Jasmin Singh is the Director of Community Engagement and Philanthropy at United Services for Children. Raised in Saint Louis, she graduated from Webster University with a degree in Cultural Anthropology. There she established herself as a leader in advocacy and she still strives to better the university as a member of the alumni board. She has worked at local nonprofits since graduating and has significant experience in donor relations, event planning, and community outreach. Jasmin is deeply committed to supporting children with developmental disabilities and making the world a fairer place. She believes in leading with empathy and creating a culture of respect and inclusion.

Beyond her professional work, Jasmin is passionate about promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) everywhere. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, sports, and discovering new foods. She loves to travel and volunteer with her friends.

My name is Lauren Finan, and I am currently the Development Coordinator at Oasis. Originally from Dallas, I graduated in 2021 from the University of North Texas with a degree in Communication Studies and Marketing. In Dallas, I was fortunate to have a variety of work experience with different organizations including AmeriCorps, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, The Family Place, and most recently, the Notre Dame School of Dallas.

At the Notre Dame School I was a special education assistant teacher, as well as a volunteer Basketball coach. My time in these roles changed my life forever, and renewed my passion for advocacy, volunteerism, and development. So, I packed up my car and my dog, and left the Lonestar State for a new adventure. Fast forward to now, and I am quickly approaching my one-year anniversary in St. Louis!

I am so grateful for the learning opportunities and mentorship I’ve received through AFP, as well as my Oasis colleagues, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds in store.

Landon Porter serves as the Development Director for Youth In Need. There he oversees annual giving, stewardship, grant writing, and more. He is passionate about using his development skills to advocate on behalf of the young people the organization serves.

Landon’s fundraising experience began in 2020 while working for Christian Student Fellowship, a campus organization at the University of Kentucky. There, he found great purpose in fundraising and realized the impact he could make as a development professional. Landon holds a Bachelors in Marketing and Management from the University of Kentucky.

A Lexington, KY native, he and his wife Alex are new to the St. Louis area this year. In his spare time, Landon enjoys hiking, playing basketball, and exploring the city. He is eager to become more involved in the St. Louis non-profit community through AFP and make a positive impact in the region.

Sophie Rudder joined the Immigrant Home English Learning Program staff in January of 2023 as their new Fund Development Coordinator. She attended Saint Louis University and has a BA in International Cultures, Italian, and Sociology with a concentration in Immigration along with a minor in Urban Poverty Studies. She holds an MA from the Clinton School of Public Service with an emphasis on nonprofit development and fundraising. She has worked with refugees and immigrants while serving with Catholic Charities International in Italy where she taught English and Italian.

She has an intermediate knowledge of Italian and is a fluent English speaker. In her free time, she enjoys scuba diving, traveling, and painting with watercolor.

Tepra Wells is a St. Louis native who has always had a passion for people. Daughter of an entrepreneur and St. Louis community leader, Mark Wells, Tepra leaded much from her father. While Tepra worked with him at his tax service, Wells Tax Service, which has been in operation for almost 30 years, she learned much about financial literacy. Tepra graduated from college with a psychology and Spanish degree. She began working in social work briefly, then in elementary education for 5 years. After transitioning from education to the non-profit sector, Tepra has come full circle with her heart’s desire, to help people. 

Tepra currently works as a development and communications coordinator for Creative Reaction Lab. Her background in finances from Wells Tax Service and her lived experience makes her ready for the role. Tepra met the Creative Reaction Lab team through an outside volunteer opportunity. To say the least, her openness to volunteer her time is expansive. Volunteer experience includes: TEDx, WePower, Abolitionist Pledge, Grand Center Inc, St. Louis Mosaic Project, and many others. 

Tepra hopes to learn new skills and expand networking relationships with the AFP team!

Brooke Bennett serves as the Director of Development and Alumni/Donor Relations for Rohan Woods School. She spearheads all development and fundraising efforts — including annual giving, planned giving, capital campaigns and projects, special events, and major gifts. Her current role combines her passions for youth education and nonprofit development.

Brooke began her career as an elementary school teacher, eventually becoming a Learning Specialist and was awarded the KPLR Tools for Teachers Award in 2017. Prior to joining Rohan Woods School in 2021, Brooke served as the Advancement Officer for United 4 Children, a nonprofit that empowers educators to nurture whole-child development through early childhood and afterschool programs. She started her fundraising career as a Development and Engagement Manager for Wings for Hope, a global aviation nonprofit providing medical air transport in the U.S. and 10 other countries. She was successful in securing several grants, including major funding to support the organization’s inaugural youth aviation education program, Soar into STEM, which Bennett helped develop and launch. As program manager for Soar into STEM, Bennett led the successful pilot of the program in spring 2019 and expanded Wings of Hope’s youth education programs to include summer camps and internships.

Brooke is currently working toward her Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) certification. She holds a Master of Education in Educational Psychology from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Maryville University. A native of San Francisco, Bennett lives with her partner and three dogs in South St. Louis City, and loves to hike, camp, garden and explore.

Kat Dortch is a Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer at Saint Louis University, which is her first role where she is primarily responsible for raising funds for the University’s academic scholarships, research, and programming. Before joining Saint Louis University in 2018 as a Development Assistant for the School of Medicine and then for the Alumni and Donor Engagement department, Kat served as the Director of Summer Fun at a local grade school and spent the majority of her professional career working in community relations at a St. Louis-based coal company.

Kat enjoys participating in the numerous volunteer opportunities SLU offers around campus and is a member of her Division’s Stewardship Committee, the University’s Staff Advisory Council, and Advisory Board Member of an on-campus student food pantry. In her spare time, Kat enjoys reading, meeting with her book club, live performances, and fostering feral cats.

Kat holds a Bachelors in Biological Sciences from Illinois State University and graduated in December from Saint Louis University’s Master’s in Leadership and Organizational Development program.

Anna Hughes is a farm kid from a small, rural town in Southern Illinois. She grew up playing sports, “helping” during harvest season (i.e. playing on the rock pile), and spending hours on end at the public library. Anna attended Missouri Baptist University on a full scholarship, and worked as both a Resident Assistant and a barista at the on-campus coffeehouse. After graduating with a marketing degree, Anna found herself without a network and without a paddle in a tough St. Louis job market. She landed back in food service and managed a brunch restaurant for two years. From there, after reaching a personal breaking point, Anna decided to try her hand at politics, specifically finance and fundraising. She wormed her way through a tough ring of consultants and snagged a spot on a state senate campaign in the 2020 cycle. After raising $2.5 million and losing by 9+ points, along with most progressive candidates in Missouri that cycle, Anna went on to work the 2021 municipal election. She joined the LeadMO team in April after the election and has kept her momentum in the non-profit development space. 

LeadMO is a 501 (c)(3) designed to drive, convene, and cultivate a sustainable community around the human capital powering progress in Missouri. Their vision is a diverse and inclusive pipeline of talented leaders that are devoted to building a Missouri centered on progress. As Development Director, Anna works in tandem with LeadMO’s Executive Director on all development activities, including but not limited to: grant research and writing, major gift solicitation, digital fundraising, event planning, and individual call time. 

In her spare time, Anna works on her Master’s Degree at Michigan State University in Management, Strategy, and Leadership (go green!). She is passionate about gender equity, inclusivity, and closing the pay gap in (women's) sports; most of her evenings and weekends are spent with a sporting event on in the background! Like many St. Louisans, she is a pickleballer, foodie, and craft cocktail enthusiast.