Laura Drake has been serving non-profit organizations throughout the St. Louis community since 1994. She uses her extensive knowledge of nonprofits and the St. Louis community as a consultant to HRA on select Feasibility and Planning Studies.

She began doing freelance development jobs and consulting in April 2000. Her full-time development positions have included opportunities at diverse organizations. Laura’s work originally included grant proposal writing, editing and producing publications, development planning and special events. For the last five years, her company, Splendor Event Services has focused primarily on non-profit and benefit special event services including galas, dinners, auctions, golf tournaments, educational breakfasts, cultivation events and reception fund raisers. Laura’s focus on special events allows development officers and agency staff to focus on the day-to-day fund raising goals of the organization while she coordinates and plans with volunteer committees, venues and support staff.

Laura holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia, has been a member of the St. Louis Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) since 1995 and was a Board member of the chapter from 2000-2003 and again from 2006-2008. She has also been a member of the St. Louis Community Service Public Relations Council, has been through The Grantsmanship Center Workshop, Metropolitan Association for Philanthropy Workshops, AFP local and national conferences and United Way training.