Last week, the TRG team met in person for our first Quarterly Team Meeting of the year. The agenda included a first look at our website refresh, planning for upcoming events including the 2026 Philanthropic Landscape, and a discussion about our book of the quarter The Last Children of Mill Creek by Vivian Gibson. 

But the real business wasn’t on the agenda.

It was lunch.

It was laughing about the holiday gifts that finally arrived.

It was catching up on the kids, the parents, the pets, and at least one ex-husband (😊).

It was checking-in about the state of the world and how we were feeling about it.

Our QTM is about “the business.” But our business is people, and success for us starts with knowing that everyone is okay.

The uncertainty of the past year has prompted us to do things differently as a team. We are revisiting our marketing strategy, refreshing our website, and reflecting on what organizations need most in this moment. I feel good about our strategy, and I’m mindful that the organizations that endure difficult seasons are rarely the ones with the most polished strategies alone. They are the ones with strong, established, trusted communities already in place. 

There is a reason why “community-building” is elevated as a priority in so many of the strategic plans we help create. Just like building a strong board, financial reserves, and a long- term vision, building community is essential. 

Internally, this looks like staff who community honestly, support one another, and stay engaged during times of ambiguity. Externally, it’s partners and donors leaning in rather than stepping back, which is what we saw when several organizations launched critical – and successful - campaigns to blunt losses in federal funding. 

When we underinvest in community:

• Silos deepen.
• Burnout accelerates.
• Trust erodes.

Strong communities don’t eliminate hardship, but they change how we experience hardship. They make the load a little lighter. And they make a typical Quarterly Team Meeting a lot more fun.

Now through March 20, Lowe's is calling on communities nationwide to dream big about renovation projects that would help strengthen their hometowns ─ and how Lowe's can help bring those community "bucket list" projects to life. The company will award Lowe's Community Impact Grants to help fund up to 100 large-scale renovation projects and complete more than 2,000 associate-selected community improvement projects across the country. Click here to learn more.

The Tilles Foundation is committed to improving the lives of children and youth in the Greater St. Louis Region through innovative charitable investments in leading-edge organizations. The Tilles Foundation makes approximately $1 million in grants per year. The Foundation is managed by The Board of Trustees which meets periodically during the year. Introduction forms are accepted annually from January to March 2026.

 Click here to learn more and access the introduction form.

YouthBridge Community Foundation is now accepting applications for a range of grant opportunities supporting children, youth, and the organizations that serve them across the St. Louis region. From bold, innovative ideas to multi-year capacity building and collaborative partnerships, these grants are designed to strengthen organizations, invest in sustainability, and create lasting community impact. Funding opportunities include support for youth innovation, nonprofit sustainability, child welfare capacity building, early childhood program expansion, youth entrepreneurship, faith-rooted community care, and youth-led philanthropy — including programs in partnership with Gateway Children’s Charity and First Bank. Click here to learn more.

The strongest fundraisers rehearse. They refine their language. They anticipate questions. They practice the ask. That's why The Rome Group has partnered with Practivated, an AI-powered platform that supports fundraisers in preparing for conversations with current and prospective donors. If you're thinking about how to build fundraising capacity, this is the kind of tool worth exploring. Curious how it works? Click here to learn more.