The challenges of population loss and a high poverty rate illustrate an opportunity for collective action among philanthropies in the Mississippi and Arkansas Delta to create a network with a focus on building a thriving region.1 St. Louis, particularly the north corridor,2 has faced similar challenges that can benefit from a coordinated effort to deploy diverse capital sources to achieve deep-rooted impact and foster equitable economic growth.
This article examines and shares the work of the St. Louis Fed’s Community Partnerships and Investment (CPI) team in organizing and convening cross-sector funders representing philanthropy, financial institutions, community development financial institutions and others through its funder forums. CPI has supported the Delta Philanthropy Forum (DPF) since 2019 and launched the St. Louis Community Development Funders Forum (CDFF) in 2021.