October 2019 Newsletter

Kicking Off a Year of Giving, Growth & Camaraderie

Women giving presentation in front of group. On Thursday, September 19, more than 70 Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund members and guests gathered for its annual Kickoff event at the St Louis Artists’ Guild.

Kristy Klein Davis, vice president of Strategy and Learning for Missouri Foundation for Health, was the special guest and speaker for the evening.

Klein Davis shared the state of Missouri’s healthcare, focusing on women’s health within our region. Infant and maternal mortality rates, reproductive healthcare access, and the effects of gun violence on victims who are women were some of the critical issues covered.

SOS members were also treated to a sneak-peak of “Beyond the Surface”, a textile art exhibit presented by the Surface Design Association (SDA).

Members enjoyed camaraderie and indulged in delectable bites from The Art of Entertaining. The event was educational, social, and fun!

Every year, SOS hosts several educational and members events as well as book discussions covering the topics in areas which SOS focuses giving.

If you would like to learn more about the SOS Calendar of Events please go to https://www.spiritstlwomensfund.org/events/

We encourage all members to join us for these wonderful opportunities to get to know each other and our community better.

Welcome New Members to SOS!

Welcome new members to the Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund!
A big SOS welcome to you all!

New Members

Carol Peck

Marian Nunn

Alice Wolf

Ann Ross

Clare Higgins Siegel

Betty Guarraia

Ellen Rumelt

100 Years of Making Post-Secondary Education Possible

Date: November 14, 2019

Time: 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Where: Scholarship Foundation, 6825 Clayton Avenue, Suite 100, St. Louis, Mo. 63139

Cost: $11 for members; free for guests.

Info: Join us for an Education Committee event featuring Faith Sandler of The Scholarship Foundation. The Foundation provides access to post secondary education to those who otherwise would not have the financial means to fulfill their educational goals. Wine and hors d’oeuvres provided.

SOS Annual Holiday Coffee

Date: December 6, 2019
Time: 9 to 11 a.m.
Where: Home of Susan Block, Chase Park Plaza Residences, 232 North Kingshighway Boulevard, Unit #1701, St. Louis, Mo. 63108
Info: The holidays are the best time of year to connect with old friends, and welcome new ones into your life! Join us on December 6th to celebrate the holidays with fellow SOS members and guests at our Annual Holiday Coffee.
Enjoy delicious appetizers, coffee, and great conversation at the gorgeous home of member Susan Block in the Chase Park Plaza Residences. You’ll also learn how our first multi-year SOS grant had an impact on Lydia’s Ladle from Lydia’s House Executive Director Karen Kirk. Guests are encouraged, as this is a wonderful time to introduce someone new to SOS.
There is no fee to attend this event, but RSVPs are required because guests must be checked in at the front desk of the Chase Residence. Registration will open soon.
Street parking is available along Maryland but is limited. Free parking is available in the Chase Park Plaza garage off Maryland Avenue. Pick up a ticket at Susan’s to use with your ticket when you exit the garage. Paid valet parking is also available at the main entrance of Chase Hotel. The Residences are to the north of the main entrance.

Demystifying Nonprofit Tax Statements

Date: January 13, 2020
Time: 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Buckingham Asset Management, 8 182 Maryland Ave Suite 500, Clayton, MO 63105
Cost: $10 per person.
Info: Understand how to evaluate an agency’s Form 990 as well as further your expertise as a philanthropist by understanding how a nonprofit is financially performing.
Recommended for site visit team members, especially those new to the process. Learn about the important line items that give a clear picture of a nonprofit organization’s financial health.
Registration will open soon. This is a members-only event.

GRANT COMMITTEE UPDATE

The 2019-2020 Grant Application Process is Underway!

A record 213 Letters of inquiry (LOI) were received by the September 27th deadline (includes 6 for multi-year grant)
60 SOS members are working in small teams to carefully review each LOI
An estimated 40 agencies will be invited to submit full grant applications for single year funding requests in January
All full grant applicants will be visited by SOS site visit teams in February and March
Ballot Fair for SOS members at the St. Louis Community Foundation is on April 15
SOS Annual Meeting and Spirit Awards is on May 20

SOS members will be asked later this fall to sign up to participate in site visit teams. Please join us!

This is an excellent way to learn about the important work of small community nonprofits and get to know your SOS sisters.

A Little More From One of Our Members

Marian Nunn
“We all have many organizations that we directly support. SOS does something different, allowing members to gather money together, and make a much more powerful impact on the organizations supported. The vetting process is thorough and funds are put to very good use, helping organizations that may not otherwise receive funding.”

SOS BOOK CLUB UPDATE

On the evening of October 23, 16 SOS members gathered at the home of Kathy Pope for wine, appetizers and a wonderful discussion around the themes of the book Educated by Tara Westover.

Please join us for our next book discussion on January 29 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. to discuss The Moment of Lift – How Empowering Women Changes the World by Melinda Gates.

SOCIAL MEDIA CORNER

If you have q uestions about SOS Social Media, please contact Communications/Marketing Co-Chairs, Anne Volland at anne.volland@nursesfornewborns.org or Gretta Forester-Gaffney at g4sterg@gmail.com