Creative Approaches to Member Engagement and Retention
Tuesday, November 11, 2025 12 PM ET
Giving circles thrive when members feel connected—to the mission and to one another. In this practical webinar, Cara Pollard (Impact Grants Chicago) and Emily Rapp (Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund) share creative ways to strengthen engagement and boost retention. Learn how two Philanos Affiliates are piloting fresh formats—small-group Table Talks, pop-up events, community meetups, and more—and how you can adapt these ideas to fit your circle’s culture and capacity.
Key takeaways:
- Formats to spark connection between new and longtime members
- Tactics to sustain momentum between grant cycles
- Tips on gaining buy-in from your members to change it up!
Speakers
Cara Pollard — Director of Member Engagement, Impact Grants Chicago
Founding member of Impact Grants Chicago, Cara helps lead a community of 440+ members that has provided nearly $4 million in grants over 8 years. She is also the founder and CEO of Cara Pollard Coaching, where her team supports people across life roles—parents, partners, professionals, and individuals. Cara is a proud Chicagoan.
Emily Rapp — Membership Chair, Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund
With an MBA in strategic planning and project consulting, Emily has served as a Finance Committee liaison on SOS grant evaluation teams for five years and now leads membership. She has volunteered with schools and nonprofits across St. Louis and served on boards including Junior League of St. Louis, Nurses for Newborns, General Protestant Children’s Home, and JDRF Kansas & Missouri (now Breakthrough T1D). A certified yoga instructor, Emily also operates an online yoga studio.
Who Should Attend
- Circles looking to refresh member experience
- Giving circle leaders, committee chairs, and membership/engagement teams
- Affiliates seeking proven engagement ideas
Webinar Date/Time: Tuesday, November 11 12 PM ET
Please Register by Sunday, November 9!
Your unique link to join this webinar is emailed separately.
