TURNING GOOD INTO A GREATER GOOD.

IT’S WHY WE GIVE TOGETHER.

A Woman’s PlaceAim High St. LouisALIVEAlmost HomeAngels’ ArmsAnnie’s HopeThe Belle CenterBoys Hope Girls Hope of St. LouisCaring for KidsCasa de SaludCenter for Survivors of Torture and War TraumaCenter for Women in TransitionCHADS Coalition for Mental HealthCircle of ConcernCity Greens MarketCollege Bound College SummitCommunity Performance Ensemble Court Appointed Special Advocates of St. Louis CountyCreate-a-LoopCrime Victim Advocacy Center Eye Care Charity of Mid-AmericaFit and Food Connection Forest ReLeaf of MissouriThe Family Treehouse - TWIGSGateway GreeningGateway to HopeGeorge Washington Carver HouseGlobalHack, Inc.

Griffin CenterHaven of GraceHealth Protection and Education Services Helping Hand-Me-DownsHome Sweet HomeHome Works! The Teacher Visit ProgramHumanitriiFM Community MedicineImmigrant and Refugee Women’s ProgramInspireSTL Kids’ PlaceLa Clinica Latino Community Health CentersLeading, Educating, Developing (L.E.A.D.) Promising Youth Legal Advocates for Abused WomenLet’s StartLift for Life Gym Lydia’s HouseMadgalene St. LouisMemory Care Home SolutionsMetro Homeless CenterMigrant and Immigrant Community Action Project Mind’s Eye Information ServiceMildred Brady and Rena Martin Charitable Eye FoundationNear Southside Employment CoalitionPathways to IndependencePerennial

Pianos for PeoplePony BirdPrison Performing ArtsProject BackpackReady ReadersRedevelopment Opportunities for WomenScottish Rite Clinic for Child Language DisordersShalom House, formerly Metro Homeless CenterSherwood Forest CampSneakers with SoulSoulFisher MinistriesSouth Side Day Nursery Springboard to LearningSt. Louis ArtWorksSt. Louis B WorksSt. Louis HELP (Health Equipment Lending Program)St. Louis Internship ProgramSt. Louis Learning DisabilitiesSt. Louis Story StitchersSt. Martha’s HallThe Haven of GraceThe Little Bit FoundationThe Maren FundThe Women’s Safe HouseThrowing and Growing FoundationTWIGSUrban Harvest STLVoices for ChildrenVolunteers in Medicine VOYCE Women in Charge

Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund Grant RecipientsFrom 2007 through 2019, SOS members have invested $2,502,398in the St. Louis region.

Spirit of St. Louis Women’s FundA component fund of the Saint Louis Community Foundation

#2 Oak Knoll Park St. Louis, MO 63105Wendy Witte, administrative assistant: 314.588.8200 Ext. 110

www.spiritstlwomensfund.org

TOGETHER WE GIVEBy combining women’s equal contributions, we can together make a bigger impact to our community than individually. We are a powerful grantmaking organization of over 200 women devoted to improving our community.

Shelby Schagrin brought the idea of women’s collective giving to St. Louis in 2006. The idea was simple; to bring together women’s equal contributions so that together we can make a bigger contribution to our community than individually. Each member would make an equal contribution and using a one-woman, one-vote process, provide high-impact funding to nonprofits that were improving life in the St. Louis metro region.

Shelby enlisted Susan Block and together they created the Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund. One-by-one, woman-by-woman, the spirit grew.

Today we continue to learn and grow, guided by the collective wisdom of our members and the people we serve. We are humbled by the work of our grantees who teach us every day about the power of giving to others.

Through 2019, our 230 members have contributed over $2.5 million dollars to more than 80 nonprofits that are improving life in our community.

OUR MISSIONThe Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund (SOS) strengthens the St. Louis community through informed, focused grantmaking by educating and inspiring women to engage in significant giving.

OUR PURPOSE• Create a powerful organization of women devoted to improving the community.• Be a force for significant social change through collective grantmaking.• Provide financial support to community organizations dedicated to improving life in the Greater St. Louis area.• Educate and inspire current and potential women donors.

COLLECTIVE GIVING: A Growing Movement That’s Changing Philanthropy

This is the finding of a two-year study by a research team funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.

• The research team found that since 2007 (the year SOS awarded our first grant), collective giving organizations have tripled in the United States.

• Collective Giving groups have granted up to $1.29 billion to their communities nationwide since inception.

• Women make up the majority of Collective Giving organizations.

• Donated funds remain largely in the local community.

• Collective Giving groups rate themselves as more connected to each other and to the philanthropic sector.

• Giving Circles members are investors in community building.

