Description

First Fridays are back!

First Fridays are free, confidential opportunities for staff members from nonprofits or community organizations to meet with volunteer Funder-Advisors outside of a formal grantmaking process for a 30-45 minute technical assistance meeting.

This meeting is intended to help you -- a nonprofit or community organization -- more successfully navigate the regional philanthropic sector. A First Friday meeting is space to discuss questions confidentially and receive assistance on topics including:

✅  Program logic models (including evaluation)

✅  Assessment tools and data collection

✅  Community resources (including introductions/connections)

✅  Program enhancements/ideation

✅  Community trends and opportunities

✅  Program implementation barriers/challenges

✅ General application writing strategies

First Fridays are NOT… 

⛔  Mandatory or required by any regional funder

⛔  Compliance-related or formal training (this conversation doesn't replace the need for long-term, in-depth support)

⛔  An opportunity to seek specific funding or request increased funding (this is an important guideline: a volunteer Funder-Advisor won't be able to speak to a specific grant opportunity at their grantmaking organization; please direct such queries as each individual funder advises in their application and/or on their website)

Consider First Friday conversations as a friendly, informal chance to talk through an idea or problem. Before/after consultations, community-based organizations and funders will enjoy optional networking time over light refreshments. 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 are just fine -- no need to be fancy). 

WHEN?

We are scheduling for the last three First Fridays in 2025:

Friday, October 3, 2025

Friday, November 7, 2025

Friday, December 5, 2025

Funders may register for all of Q4 here. Nonprofits and community organizations are invited each month. This page is the registration for October 3rd. 

WHO & HOW?

Community-Based Partners/Nonprofits

Any community-based organization staff member with a question or desired area of learning may sign up. Please sign up as an organization (you absolutely may bring more than one person but only take one "Session" slot, please).

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 one-time, friendly, and informal space to talk through an idea or problem. 

There is no fee to participate; prior registration is required. 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.

Nonprofits/Community-Based Organizations: Pre-Registration is required & will open by Friday, September 26, 2025.

Funders/Grantmakers: Any interested staff member involved in Metro St. Louis grantmaking work is welcome to volunteer as a co-advisor. It is a full morning affair. Find details and register here. 

FEEDBACK & QUESTIONS

PhilMO centers a culture of learning. We hope First Fridays will help demystify the philanthropic sector and strengthen trusted relationships between funders and community organizations. Feedback from both parties helps us understand how we’re doing, where to improve, etc. All registrants will be asked to complete a short, anonymous survey following their experience. You may also direct questions and/or share feedback directly with the PhilMO team by emailing info (at) philmo.org. We appreciate your help understanding your experience and how we might strengthen the experience both funder-advisors and nonprofit/community-based organization participants.