January 2020 Newsletter
Thank You and Happy New Year!
Welcome to a New Decade of Giving with SOS
Welcome to a New Decade of Giving with SOS
Dear SOS members and friends,
As we embark on a new decade, I would like to extend a big thank you to YOU, our members.
Because of YOU, we have collectively invested over $2.5 million in more than 80 small, but mighty nonprofits who are improving our community every day.
YOU have made it possible for a survivor of domestic violence to participate in job training for work in the culinary field; for at-risk school age students to have new, high-quality sneakers at no cost; and for immigrant children to have access to pro-bono legal services and social resources, just to name a few.
A new year leads to an incredibly important project in which we’ll need your participation.
The SOS Strategic Planning Task Force along with facilitator Diane Drollinger of Network for Strong Communities, kicked off our 2020-2023 strategic plan on January 9.
The task force is made up of board members, committee chairs and past leaders who envision a future where our organization is stronger and has greater impact in the community.
Our initial strategic planning discussions will focus on the key areas of impact, member engagement, initiative based vs. responsive funding model, grantee perceptions, industry trends, and infrastructure and systems. I would like to hear your thoughts on these key areas so please feel free to contact me via email or by phone.
Our facilitator Diane Drollinger will also be reaching out to members and grantees to obtain feedback over the next few months. Your input is invaluable and greatly appreciated.
Amy Garrison
President and Proud Member
Catalist, formerly Women’s Collective Giving Grantmakers Network, is a network of 70 women’s collective giving groups across the United States and Australia. Catalist is volunteer-led, and open to all women’s collective giving organizations.
Together Catalist is more than 17,000 women strong and has granted more than $125 Million to nonprofit organizations.
Catalist hosts a number of webinars, which are open to all members. In addition, every 18 months, Catalist hosts a conference to inspire and share best practices in impactful giving.
Many SOS members have attended these over the years and have come back with great ideas about how women are accelerating the power of collective giving to build stronger communities.
The next conference is February 23-25 in Seattle, Wash. For more information, visit the Catalist web site: https://philanos.org/ (Catalist was renamed Philanos)
If you are interested in learning more about Catalist or participating in their events feel free to contact Vicki Sheehan at vsheehan@sheehanproperties.com; Gwen Wesley at gbcwesley@sbcglobal.net or Amy Garrison at amy.garrison@brandvirtuellc.com.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS TO SOS!
Learning & Engaging at Nonprofit Tax Workshop
On Monday, January 13, SOS members gathered for a session on demystifying non-profit tax documents.
Rebecca Fritsch unveiled a new, more streamlined reporting tool for the finance specialists.
Thanks to Madaline Creehan and Buckingham Financial for so graciously hosting and providing the scrumptious bites.
Sisters of the Heart 2020
Date: February 13, 2020
Time: 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Where: Home of Member Barbara Toumayan, 333 North Central Avenue, Clayton, Mo. 63105.
Cost: Members $10; guests are free.
Info: Join your fellow SOS members for our annual gathering to meet new members and visit with old friends. Enjoy delightful savory and sweet treats and wines and beverages provided by fellow SOS members.
We will learn from Sherea Dunlap, CEO of Create a Loop, a current SOS grantee, of the impact SOS grant is having on their organization.
(Street parking available. Carpooling encouraged.)
Incarceration Discussion & Program
Date: March 16, 2020
Time: 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Where: TBD
Info: This event will explore the hidden system of mass incarceration, and Its effect on children and families. The reform efforts in play will also be discussed, and one of the speakers is a formerly incarcerated individual. This event is presented by The Clark-Fox Family Foundation
Registration and invitation to come.
LOOKING AHEAD. . .
- Ballot Fair – Wednesday, April 15, 2020
- Spirit Awards – Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Check out all SOS events on our website here:
https://www.spiritstlwomensfund.org/events/
GRANT COMMITTEE UPDATE
The Site visit team orientation was held on Tuesday, January 21. .
Nine teams will be visiting 40 agencies over the next two months.
It was exciting to see that roughly one third of the attendees were NEW members.
Glad to have you all on board!
MEMBER NEWS & CONGRATS
Congratulations to one of our fellow SOS members, GRETCHEN CURRY , who will be honored at the Second Annual Women of Influence Award Ceremony at RISE Collaborative.SOCIAL MEDIA CORNER
The Communications and Marketing committee are asking all of the SITE VISIT TEAMS to submit a photo of their group.
It would be nice to have everyone but we know how difficult that can sometimes be, so we ask that you do your best to get as many team members in the photo as possible. Please send it via email to g4sterg@gmail.com and include team members names.
And as always, if you have questions 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
NEW FEATURE – SOS EVENT SELFIES!
Co-Chairs of the Communications and Marketing Committee Anne Volland and Gretta Forrester-Gaffney
Please submit your selfies from SOS events to us via email to g4sterg@gmail.com.
Type SOS SELFIES in the subject line and include the names of those in the photo in the body of the email.
We will post them on social media and choose one for each newsletter.
