2009
Approval of “Criteria for Disposition of FSM Assets”
2014
Hired Arabella Advisors to assist FSM in developing its philanthropic strategy. Issues areas defined:
– Clean energy
– Forests
– Sustainable agriculture
2015 to 2018
- Outsourced program management services to Arabella Advisors
- Sixty-nine grants paid to 32 difference grantee partners
- Largest share of funding directed to International grantee partners with the remainder split between National and Local.
2019-2023
- Shifted to a trust-based, relational form of grantmaking.
- Grant program management brought in-house (two-person fully dedicated team)
- Issues areas:
- Catholic action on climate globally
- Environmental justice in the Midwest
- Local sustainable food system
- One hundred fifty grants paid to 49 different grantee organizations
- Significant funding shift to St. Louis area grantee partners and, to a lesser extent, Midwest.
2023 and Beyond
- Shifted to “Participatory Grantmaking”, the most regenerative form of philanthropy
- With active community participation, collaborated to build a St. Louis region Environmental Justice participatory fund, Sow Joy Peoples Fund (SJPF).
- Starting in 2024, over one-half of FSM’s grant making capacity directed to SJPF reducing the need for in-house support.
- Other donations to organizations in which Sisters are in relationship.