When it was announced earlier this year that planning for the International Institute of St. Louis’ annual Festival of Nations was on pause due to the loss of over half its federal funding, the local community and donors responded first with dismay — and then, with support.
“The outcry of, ‘You’re not going to not have the festival, are you?’ started ringing around all the spaces that we were in,” said Terry Bates, director of marketing and communications at the International Institute of St. Louis.
As a nonprofit, the organization leans on federal funding for the services it provides to refugee and immigrant families. Leaders at the institute navigated government cuts to keep up with their work. And while Festival of Nations is funded by sponsors and donations rather than government grants, the federal cuts still shaped how the institute managed its resources and planned the event…