Some of you know that I am trained as a political scientist: I earned my PhD in political science from the University of Missouri – St. Louis in 2012. You might think that being a political scientist would come in handy right now, providing some profound insight into the current environment. But you would be mistaken. We are not living in textbook times.
Nonetheless, it’s my nature to offer hope during times of uncertainty and dis-ease, or if not hope, some reassurance that all will be ok. For some, that is surely true, but for many in the nonprofit sector it doesn’t feel that way right now, as every day brings another policy decision that threatens to upend our missions and takes aim at the very people we serve, takes aim at us, takes aim at the people we care about.
I believe in the power of people to mobilize for good, which is why I think our most hopeful tool for these times is advocacy. As the link below from the Council of Nonprofits outlines, “Nonprofit advocacy helps give citizens a voice.” It helps communities solve problems. It’s something that we can DO, when we are feeling discouraged and vulnerable. Worried that you’ll jeopardize your nonprofit status? There are limits to what nonprofits can do, but advocacy is not out of bounds. It is necessary. There are trainings to help you navigate: Empower Missouri and the Missouri Foundation for Health are two resources, but there are others. In these times when “not taking a stand is taking a stand” (in support of the status quo), we owe it to ourselves and each other to skill up.
The other thing we can do is to stay focused on the things we can control. This issue of Insights includes a report from the National Center for Family Philanthropy that offers an assessment of psychological barriers to giving. We can’t overcome these barriers for our donors, but we can make their experience better when we know what holds them back. Now is also a good time to be thinking about contingency planning, again, staying focused on the things we can control.
Lastly, if you feel like today’s climate is unprecedented, I encourage you to grab a copy of “A Fever in the Heartland” by Timothy Egan. Turn off the news and lose yourself in the early 1920s. This book may or may not be a source of hope, but it is guaranteed to provide perspective. And it will leave you thinking, as it did our team, “Who or What is the Madge of our time?”
Lean into your mission, lean on your friends. Let us know if we can help.
Dayna
Executive Orders Affecting Charitable Nonprofits
After his January 20th inauguration, President Trump signed dozens of Executive Orders (EOs) covering a broad range of issues, including diversity, equity, and inclusion programs; government grants and contracts; civic engagement; immigration; and certain nonprofit subsectors. Some of the EOs won’t take effect immediately, and many are expected to be immediately challenged in court. This chart outlines some of the EOs that may affect nonprofits directly or indirectly. Click here to view.
Overcoming Psychological Barriers to Giving
Getting started with—and scaling up—philanthropic giving is hard. Even the most enthusiastic and driven donors often become overwhelmed and anxious, causing them to put off, stall, or curtail their giving, which in turn, hinders impact and strips the joy out of philanthropy. In its latest report, Overcoming Psychological Barriers to Giving, NCFP explores the behavioral science behind the ten most common barriers to giving—such as too many choices, fear of uncomfortable family dynamics, and lack of urgency—and provides effective and actionable ways for donors to overcome those barriers. Click here to read the report.
Why Should Your Nonprofit Advocate?
The National Council of Nonprofits' article "Why Should Your Nonprofit Advocate?" emphasizes the critical role advocacy plays in helping nonprofits fulfill their missions. It outlines how engaging in advocacy can prevent resource loss, lower barriers to services, highlight community needs, and strengthen organizations and communities. The piece also discusses how advocacy efforts can attract favorable media attention, generate higher visibility, and mobilize boards, volunteers, and donors. Click here to read more.
Nonprofit Marketing Trends for 2025: Staying Ahead of the Curve
This article from the Nonprofit Resource Hub discusses key strategies for nonprofits to enhance donor engagement and amplify their missions. It emphasizes the importance of personalized email marketing, leveraging social media with visual and interactive content, utilizing Google Ad Grants to increase visibility, and ensuring mobile optimization of websites. The piece also highlights the growing role of storytelling, artificial intelligence, integrated campaigns, and data-driven strategies in effective nonprofit marketing. Click here to read more.
