Season of Giving
After a busy summer of grant reviews and site visits, what a joy it was to gather this fall for SOS’s two most important events: the Ballot Fair and the Spirit Awards. From an initial group of 149 letters of intent, our membership ultimately voted to award grants to 10 agencies over the next two years.
Thank you to all the agencies that took the time and effort to apply – we know SOS’s grant process can be rigorous, and your commitment to participate is hugely appreciated. And a special congratulations to the agencies that we recently celebrated at the Spirit Awards. We look forward to seeing the wonderful things you do for the people and communities you serve.
It’s never easy to decide which agencies will receive SOS funding, as all of the organizations who applied are doing incredible work in the community. We wish we could fund them all! If your favorite organization wasn’t selected to receive a grant, consider making a personal donation. Whether it’s a donation of funds or your time, we love to see our members continue to support our community.
With our grant cycle behind us, we now turn to a busy new year of community and membership engagement. SOS members, please stayed tuned for our winter newsletter where we will update you on the Board’s 2025-2028 strategic plan. It’s a great time to be a part of SOS!
Ally Kell
President |
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2024 Spirit Awards Lift Up 11 Area Nonprofits
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Fulfilling our mission to “turn good into greater good,” SOS members and guests gathered October 9 to celebrate the 2024-2025 recipients of the Spirit Awards. Thanks to the generous support of members, this year SOS granted nearly $215,000 to 11 nonprofits across our community.
For the first time, grantees will receive funds over a two-year period, with the total award given to each agency paid out in two installments. The newly awarded grants bring SOS’s total contributions to the community – over 17 years – to nearly $3.6 million, invested across 106 agencies.
This year’s grant process included a review of 149 Letters of Intent, supported by 51 SOS members, and 30 site visits, supported by 39 members. Thank you to our outstanding member volunteers! |
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We are pleased to announce the following new grantees – seven of which are first-time SOS grantees – and the grant award they received this year. They will receive their second installment in 2025. |
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Avenues Counseling – $15,000
Black Girls Do STEM – $25,000
Caritas Connections, Inc. – $9,137
Earthdance – $25,000
earthday365 – $9,137
Fairground Park for All – $25,000
Health Protection and Education Services – $13,350
Laughing Bear Bakery – $10,000
Room at the Inn – $25,000
Rustic Roots – $25,000
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Earlier this year, we awarded the second installment of a three-year grant (2023-2025) as follows:
Lift for Life Gym – $33,333
Click here for more photos from the event by Katherine Bish photography.
To read more about the grantees from this year’s Spirit Awards, held at the new Clark Family Branch of the St. Louis County Library, click here. |
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SOS 2024 Dashboard –
Living Our Mission |
The Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund has had an exciting and inspiring year. Your dedication to our mission has enabled us to support the work of an impressive group of nonprofits with grants. Our financial performance was steady this year as we have continued funding our grant work at the same 90% level. For additional details about how we remain a mighty force for change, please review the 2024 SOS Dashboard on our website. |
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Meet the Board:
Elizabeth ReevesSecretaryAs a longtime nonprofit leader, Elizabeth (Liz) Reeves says she’s seen firsthand the positive impact that philanthropically minded individuals can make. But SOS, she adds, “takes the good that any one person can do and amplifies it. As a member, I love that I am part of something bigger than myself.”
The opportunity to work with others to achieve a greater good is what motivated Liz to join SOS in 2021. In a few short years, her involvement and impact have been impressive – from participating in grant evaluations and site visits, to attending and supporting SOS education events, and to joining the Board as secretary in 2023. In that role, in addition to organizing Board meetings and activities, she’s served on an ad hoc committee to update SOS’s strategic plan. Liz’s can-do approach and organizational skills have proven critical during a year of tremendous change for SOS, but she takes the work in stride and focuses on the results. “I’ve taken advantage of these opportunities because the work we do matters. And I’ve met so many amazing women along the way. What a community SOS has created!” she says. “Liz has been the steady hand on the wheel for the Board this past year,” says Ally Kell, SOS president. “There’s so much work that goes on behind the scenes that she orchestrates with such grace and ease. As we move into a new year and a new strategic plan, we are very lucky that Liz will continue to be a guiding force for the Board.” Professionally, Liz serves as Director of the St. Louis City Public Library Foundation, where she channels her enthusiasm for nonprofit work into building support for the city’s historic library system. She and her husband, Daryl, have three grown daughters and are enjoying their new status as “empty-nesters.” |
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November Education Program: A Focus on Senior Loneliness
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Friday, November 15, 12:00-1:30 pm, Thornhill Branch, St. Louis County Library
Aging is a lonely process for some older adults and can impact mental health. As a result, they and caregivers want and need more support. At our next Education program, meet two professionals in this field who are working to make a difference in the quality of life for those in this community.
Join us on Friday, November 15, from 12:00-1:30 pm for a lunch and learn as Chien Y. Hung, program director at VOYCE (2014 grantee), and Crystal Harris, manager, Bookmobile and Mobile Services, at St. Louis County Library, share how their organizations are addressing this issue. A light lunch will be served. Guests are always welcome. |
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Were You There?
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SOS provides ample opportunities for members to learn, network and support grantee organizations, including these recent gatherings: |
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September 4 – Nearly 70 SOS members gathered for the Spirit Awards “Ballot Fair,” where short presentations were given about the 18 agencies on the final awards ballot. The Ballot Fair was the official kickoff for voting for this year’s Spirit Award recipients. |
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September 12 – SOS members enjoyed a potluck gathering and presentation about Girls in the Know, and also created “period packets” for graduates of GITK’s empowerment program. |
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September 24 – Members gathered for a discussion of “UnCharitable,” a video based on Dan Pallotta’s book of the same name that discusses the history of charitable giving with a focus on how we evaluate charities. |
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Get Social with SOS
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Get timely news and event information about SOS by following us on our social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And help spread the word about SOS by liking, sharing, commenting on, and tagging our posts! These simple actions extend our reach and the opportunity that other like-minded women will learn about SOS and join our efforts. |
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Welcome, New Members
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SOS is pleased to welcome the following new or returning members:
Anne Doerr
Alison Ferring
Laura Sankey
Eloise Schlafly
Elizabeth Bennett
Frances Hoffmann
Lisa Richardson
Wendy Smith |
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Volunteer Opportunity
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Room at the Inn, a past and current SOS grantee, is hosting its annual “Trunk or Treat Time” on Thursday, October 17, and is seeking volunteers to bring decorated cars and candy. The event will be held at Room at the Inn’s parking lot at 3415 Bridgeland Drive in Bridgeton. In case of rain, it will be held inside. Volunteers are asked to decorate their vehicle and provide individually wrapped candy for up to 20 trick or treaters. Cars should arrive between 6:30 and 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. start time for the event. If you are interested, please email cwarren@roomstl.org or call 314-209-9181. |
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Interested in Becoming a Member?
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New members are welcome to join SOS at any time. Joining is as simple as completing a short membership form on our website.
SOS is a “volunteer democracy” – you can participate a little or a lot, depending on your schedule and interests. Members have opportunities to review grants, serve on committees, attend educational and social events, and support our grantee organizations through hands-on volunteering. Check our website for upcoming events.
Membership pledge payment options are flexible: Annual, monthly, ACH, Donor Advised Fund, and more. Pledges are tax deductible to the extent allowable. And don’t forget to find out if your employer might match your membership pledge!
Interested, but want to connect with someone first? Feel free to reach out to Membership Chair Sarah Woodburn or any of our SOS Board of Director members. |
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