• Donors in giving circles give more, give more strategically, and are more engaged in their communities.

• Giving circle participants gain greater knowledge of philanthropy and a better understanding of the nonprofits operating in their communities as well as an understanding of the issues these nonprofits face in serving their constituencies.

• Giving circle members are more likely to believe in the positive impact of giving to the health of a community; that government should do something to reduce income differences; and that government should ensure that everyone has a decent standard of living. Circle members described themselves as feeling more capable to participate in community change, that an individual can have more of an impact, and that they were having a bigger impact than they would individually.

• Giving circles also serve as a path to developing women as leaders offering members more meaningful work in a democratically-run organization. Giving circles prioritize member equality through equal monetary giving, equal voting on funding decisions, and cycling on and off various committees, which can make a leadership role seem less intimidating due to the absence of an entrenched hierarchy.

• Giving circles are increasing in number, with studies documenting at least 225 giving circles in 2005, growing to more than 500 today which distribute more than $200 million annually. Over half of the giving circles in the U.S. have been identified as women-only groups.

• Women who participate in a philanthropic network are four times more likely than women who do not participate in a network to volunteer or offer other involvement.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTSQ Commons - an annual national two-hour live event to educate on how to bring hope and leadership to local communities in a critical moment for America. Past President Amy Inman, a local 2018 St. Louis speaker for the “Power of We” event, discussed “WE Engage – Ground Floor of Community Involvement.”

St. Louis Business Journal’s Women’s Conference 2017 - “Igniting Your Passion” discussion on how to put your passions into action to make a difference in your local community.

St. Louis Business Journal’s Next Gen Impact Revolution Event – discussion on how donors are shifting their focus to the needs of the community. While previous genera-tions might have had a cause that was of personal significance, currently social issues in the region have become more attractive to donors and philanthropists.

We The Women: Women’s Collective Giving Grantmakers Network 2018 Conference - “Changing the Face of Philanthropy.” Past President Amy Inman discussed “Innovative Granting: Creating Impact and Building Consensus”

AMY GARRISON, PRESIDENT

President , Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fundamy.garrison@brandvirtuellc.com(314) 283-2332

OUR VALUES

• We are committed to equality, diversity, collaboration, community, inclusiveness and accountability.

• We value our members as colleagues and friends.

• We don’t just work together, we relax together at social events.

• We enjoy the sense of discovery that comes from learning about our community, its needs and organizations that are working to meet those needs.

Collective Giving and Giving Circle organizations are changing the face of community philanthropy across the United States.

HOW WE WORK

THE WOMENThe Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund (SOS) is comprised of more than 200 women from all economic, educational, professional, ethnic, geographic, and religious backgrounds. What ties us together, what bridges our differences, is our committed focus to work collectively to improve our community.

OUR GOALOur one and only goal is to do more. To engage more women to catch the spirit and experience firsthand what we can do when we come together as friends, sisters, mothers, grandmothers and aunts to strengthen our community.

GIVING TOGETHEREveryone gives an equal amount of money. Everyone has an equal voice. Our members commit to an $1,200 annual contribution. $1,080 of each member’s annual contribution goes directly to make grants and $120 to help support our educational programs and operation.

ONE WOMAN ONE VOTEWe employ a democratic grantmaking process. We respect that women have different demands on their time at different times in their lives. There are no fundraisers; no galas. All of our grant dollars come directly from our member dues. We have only two requirements; pay your dues and vote on how funds are invested in the community.

EDUCATIONEducational events, including Discovering Our Community series, inspires women to become an informed source of real social change. Social events bring members, prospective members and grantees together to learn from each other and have fun in the process.

LEADERSHIPWe rely on an active network of members to rotate leadership on our board and through the various committees that run our organization. We do almost all of the work ourselves so we can put more of our money to work in the community where it is most needed.

PARTNERSHIPThe Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund has selected the St. Louis Community Foundation to partner with for administrative, financial and technical support.

RECOGNITION FROM THE COMMUNITY

A grant from the Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund is a nonprofit’s “seal of approval” in the grantmaking world.

The Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund has been recognized as the leading collective giving grantmaking organization benefitting the St. Louis region. We have been honored by community organizations for our service.

The Association of Fundraising ProfessionalsCommunity Philanthropy Award

The Little Bit Foundation’s 15th Anniversary Award

SoulFisher Ministries - Philanthropy in Action Award

Niagara Peace & Dialogue Awards - Community Service Award

In a time when much of our country is divided, SOS brings us together, reminding us of what we have in common instead of what sets us apart.

RECOGNITION FROM THE COMMUNITY

The Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund grants are awarded annually in May and are selected by a thorough internal vetting process and a final vote of the SOS membership.

