOS. We are looking for ideas and people to help us execute those. SOS communications including our web site, e-newsletters, social media and PR outreach are coordinated through this committee.
The Education Committee plans events designed to offer our members a range of opportunities to learn more about the critical needs within our community, particularly in the five areas of SOS Granting: Arts & Culture, Education, Environment, Health, and Human Services. Our yearly educational events explore community issues, highlight agencies solving problems in our greater St. Louis community, and offer topical book discussions. We are committed to educating and engaging with our members to become more informed philanthropists.
joan.f.gallagher@gmail.com, bdubois17@yahoo.com
SOS grant-making is conducted with integrity, fiscal responsibility and respect for our community partners. The Grants Committee manages the entire SOS grant process. The committee works with applicants with Grant Application Training and helps organize and work with teams to review Letters of Inquiry in the fall and site visit teams in the early spring. The Grants committee gets to the heart of what SOS does: learn about community needs and see how a member’s investment can make an impact. Grants arranges an annual “Demystifying Non-Profit Tax Statements” event, which is offered to SOS members prior to site visits to help team members understand non-profit financials.
Members on the Impact committee help review the previous year’s grants at 6 month and12 month intervals. This committee’s work is important to SOS and the grantee as it helps evaluate how the grantee used their grant, and the impact it made on the people and the community they serve. Inspiring stories are collected from the grantees to share with SOS membership and the community.
The Membership Committee strives to recruit diverse members, engage and retain current members and welcome guests through a variety of events in which we learn about previous grantees, the needs of our community, and to connect SOS members to each other in a welcoming “sisterhood”. Favorite events of the year include themed member-hosted gatherings, the Annual Holiday Coffee and Lunch and Learn. The highlights of the Membership events are the Fall Kickoff and Spirit Awards where our grantees are announced for the coming year. Members are encouraged to bring guest to all events, except the Ballot Fair.
The Technology Committee maintains the website and manages technology needs from the SOS committees.