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SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS WOMEN’S FUND HOSTS GRANTEE SHOWCASE TO CELEBRATE COLLECTIVE IMPACT
Women’s philanthropic organization awards $215,000 to local nonprofits
ST. LOUIS – September 25, 2025 – Now in its 19th year of collective giving, the Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund (SOS) hosted a Grantee Showcase on September 24, bringing together nonprofit organizations for an evening of connection, collaboration, and celebration. A total of 11 local nonprofits received grants totaling nearly $215,000, equal to the amount they were awarded last year at this time. The Grantee Showcase marked a midpoint in SOS’s two-year grant cycle, offering a chance to reflect on progress and look ahead to continued impact.
Held at The Heights in Richmond Heights, the Grantee Showcase offered SOS members, guests, and grantees the opportunity to learn more about the current grantees’ missions, programs, and impact in the St. Louis region. The showcase also provided a unique opportunity for grantees to meet one another and explore potential partnerships.
SOS is a women’s giving collective, comprised of nearly 200 area women who accept and review grant applications from smaller area nonprofits, conduct site visits, and ultimately vote to determine recipients. 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.”
SOS’s unique approach to giving supports the outstanding work of smaller nonprofits that often go unnoticed. These organizations are on the frontlines, providing essential services such as mental health support for struggling teens, revitalizing public spaces like Fairground Park, and offering employment training for ex-offenders. While each nonprofit’s purpose is unique, all share the vision and desire to improve the lives of individuals and families who live locally.
The 2024-2025 grantees, seven of whom are first-time SOS recipients (identified with an asterisk), are as follows:
Avenues Counseling* – $15,000
Provides mental health counseling services to all who have a need, regardless of their ability to pay, including a new program for teenagers.
Black Girls Do STEM* – $25,000
Introduces historically marginalized girls from St. Louis communities to STEM programming in middle school, and continues support over a seven-year period.
Caritas Connections, Inc.* – $9,137
Serves the specific needs of area non-profits by purchasing, collecting, and providing items to clothe, feed, and assist the needy in our community.
EarthDance Organic Farm School – $25,000
Advances food justice by training organic farmers and gardeners of all ages, providing connection to healthy food and the land, and cultivating vibrant community.
earthday365* – $9,137
Supports an equitable and environmentally sustainable St. Louis region, including partnering with neighborhood organizations to combat illegal dumping.
Fairground Park for All* – $25,000
Works to regain regional and national status for Fairground Park in north St. Louis city as a vibrant outdoor public space.
Health Protection and Education Services – $13,350
Provides health education and screenings to residents to improve health outcomes, using multilanguage peer facilitators to better serve immigrant clients.
Laughing Bear Bakery* – $10,000
Offers employment and training for ex-offenders to facilitate a successful transition back into the community, providing an income, stability, and marketable skills.
Room at the Inn – $25,000
Provides emergency shelter for families experiencing homelessness in our area, with expansion efforts underway to increase family sleeping rooms and service areas.
Rustic Roots* – $25,000
Teaches sustainable agriculture, offers free, fresh vegetables from the farm to elderly homebound residents, and creates a strong local food hub in north St. Louis County.
In addition to these awards, the following agency received a third grant installment as part of a three-year grant awarded in 2023.
Lift for Life Gym – $33,333
Offers children in St. Louis a safe, enriching environment where they can strengthen their bodies, enrich their minds, development healthy relationships, and learn to make positive life choices.
To learn more about SOS and the difference it is making in the St. Louis regional community, visit https://www.spiritstlwomensfund.org.