Spring is a season of renewal – and for the Spirit of St. Louis Women's Fund, this one feels especially meaningful. As we mark our 20th anniversary, we're reflecting on the vision of our founder, Shelby Schagrin, and the support she received from Susan Block and the dedicated women whose early commitment shaped everything we've become. Our anniversary and grants kickoff celebration held in March was a wonderful celebration of this impactful collective giving journey. If you missed our event, scroll down for highlights. This season, we move into the heart of our work: awarding grants. In May, we'll open applications to regional nonprofits, and this fall, we'll award grants that make a direct difference in our community. This is what your membership drives – real investment in the organizations that serve our region. Members, being a part of this important process is so rewarding. I hope you can participate. In the months ahead, we also have events designed to inform, connect and inspire. They're a chance to deepen your understanding of our mission and experience firsthand the power of what we accomplish together. Guests are welcome at most events. We love welcoming new women into this community and sharing the meaningful work we do. Spring is the perfect time to join SOS if you’re not a member or get involved if you are – and we hope to see you soon.
Pat Crowe
SOS President |
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A Spirited Celebration of our Past - And a Look Ahead at the Next Grant Cycle
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The energy in the room was undeniable as SOS members and guests gathered March 25 for our annual meeting – a milestone evening that honored 20 remarkable years of giving and set the stage for an exciting new chapter ahead.
The highlight of the night was a special conversation with several of the pioneering early members – Mary Schoolman, Gwen Wesley and Vicki Sheehan – who helped bring SOS to life back in 2006. Their stories reminded us just how far we've come — and how much our work has mattered. We were especially inspired by the remarks of SOS Founder Shelby Schagrin, which you can read here. Early members Marilyn Ratkin and Felice Joyce also attended the celebration.
Now we're channeling that same founding spirit into our next granting cycle. Grants Chair Barb DuBois outlined the road ahead: beginning in May with the acceptance of Letters of Interest (LOI) from nonprofit applicants, and building to a November announcement of our 2026-2027 grantees.
We need YOU to make it happen! Please consider being a volunteer for our 2026 grant application process, the most meaningful way to fulfill SOS's mission and shape which nonprofits receive our support! There are two phases: the LOI phase starts June 26 and the Application and Site Visit phase starts August 31. For more information and to sign up, please email Barb DuBois at bdubois17@yahoo.com. For those unfamiliar with the process, no worries! Training sessions will be held in June; more details to come.
A full grant cycle schedule is available here. Keep an eye on your inbox – your invitation to be part of this work is on its way!
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Grantee "Voices of Impact" Videos Available on SOS Website |
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Video interviews of SOS’s 2024-2025 grantees are now available on the SOS website. These “Voices of Impact” videos were shot the Grantee Showcase last fall, and have been featured across SOS’s social media sites over the fall and winter months. To get the latest news from SOS, make sure you’re following us on all of our social media platforms – and don’t forget to comment, like and share our posts! |
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Learning and Leading at Philanos Conference
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SOS was well represented at the Philanos “Power Up!” national conference, held February 8-10 in Austin, Texas. The program featured two SOS leaders – Pat Crowe, president, and Barb Meyer, marketing and communications chair – in panel discussions on strategic planning and communications, respectively. Other SOS members attending included Becky Courtney, treasurer, Nancy Nix-Rice Litz, education chair, Nina Needleman and Crista Carr Shatz. Philanos is a collective of women’s giving circles. |
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Meet the Board:
Barb DuBois, Chair, Grants Committee
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She calls herself a "recovering CPA" – and that tells you a lot about Barb DuBois. Barb joined SOS in 2020 following her retirement and hasn't slowed down since. She started as a financial specialist on grant teams, moved onto serving as vice chair of the Grants Committee, and as of January 2025, she's been committee chair. But titles aside, what keeps Barb involved and engaged is simple: participating in the grants process.
“I love joining with other like-minded women who want to learn about area nonprofits and how we can support the work they do,” she says. “And participating in the site visits is so inspiring! You learn so much sitting across from the organizations that SOS funds.”
As SOS celebrates its 20th year, Barb wants to bring more members along for the ride. The 2026 grant cycle is just around the corner, and she's making her ask to SOS members directly: get involved. Sign up for an LOI or site visit team (or both!) and be a part of the impact that SOS and our grantees make in the community.
Off the pickleball court and away from the gym, Barb travels with her husband and stays close with her two adult children. She also volunteers regularly with several other metro nonprofits – because apparently, retirement just means more room to give. |
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Imagine walking your child to the school bus stop on a crisp spring morning – and instead of a clear sidewalk, stepping around torn trash bags spilling from a vacant lot. Plastic bottles, broken furniture, construction debris: waste dumped by people who don't live there and never have to live with it.
For many St. Louis families, this isn't an occasional inconvenience. It's Tuesday. In majority-Black and low-income neighborhoods, vacant buildings and empty lots become easy targets for illegal dumping. The consequences go beyond eyesores: pests, toxic chemicals, sharp debris that can cause cuts and infections. And beneath all of it, an insidious message – that this neighborhood, and the people in it, don't matter.
earthday365 is working to change that message. Read more here. |
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Greater Good Fund: Growing Our Impact for the Next 20 Years and Beyond
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When members of a giving community join together, their generosity grows over time, expanding resources and deepening impact. This is true of SOS’s Greater Good Fund, named for our collective mission, which supports urgent needs and strategic opportunities beyond annual grantmaking.
Thanks to memorial and honorary gifts, donations above dues, and special contributions for our 20th anniversary, the fund has reached $200,000. To ensure sustainability, up to five percent can be drawn each year. In 2025, the first draw supported grantmaking efforts, and future draws may assist nonprofits, education, membership, and operations. Please consider making the Greater Good Fund part of your charitable giving plans. Every gift moves us forward. |
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February 3 – Table Talk brunch at Tous les Jours Bakery in the Delmar Loop. |
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February 4 – Volunteer event to sort student-made Valentine’s Day at VOYCE, a former SOS grantee. |
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March 17 – Tour and cooking demonstration at Operation Food Search. |
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SOS member Nina Needleman was interviewed for an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about her involvement in a seminar to educate women interested in running for public office. The program, “Rise and Run,” was held at Lindenwood University in January.
Congratulations to Cynthia Chapple, founding executive director of Black Girls Do STEM, a 2024-2025 SOS grantee, for receiving the 2026 Deborah Patterson Award from the National Academy of Science St. Louis. The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to expanding access and representation in STEM fields. Cynthia was also featured March 31 on Fox 2’s "Remarkable Women" Women's History Month Program. |
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The following individuals have joined or rejoined SOS in recent months.
Beth Barrett
Karen Lanter
Emily Jernigan
Amy Klinge
Barbi Parmley
Zoe Schagrin |
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Check out the events page on the SOS website for more information and to register for these and other upcoming events:
April 21, 5:30-6:30 pm – Book Discussion on The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. More info.
April 23, 9:30-11 am – Table Talk at 23 West Coffee, Webster Groves. More info.
May 19, 5:30-7 pm – Education program, “Missouri’s Rising Maternal Mortality Rate.” More info. |
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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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