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Dear Chapter Members,
As I come to the close of my term as Chapter President, I want to take a moment to reflect with pride and gratitude on all that we have accomplished together in 2025—and to share my excitement for what lies ahead.
2025 Chapter Growth and Accomplishments
This year marked a period of meaningful growth and momentum for our chapter. Guided by our 2025–2027 Strategic Plan, we exceeded our membership growth goals, expanded engagement opportunities, and strengthened our visibility across the region. Highlights include launching the Missouri Nonprofit Funding and Research Project, awarding membership scholarships to increase access, publishing multiple editions of Character Counts, and delivering consistently strong, relevant professional education throughout the year.
Equally important, we deepened partnerships with peer organizations, libraries, and sector leaders across the state—reinforcing our chapter’s role as a trusted resource and connector for grant professionals at all stages of their careers.
Looking Ahead: Strategic Plan 2026 Key Goals
The Board and committees enter 2026 with a clear roadmap informed by our Strategic Plan. Key priorities include continued membership growth, increased engagement across programs and volunteer opportunities, deeper exploration of barriers facing underrepresented grant professionals, expanded regional reach (including Illinois), and thoughtful investment in initiatives that safeguard and advance the profession. The foundation we built in 2025 positions the chapter well to move from momentum to sustained impact.
Introducing the 2026 Board of Directors
I am pleased to introduce the dedicated leaders who will guide the chapter in the coming year:
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Patrice Shumate, President
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Anna Bilyeu, Vice President, Programs Chair
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Kellie Brungard, Secretary, Marketing & Membership Committee Chair
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Samantha Gallion, Treasurer
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Eric Schauster, Board Member, Conference Co-Chair
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Beth Jantz, Board Member
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Robin Kuhlmann, Board Member
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Krysta Grangeno, Board Member
This group brings experience, vision, and deep commitment to our mission, and I am confident they will continue to move the chapter forward in meaningful ways. We thank outgoing board members Lois Engfer, Cheryl Osby, and Shauna O’Toole for their service to the chapter.
2025 GPCI and CFRE Credit Round-Up
For your convenience, below is a summary of the accepted education opportunities offered through the chapter this year. Unless otherwise noted, all sessions are approved* for 1.0 GPCI point and 1.0 CFRE point:
February 4, 2025 | 3 Firms, 3 Grant Professionals: Life Inside a Grants Consulting Firm
- Kelly Howard, GPC; Tracey Diefenbach, GPC; Dr. Eliza Sanders; Olivia Snare
March 4, 2025 | Bridging Fundraising & Accounting: Communication Strategies
- Tosha Anderson, Charity CFO
April 1, 2025 | Ethics in Action for Grant Professionals (GPCI Approved)
- Shauna O’Toole, CFRE, GPC
May 6, 2025 | Reframe Your ROI
July 18, 2025 | Grant Con! Unmasking the Power of Grants
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Up to 5 GPCI CEUs for full-day attendance
August 5, 2025 | Prospect Research: Finding and Approaching the Right Funders
- Lisa Thorp; Laura Schlereth
September 2, 2025 | Granting Insight: Designing the Survey That Will Shape the Sector
October 7, 2025 | Public and Private Dollars in a Changing Landscape
- Sheldon Weisgrau; Michele Miller; Patrice Shumate
*Full participation in the respective program(s) is applicable toward the GPCI application for initial certification and/or recertification. Full participation in the respective program(s) is applicable in Category 1.B – Education toward the CFRE application for initial certification and/or recertification. As always, please remember that individual members are responsible for tracking credits and retaining attendance documentation.
Partnerships
Partnerships were a cornerstone of the chapter’s impact in 2025. Through intentional collaboration, we strengthened relationships and expanded our reach across the nonprofit and philanthropic ecosystem. This year, the chapter partnered with and engaged organizations, including:
- Association of Fundraising Professionals St. Louis Regional Chapter
- Evaluators Association St. Louis
- Nonprofit Marketers Network St. Louis
- Network for Strong Communities
- Washington University Center for Public Health Systems Science
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St. Louis Public Library and St. Louis County Library
- Philanthropy Missouri
- Community Foundation of the Ozarks
- Missouri Foundation for Health
- Missouri Budget Project
- GPA Heart of America Chapter
- Southeast Missouri Council on Philanthropy
These partnerships expanded professional development opportunities and increased awareness of both the chapter and the Missouri Nonprofit Funding and Research Project. We look forward to continuing—and deepening—these relationships as we pursue shared goals and new collaborative opportunities in 2026.
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