SOS focuses its grantmaking on smaller non-profits. In this way, SOS acts as an incubator for promising programs that help the most vulnerable among us and supports efforts to sustain and beautify our natural environments.

SOS believes that a healthy community requires strong programs and services in a variety of areas. SOS currently funds grants in each of five focus areas: arts & culture, education, environment, health, and social services. Grants range from $5,000-$25,000. In 2017, SOS began awarding one multi-year Impact grant totalling $100,000 over a three year period.

OUR GRANTMAKING PROCESS

EDUCATION HEALTH ENVIRONMENT ARTS & CULTURE SOCIAL SERVICES

LYDIA’S LADLELydia’s Ladle empowers and employs women that have been victimized by domestic violence. Lydia’s Ladle continues the mission at Lydia’s House by providing job opportunities, employment, job education and training in a safe environment free from the abuser. Lydia’s Ladle plays an important role in empowering women to not only build their resume and find jobs, but also rebuild their self-esteem and self confidence that has been taken away while being abused.SOS Investment The staff and chefs at Lydia’s Ladle prepare chicken pot pies and berry pies in a commercial grade kitchen, learning food preparation, commercial kitchen management, and how to ad-here to complicated USDA regulations. The pies are sold at Dierberg’s, Straubs, City Greens Markets and Annie Gunn’s Smokehouse Market.For Heather, a domestic violence survivor, this job in the kitchen of Lydia’s Ladle was the beginning of a fresh start – the bottom rung of a job ladder she was eager to climb. Lydia’s Ladle gave her more than just a safe work environment – it gave her the foundation on which to build a whole new life for herself and her children. Based on her two years of experience at Lydia’s Ladle, Heather was hired by the USDA and today, she is a USDA inspector in Iowa.

IMPACT INVESTING

Lydia’s Ladle, our first multi-year grant recipient, currently receiving $100,000 over three years.

OUR GRANTS MATTER

THE LITTLE BIT FOUNDATIONFounded in 2001,The Little Bit Foundation’s mission is to break down barriers that pre-vent children from receiving an education. It started with just a coat drive, but then grew to include a food pantry, behavioral health support, wellness programs, literacy programs and much more.SOS InvestmentIn 2009, “Little Bit was awarded a $20,000 grant by SOS that was the first large grant we ever received,” says Rosemary Hanley, founder and executive director. “We are a grassroots organization, and that grant changed the perception of Little Bit in the com-munity.” Over the years, as Little Bit expanded into more schools and offered additional programs, SOS was there to help with three additional grants totaling $55,000. We are proud to see Little Bit more than triple the number of students and schools they serve since that first grant nine years ago. Today, they make the difference to 11,000 students in 37 schools, filling any need they see so the kids can concentrate on learning.

SOULFISHER MINISTRYFounded in 2012, SoulFisher Ministry responds to the needs of youth with incarcerated parents and promotes restorative justice for felons. Their Educate Now to Achieve Later (ENAL) program provides after school nutrition and intensive academic assistance with tutors for students in K-12 that have one or both parents incarcerated. The Adult General Academic program of Education (AGAPE) prepares incarcerated women for successful transition back into the St. Louis community SOS Investment SOS was the very first foundation to support this young organization’s student education ENAL program with a $10,000 grant in 2015. With the backing of SOS, additional support soon followed from Wells Fargo and the Monsanto Fund.In May 2018, SOS awarded SoulFisher Ministries $18,000, the first substantial grant for their adult education AGAPE program. This was followed in the fall of 2018 by a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to expand the AGAPE program. We are proud to have the founder and CEO of this incredible organization, Shawntelle Fisher, as an SOS member giving back to other start-up nonprofits in the St. Louis community.

HOME SWEET HOME Home Sweet Home, founded in 2015, helps clients from partner organizations transition to new living situations with much-needed furnishings and household basics, providing a sense of ownership and a source of stability. Essentially, Home Sweet Home is furnishing hope in St. Louis. SOS Investment A mother living in her car with her children finally had a place to call home. Just a month later, she found herself standing in the warehouse of Home Sweet Home. Here she learned she could choose the things she needed to make that home comfortable for herself and her children.“Because many of our clients don’t have cars, the delivery of furniture to their new homes is one of the most important aspects of the nonprofit’s work,” Becky Reznicek, executive director said. “Every afternoon we have two people with a truck making deliveries all over St. Louis city and county.”SOS funding of $10,000 in 2016 and again in 2017 was used for maintenance and fuel costs to pay for the trucks to make those deliveries. We are honored to have helped Home Sweet Home create new homes for 640 families in St. Louis over the last 2 and a half years.