Key Fundraising Trends for 2025
This article from from the Nonprofit Resource Hub discusses emerging strategies for nonprofits to enhance donor engagement and secure funding. It emphasizes the importance of community-centric fundraising, hyper-personalization through AI and data analytics, and adopting digital-first approaches to connect with younger, tech-savvy donors. The piece also highlights the growing role of influencer partnerships and the necessity for transparency in impact reporting to build donor trust. Click here to read more.
YouthBridge Community Foundation Current Grant Programs
YouthBridge Community Foundation supports nonprofits in the greater St. Louis area with 8 different grant offerings. Each different grant program has a specific focus area. Interested organizations should check out this page to learn more about each available grant.
The Dana Brown Charitable Trust Offers Grant Opportunity
The primary purpose of The Dana Brown Charitable Trust is to provide for the health, education and welfare of underprivileged/economically disadvantaged children in the St. Louis, Missouri Metropolitan area and the health & welfare of animals in the St. Louis, Missouri Metropolitan area. Interested applicants for the Spring cycle must submit a Letter of Intent by February 15th. Click here to learn more.
The Jewish Federation Announces 2025 Community Investment Opportunities
The Jewish Foundation has announced several community impact opportunities for 2025. Their funding opportunities are divided into two categories: one for nonprofit organizations and schools and another to support individuals, students or specific clients from nonprofits or congregations. Click here to learn more about available opportunities.
Marillac Mission Fund Announces Spring FY25 Grant Cycle Now Open
Marillac's Capacity Building Grant Program (CBG) is designed to provide support for improvements in key organizational functions within grantee organizations aligned with their focus areas including immigrants and refugees, older adults living independently, human trafficking prevention, veterans, advocacy and coalition-building, and a new focus area of rural well-being. Grant applications are due February 1, 2025. Click here to learn more and apply.
SAVE THE DATE - The Green House Project's 2025 Conference
The Green House Project, a leader in eldercare innovation, is hosting its 2025 Conference in St. Louis from August 11-13, 2025. Focused on advancing person-centered care, this event offers local nonprofits the chance to connect with industry leaders, share insights, and collaborate on transforming eldercare practices to better serve older adults. Click here to learn more about the event.
SAVE THE DATE - Meeting Professionals International's World Education Congress Conference
Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the world's largest association for meeting and event professionals, is dedicated to providing innovative education, networking opportunities, and business exchanges for its global community. From June 17-19, 2025, MPI will host its World Education Congress (WEC) at the America's Center Convention Complex in St. Louis. The conference will feature industry-leading education sessions, unparalleled networking opportunities, and insights into the latest trends in event planning. Click here to read more about the experience.
SAVE THE DATE - 2025 Racial Equity Summit
The 2025 Racial Equity Summit will take place on August 8-9, 2025. The summit is a bi-annual conference that aims to raise awareness of inequities in education, housing, and healthcare, and engages participants in how to address these issues. Click here for more information.
A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over American, and the Woman Who Stopped Themby Timothy Egan
As a team, The Rome Group read and discussed this book. Click here to learn more about the book.
Nonprofit Job Openings
See the latest opportunities to serve your community.
Congratulations to the following individuals who are starting new roles in the St. Louis nonprofit community.
Ellie Bledsoe, Legislative Director, Planned Parenthood Great Rivers
Becky Domyan, Executive Director, Saint Louis Fashion Fund
Mike Doss, LSW,Save Our Sons & Sisters Program Coordinator, East St Louis Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis
Tom Hohenstein, Board Chair, Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri
Cindy Owens, MPA, President & CEO, UCP Heartland
Jacob Perkins, LCSW, Director of Health & Wellness, International Institute of St. Louis
Margot Riphagen, MPH, President & CEO, Planned Parenthood Great Rivers and Planned Parenthood Great Rivers Action
Steven Rosenzweig, President & CEO, St. Louis Jewish Community Center (the J)
Megan Selck, Chief Development Officer, Greater St. Louis Area Scouting
Ray Vandiver, President and CEO, The Saint Louis Science Center
Aimee Wehmeier, Chief Development Officer, Starkloff Disability Institute
Laura Kleffner Wilson, Sr. VP of Philanthropy, Mission STL
Isabella Wirthlin, People & Culture Coordinator, Nine PBS
Do you have news about a job opening, new hire, promotion, or other happenings? If so, send us your news and we’ll consider including it in our next issue of Insights.
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