Missouri Nonprofit and Funding Survey

Grant professionals across the state of Missouri do incredible work every day BUT the challenges around grant writing, funding access, and resource gaps often go unseen.

That is changing. The St. Louis Regional Chapter of the Grant Professionals Association, in partnership with organizations across the state, has launched a statewide Missouri Nonprofit and Funding Survey, and we want to hear from YOU.

Whether you are a nonprofit staff member, grant professional, or funder, this survey is your chance to share what is really happening on the ground.

The data collected will help:

✅ Nonprofits benchmark their experiences and advocate for better support

✅ Grant professionals understand how peers are navigating a complex system

✅ Funders make more informed, equitable decisions that reduce barriers

The more perspectives we gather, the clearer the picture becomes, for all of us.

We encourage multiple people from the same organization to respond!

👉 Take the survey here by May 31st: https://washu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9XpBXIIlEuzOyjk

Please share this with your teams, networks, and anyone working in the Missouri nonprofit and philanthropic space. It takes just a few minutes and can make a real difference. The survey will close on May 31st.

Explore and Engage:

Introducing St. Louis GPA to Grant Professionals in the St. Louis Region

On Thursday, May 7th, the St. Louis Regional Chapter of GPA welcomed grant professionals from across the region to our annual Explore and Engage event, an evening dedicated to connection, conversation, and community-building within the grants profession.

Designed specifically for prospective members and professionals working in or alongside the grant industry, the event introduced attendees to GPA’s mission, resources, and supportive network of peers committed to advancing the field of grant professionalism in St. Louis.

This year’s event successfully brought together 20 attendees, including 13 prospective members. Guests enjoyed engaging conversations with current chapter members and learned more about how GPA can support their career aspirations.

One of the highlights of the evening was the raffle for a complimentary GPA membership, helping one attendee take the next step in becoming part of our growing professional community.

We are grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make Explore and Engage such a meaningful and successful event. We look forward to continuing to build connections and strengthen the grant profession throughout the St. Louis region.

Uncovering Funds in Hard-to-Reach Places:

How DAFs Clue Us In to the Possible Future of Nonprofit Funding

The nonprofit funding landscape is shifting faster than ever. Federal dollars are disappearing or becoming harder to access. Private philanthropy is overwhelmed and saying it can’t cover public funding gaps. And the organizations you work with are watching their revenue predictability change before their eyes.

Grant professionals are positioned to help, but only if they understand where money is actually moving beyond traditional grants. Donor-advised funds (DAFs) offer a case study in institutional change: how funding sources shift, who controls those shifts, and what happens when nonprofit organizations don’t see the full picture of funding possibilities.

Patrice Shumate, the St. Louis chapter's current board president, will be leading a virtual session for the Central Ohio GPA chapter on June 18th using DAFs as a diagnostic lens to map hard-to-reach funding sources like earned income, impact lending, giving circles, and corporate partnerships, and explore what it takes to access them. You'll walk away with questions that help nonprofits build stability beyond grant cycles alone.

Feel free to reach out to the Central Ohio chapter to register!

Save the Date for Our 2026 Regional Conference!

We are 🤏 this close to confirming the location and date of our 2026 annual conference! Block Friday, September 18th on your calendar for a day of learning, networking, and camaraderie with fellow grant professionals.

A few highlights:

• Conference Title: "Grants in Transition: Staying Strategic & Competitive in Today’s Landscape." Expect sessions focused on strategies for staying focused and strategic in your grant-seeking efforts while the world around us continues to change almost daily.
• Speaking of sessions, our Call for Presenters will be released by early June. Help us ensure a day full of thought-provoking professional education by submitting a session proposal. All ideas are welcome!
• Registration information will be available in the coming weeks. Be sure to register early to take advantage of our Early Bird rate!

Join us for these upcoming sessions

This year, the program committee is shifting to two professional development sessions and one social event each quarter, as opposed to monthly sessions with additional social events.

• June 11th: Meet the Chapter - Information & Welcome for New Members and Potential New Members (registration coming soon)
• July 7th: Networking & Happy Hour (location TBD)
• August: TBD (planning in progress)

Not A Member of St. Louis GPA Yet?

ICYMI: New Chapter Email

We have a new email address to help with deliverability. Communications are now coming from stlouischapter@grantprofessionals.org.

Plus, here are other

ways you can find us. >>>

Bookmark our events page to see upcoming professional development sessions. We usually meet the first Tuesday of the month at 11:30 a.m.

Our LinkedIn profile is an engaging community where you can stay updated with chapter activities and members. Anyone can follow us.

Did you know St. Louis has a dedicated community within GPA's members-only discussion board?

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HQ Mailing Address: 10540 Marty St Suite 240, Overland Park, KS 66212

OLD: stlouisgpa@gmail.com, NEW: stlouischapter@grantprofessionals.org

 www.stlouisgpa.org