As we close out another remarkable year together, I’m filled with gratitude and pride for all we’ve accomplished as a community. This season, we celebrated one of our most meaningful traditions: presenting our grantees with their checks for the coming year. These investments represent more than funding – they reflect trust, partnership, and belief in the transformative impact these organizations bring to countless lives.
During our engagement year – a time dedicated to learning, collaboration, and connection – we deepened our understanding of community needs and strengthened our ability to respond with both generosity and vision. That vision, grounded in trust, is now reflected in our revised strategic plan, which paves the way forward. We remain committed to continuous learning, seeking new ideas and insights from both our members and grantees.
This spirit of shared knowledge extends beyond our own city. In February 2026, we’ll join giving circles from across the nation in Austin, Texas, at Philanos’ Power Up! Texas Conference. Learn more about it later in this newsletter, and consider being part of this energizing experience.
As we embark on a new granting cycle in 2026, I’m proud that we close this year with confidence – knowing our future is bright, our community is stronger, and our impact will only continue to grow. Thank you for your partnership!
Ally Kell, SOS Board President |
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Grantee Showcase Celebrates Progress, Impact of SOS Awardees |
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SOS members, guests, and grantees gathered September 24 at The Heights in Richmond Heights for an evening of connection, collaboration, and celebration. A total of 11 local nonprofits received second-year SOS grants totaling nearly $215,000 this year, equal to the amount they were awarded last year at this time. The Grantee Showcase marked a midpoint in our two-year grant cycle, offering a chance to reflect on these nonprofits’ progress and look ahead to continued impact.
The 2024-2025 two-year grants bring SOS’s total contributions to the community – since its founding in 2006 – to nearly $3.6 million, invested across 106 agencies.
“The core philosophy of SOS is simple – we pool our resources and award grants as a group. Working collectively, we are able to better support the outstanding work of area nonprofits and have a greater impact on the community as a whole,” said Ally Kell, SOS president. “This event was a reflection of what SOS is all about — building relationships, amplifying impact, and supporting the incredible work of local nonprofits. It was exciting to bring our grantees together not only to highlight their achievements, but also to foster new connections that can strengthen the St. Louis region.”
For a description of the 2024-2025 grantees, seven of whom are first-time SOS recipients, see the news release on our website, along with photos from the event. |
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Introducing: The Greater Good Fund
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Did you know there’s another way to financially support SOS beyond the annual dues paid by members?
SOS has long had a separate fund to accept donations from members and non-members alike, many of whom have given in memory or in honor of a someone or as an “over and above” annual donation in support of our mission. Simply put, this fund exists to help turn good into greater good – and as such, it has recently been renamed the “Greater Good Fund.”
The Greater Good Fund exists to ensure SOS’s financial stability and support strategic initiatives beyond our annual grantmaking. These initiatives could include special giving to nonprofits with urgent needs, as well as educational offerings, membership programs, and operating expenses not covered by member dues.
At its meeting in September, the SOS Board of Directors approved a plan to make good on the fund’s new name and begin using a limited amount of its proceeds per these approved guidelines. Under the plan guidelines, up to 5% of the fund’s balance may be drawn each year.
With this decision comes the need to grow the fund. The fund's current balance is approximately $180,000, which currently enables a $9,000 annual draw. In time, our goal is to increase the fund to allow for greater draws to support Board-approved needs. As you consider end-of-the-year charitable giving, as well as tribute or memorial gifts, please put the Greater Good Fund on your list! Donations may be made through the SOS website on the Make a Donation page. |
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Upcoming Events – Register Now! |
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Learn something new about nonprofits, get together for socializing or volunteer for our grantees. Some events have limited spaces so please register early. To view all upcoming SOS events and to register, visit the SOS website. |
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Let’s get together and welcome fall with chili, mingling with old and new friends, and cocktails! Join us for this casual gathering and learn more about our grantees and how SOS supports St. Louis non-profits! Guests are welcome, and if you know someone who has an interest in SOS, please invite them.
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Members and guests are invited to a thought-provoking discussion on the economic and social impact of neighborhood renewal. The program will highlight how collaboration among residents, businesses, and nonprofit organizations can create lasting change when planning begins with listening.
Our panel will feature three distinguished leaders:
- Maxine Clark, founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop and the visionary behind the Delmar DivINe, will share how transforming underutilized spaces into hubs for collaboration builds both community identity and economic vitality.
- Lisa Madkins, senior vice president of Community and Economic Development at Midwest BankCentre, will emphasize the critical role of access to capital and how banking partnerships can help families secure affordable housing, empower churches to expand their community service, and equip small business owners to grow.
