Annual Convening
PEAK2026 St. Louis | Investing in a More Just and Equitable Future for Missouri
Members Only
Our opening keynote featured local leaders, Deena Lauver Scotti (Vice President of Program Administration at the Missouri Foundation for Health), Reverend Bethany Johnson-Javois (President and CEO of the Deaconess Foundation), and Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace (President and CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation). They were joined by Kayla Reed (Co-founder and Executive Director of Action St. Louis), whose organization has been at the forefront of the city and state’s most pressing racial equity and tornado recovery efforts. The panel explored the regional challenges in the Midwest and unique openings for innovation in the sector, emphasizing the need for deeper collaboration and trust-building between funded partners and philanthropic organizations. The conversation moved beyond theory to offer concrete strategies for sustainable impact, challenging attendees to examine how their own values, leadership, and influence over grantmaking practices can spark a transformative ripple effect. Together, these leaders demonstrated how courageous practices and long-term commitments are not just goals, but the essential tools for building a more just and equitable future for all residents.
We thank Foundant+SmartSimple+GivingData for their support of our keynote.
