Description

After a successful 2024 Pilot, Philanthropy Missouri (PhilMO) is pleased to continue multi-funder Funder First Fridays, a program of the PhilMO St. Louis Funder Network. First Fridays are free, confidential opportunities for community organizations to meet with funders outside of a formal grantmaking process for a 30-45 minute technical assistance meeting.

A First Friday meeting is space for a nonprofit/community partner to pose a confidential question to a pair of funder-advisors for on topics including:

✅  Program logic models            

✅  Assessment tools and data collection

✅  Connections to resources            

✅  Program enhancements/ideation        

✅  Community trends and opportunities    

✅  Program implementation 

✅ Application writing                

✅  Other (outside of the “Not” list below)

First Fridays are NOT… 

⛔  Mandatory or required by any regional funder

⛔  Compliance-related or formal training (this short, one-time meeting doesn’t replace long-term, in-depth consulting support)

⛔  An opportunity to seek specific funding or request increased funding (those inquires should be posed directly to each individual grantmaker as outlined in their application and/or on their website)

Before/after the consultation, community partners and funders will enjoy optional networking time. Water, coffee, and snacks will be provided; participants are encouraged to bring a reusable mug or water bottle. Dress for the rest of your day (casual or business casual is just fine). 

First Friday conversations are friendly and informal problem-solving. Funder First Fridays are designed to:

1. Build connectivity and trust between grantmakers/funders and community partners;
2. Demystify the grantmaking process for nonprofits/community-based organizations to support successful navigation of the regional philanthropic landscape;
3. Provide high-quality technical assistance to community partners; and
4. Establish and deepen connections between grantmaking professionals who work at different funding organizations.

2025 Schedule & Friday Agenda

We plan to hold all Funder First Fridays at the Delmar DivINe, located at 5501 Delmar Blvd (63112, map here), on these 2025 Fridays:

Friday, May 2, 2025

Friday, June 6, 2025

(No July Event - Independence Day)

Friday, August 1, 2025

Friday, September 5, 2025

Friday, October 3, 2025

Friday, November 7, 2025

Friday, December 5, 2025

Nonprofit/Community Partners need only attend for their confirmed consultation appointment. Volunteering FUNDER ADVISORS should expect the following schedule for the morning:

• 8:00 - 8:15AM        Arrive at the Delmar DivINe (5501 Delmar Blvd, 63112)
• 8:15 - 9:00AM        Funder Idea Bounce (review submitted questions, share information, etc.)
• 9:00 - 9:15 AM       Funder Pairs visit and move to meeting rooms
• 9:15 - 10:00 AM     FIRST CONSULTATION (30-45 minutes)
• 10:00 - 10:10 AM   Break
• 10:10 - 10:55 AM   SECOND CONSULTATION (30-45 minutes)
• 10:55 - 11:00 AM   Break
• 11:00 - 11:45 AM    THIRD CONSULTATION (30-45 minutes)
• 11:45 AM - Noon    Funder Debrief (optional)

Audience & Registration

Funder Advisors

Any interested staff member involved in Metro St. Louis grantmaking work may volunteer as a co-advisor. PhilMO will assign you a partner (preferably someone from another grantmaking organization to diversify the expertise of your duo). You will hold 45-minute sessions with a 15 minute break between. Water, coffee, and light snacks will be provided; you are encouraged to bring a reusable mug or water bottle. 

We strongly encourage you to commit to in-person participation for the full morning. When you register, however, you can indicate you are only available virtually or that you have a mid-morning conflict. 

Slots for nonprofits are limited by the number of volunteering grantmakers. To help us have the most accurate understanding of who is participating, registration for each Friday is required.

To volunteer as a funder-advisor in May, REGISTER HERE by Monday, April 28.

Community-Based Partners/Nonprofits

REGISTRATION COMING SOON...

Metro St. Louis community-based organizations may register 1-3 staff to attend and pose a specific question. You do not need to be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or have a current grant. You must register and, in registration, specify your question or discussion topic. Please note these conversations aren’t an on-ramp for funding or an opportunity to ask about a specific grant program (contact that funder directly as described in their application materials). This is not free ongoing consulting but rather is a free, friendly, informal chance to talk through an idea or problem. 

You will sign up for a specific 45-minute time slot when registering. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to that time – and you are welcome to come earlier and stay afterward for networking with other community-based organizations/nonprofits as well as funders who are on break. Water, coffee, and light snacks will be provided; you are encouraged to bring a reusable mug or water bottle. 

Please email info@philmo.org to ask to be put on our Nonprofit List to receive invitations to future Funder First Fridays and occasional opportunities to network with grantmakers.  

MAY I SHARE WITH MY GRANTEES & COMMUNITY PARTNERS?

Yes! During the pilot, we kept our “world” of participants small… we WELCOME your help opening this opportunity to more community organizations. Please invite nonprofit or community partners to email info@philmo.org to ask to be put on our Nonprofit List. They will receive invitations for networking (e.g., PEEP Happy Hour in June) and for Funder First Fridays. 

FEEDBACK & QUESTIONS?

PhilMO centers a culture of learning. All registrants will be asked to complete a short survey following their experience. You may also direct questions and/or share feedback directly with the PhilMO team by emailing info@philmo.org.