- Beverly Jenkins, an experienced leader in community development, will offer insights into how residents’ voices shape effective strategies, ensuring programs respond directly to neighborhood needs.
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Giving Circles to Gather for 2026 Philanos Conference
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Registration has begun for the annual Philanos conference, to be held February 8-10, 2026, in Austin, Texas. Philanos is a national collective of women’s giving circles, including SOS. The learning and networking event will bring together women from across the country who are leading change in their communities through collective giving. All SOS members are eligible to attend (registration fees and travel expenses are borne by each individual). For more information, go to the conference website.
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July 31 – Table Talk happy hour at Cooper’s Hawk in Town & Country. |
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August 13 – Pop Up happy hour at SOS member Bobbie Waters’ home in Kirkwood. A standing-room-only crowd of members and guests turned out to hear updates from grantees Laurie Phillips from Room at the Inn and Cynthia Chapple from Black Girls Do STEM. |
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August 19 – Table Talk lunch at the Himalayan Hut in Rock Hill.
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September 11 – A group of enthusiastic SOS volunteers helped harvest and pack produce at grantee Rustic Roots Sanctuary in North St. Louis County. Rustic Roots envisions a world where every community is nourished—body, mind, and spirit—through equitable access to fresh, locally grown food, regenerative land stewardship, and a shared sense of belonging.
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September 20 – Held in support of grantee Fairground Park For All, this event drew a dedicated group of members and guests who participated in a tour of historic Fairground Park in North St. Louis, and then volunteered in a trash pick-up project. |
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Kudos to Beth Ann Riechman, who has been honored for her prolific volunteer work on behalf of two area organizations: Affinia Healthcare Foundation and Connections for Success/Dress for Success. Beth Ann was featured in two recent media stories involving her volunteer work for these agencies: Ladue News and St. Louis Public Radio.
Congratulations to Nancy Litz, who will be honored October 26 as one of the 2025 Unsung Heroes by the St. Louis Jewish Light.
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SOS grantee Fairground Park For All (FPFA) got a double dose of good PR this fall, first in an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, highlighting the work underway to revitalize the park, including a mural painted by local artist Fatou Kabir, and next in a feature by St. Louis Public Radio.
Following the Grantee Showcase, Bryan Lawrence, FPFA board chair, expressed his thanks for SOS support:
Thank you for the second $25,000 installment of your grant to Fairground Park For All. Your $50,000 grant has had a significant impact on Fairground Park even before a single anti litter message is posted or waste bin is installed. While having these funds in hand will enable us to complete the purchase and installation of the 25 new waste bins and accompanying anti-litter campaign, their power took effect almost from the time you announced your award last year.
Our ability to include SOS as a supporter has been critical in establishing us as a credible park and north city community support organization. For example, the St. Louis City Parks Department is co-funding with us the writing of a revised masterplan that will be the renovation blueprint for the next 10-20 years. Their confidence in FPFA also extends to their support of a formal Cooperation Agreement with the city of St. Louis outlining the legal relationship between us- much like what the city has with Forest Park Forever and the Tower Grove Park Foundation. Our work is cut out for us, but thanks to you, we are well on our way. |
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Meet the Board:
Emily Rapp, Chair, Membership
The idea of building community is the core reason Emily Rapp became an SOS member. “I want to contribute to making St Louis a more connected place. Getting to know SOS members has widened my circle in St Louis, adding thoughtful, engaged women who are willing to do the work to make a difference,” she said.
Emily joined the SOS Board this year as chair of the Membership Committee, a big job for the first year in SOS’s history without a grant cycle. Keeping SOS members active and engaged has been key, according to Emily.
“It’s been a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on the importance of personal connectivity. Many members have taken advantage of the opportunities set up by our committee to make personal connections that will carry forward as we do grant work next year,” she said. From Table Talks to Pop Up socials, volunteer opportunities to Meet Ups at local events, the Membership Committee has provided ample opportunities for members to get involved, with the goal of creating an engaged membership base as we approach a new grant year.
“The grant investments we make in the community make the community stronger. The more people who contribute to our granting pool, the more impact we can have, so keeping and building our membership is vital to our effectiveness,” said Emily.
In addition to her SOS membership work, Emily has used her experience in strategic planning and project consulting to serve as a finance liaison to SOS grant teams.
When not busy with SOS membership work, Emily is a hands-on grandmother of three, a yoga instructor with an online yoga studio (ask her for details!), and a clinical research volunteer and speaker with Breakthrough T1D (formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), which funds research to cure type 1 diabetes.
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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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The following individuals have joined or rejoined SOS in recent months.
Kathy Moran Jean Noll Kay Schechter
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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 Emily Rapp, emilybrapp@gmail.com, or any of our SOS Board of Director members. |
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