Twenty Years of Women Changing St. Louis — One Grant at a Time

Local giving circle marks milestone anniversary with nearly $4 million invested in community

March 25, 2026 – Before crowdfunding. Before impact investing. Before "collective giving" became a buzzword – a group of St. Louis women had a simple, radical idea: pool your dollars, share your expertise, and bet on the nonprofits everyone else overlooked.

That idea turned 20 this year.

The Spirit of St. Louis Women's Fund (SOS) is celebrating two decades of community-rooted philanthropy, having directed nearly $4 million to more than 100 local nonprofits — many of them in their earliest, most vulnerable days. What began as a small circle of civic-minded women has grown to nearly 200 members and earned recognition as a national model for women-led collective giving.

The "angel investors" of the nonprofit world

SOS operates like a venture fund for social good. Members personally vet organizations through a rigorous grant-making process, then pool their contributions to deliver meaningful, often early-stage support to small nonprofits that traditional funders often miss. The results speak for themselves.

"SOS's decision to believe in and support the mission of our fledgling organization proved to be a catalyst for positive change, inspiring others to join our cause." — Betsy Reznicek, Executive Director, Home Sweet Home

"SOS support can act as the first stepping stone for fledgling nonprofits, giving them the credibility to gain larger funding. It is collective giving in its finest form." — Susan Colangelo, President & Executive Director, St. Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective

Ahead of the curve — and staying there

The broader philanthropic world is catching up to what SOS has practiced for 20 years: donors today want to give more strategically, more collaboratively, and closer to home. With its motto of "turning good into greater good," SOS is uniquely positioned to lead this next chapter — and it's already looking ahead to the next $4 million.

The Spirit of St. Louis Women's Fund is available for interviews, member profiles, and grantee stories. Contact Barb Meyer, SOS Marketing & Communications Chair, barbmeyer1980@gmail.com; 314-520-3100. 

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