11:30 AM - 1:30 PM CST
View Current Attendees
Location: Pastaria, 7734 Forsyth Blvd Suite 1, Clayton, MO 63105
Registration ends on 10/30/2025
There are currently 24 spots remaining out of 36
This event is open to Forum members and guests. Our meal will be a buffet lunch by Pastaria. Please include any dietary restrictions during registration.
Ticket Information
Members: $50.00
Guests: $60.00
Program Timeline
Registration Begins: 11:30 am
Meal & Panel Discussion Begins: 12:00 pm
Event Concludes: 1:30 pm
Program Description
We all have the capacity to be philanthropists, whether we give $1 or $1 million. But with so many requests for support, how can you maximize the impact of your giving and make sure your hard-earned dollars are put to the best use?
Whether you’re an experienced philanthropist with knowledge to share or a first-time donor, we invite you to learn how to:
create a personal plan for impactful philanthropy,
​use your financial resources most effectively, and
identify nonprofit organizations that are creating the change you want to see in the world.
Join us for a panel discussion featuring the following experts:
Eulonda Nevels. Partner, EMD Consulting
Kristin Thompson Poelker, Financial Advisor and Shareholder, Renaissance Financial
Elizabeth M. George, Director of Community Investment, St. Louis Community Foundation
Moderated by Nicole Ambos Freber, Managing Director, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Panelists
Eulonda Nevels
Partner, EMD Consulting
Eulonda Nevels brings over 30 years of leadership in the nonprofit sector, with a proven track record of driving organizational excellence. As Senior Director for 11 years, she oversaw all programmatic functions, including housing, crisis intervention, and evaluation, ensuring high-impact service delivery. In her 19 years as Chief Administrative Officer, Eulonda led a diverse portfolio, managing programmatic team leaders, facility operations, security personnel, executive administrative assistants, and vendor relationships essential to the organization’s success. Her extensive experience in facility management included overseeing 10 buildings, with a focus on Early Childhood Education and Women’s Services. Eulonda also has demonstrated exceptional strategic oversight in managing non-Head Start federal grants and served as the United Way liaison, working closely with the President and CEO. Under her leadership, the organization successfully navigated three accreditation cycles with the Council on Accreditation (now Social Current), reinforcing her commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence.
Eulonda is a native of Nashville, Tennessee. She graduated from University of Tennessee at Knoxville and completed graduate studies at Brown School of Social Work with a master’s in social work. Eulonda is now a Partner with EMD Consulting Group after 30 years with YWCA Metro St. Louis.
Kristin Thompson Poelker
Financial Advisor and Shareholder, Renaissance Financial
As an advisor at Renaissance Financial, the driving force behind Kristin’s excellent service to her clients is strong relationships. She works with a diverse group of clients, but especially enjoys guiding women in their financial journey, helping them learn how to protect, save and invest in their futures.
Kristin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from the University of Illinois in the spring of 2011, and joined the Renaissance team the following fall. In her years at the firm, Kristin has established herself as a stand out performer amongst her peers, winning numerous awards, including being named as the Renaissance Silver Advisor of the year in 2015. Kristin demonstrated her continued commitment to excellence and client advocacy by earning her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) certification in 2017, a designation held by less than 25% of advisors in the industry.
In addition to her work at Renaissance, Kristin has been recognized multiple times for her leadership and contributions to the St. Louis community. As a member of the Regional Business Council’s Young Professionals Network Leadership 100, alumni of the 2015-2016 class of the FOCUS Leadership St. Louis Program, and 2018 St. Louis Business Journal Top 30 Under 30 honoree it’s clear Kristin gives the same level of commitment to St. Louis, her hometown.
Kristin currently serves on the board for College Bound and Lift for Life Foundation, organizations through which she hopes to help inspire the next generation and keep them on track for success, as well as Missouri Botanical Garden Subdistrict Committee.
Elizabeth M. George
Director of Community Investment, St. Louis Community Foundation
Elizabeth George joined the St Louis Community Foundation in 2018. With over 25 years in the philanthropic sector, Elizabeth’s role is to lead the St. Louis Community Foundation’s strategy for its Economic Mobility priority area focused on quality, affordable housing, job access and creation, and financial health and asset building. In community, Elizabeth identifies mission-aligned initiatives, programs, and projects and determines how the St. Louis Community Foundation can best support those efforts.
As Director of Community Investment, Elizabeth’s previous role at STLCF, she provided strategic advice and counsel to the Foundation’s individual donors and private foundation clients, ensuring that their philanthropy is purposeful and strategic.
Registration will close on one week prior to the event. Refunds are available to your prepay balance or original payment method prior the close of registration. Once registration has closed, we have submitted our expected attendance count to the venue and/or caterers. Please note that we may opt to extend registration for circumstantial reasons. The date above will continue to be the last date that a refund will be available. For more information, please contact admin@stlforum.org.