Podcast from the Pasture: Non-Profit networking with One Table STL
- Aug 6
- 3 min read
Lulu Bogolin is about community, collaboration and working together for a healthy community. We asked Nikki Carey, Founder and Executive Director of One Table STL to join us in the pasture for our newest Podcast from the Pasture to chat about cultivating and building relationships in order to serve, reach and carry out their mission. In addition, we visited with all three herds: The Hero Herd, The Dale Herd and the Flo Herd.
Listen here to our StoryCorps interview:
Lulu has been with EAT for fifteen years, both as a volunteer and then as Executive Director since 2018. Below with Hero.
Nikki began One Table STL in October 2025. Discussing, networking, and brainstorming came easily as we chatted about running Nikki’s baby non-profit and how Lulu’s experience working with EAT helped her gain perspective on the importance of cultivating and building relationships. Lulu and Nikki with the Dale Herd below.
As an Executive Director of a non-profit, Lulu knows: “Relationships are KEY to everything. When you work on building authentic relationships you often don’t have to “ask” for anything. It isn’t just about what someone can do for me-it’s what I can also do for them and what we can do together for our community. When we all working together and collaborating, overall we are going to serve and reach more people.”
Nikki recently attended Let’s Build Hope, a bootcamp for non-profits, learning to lean in and getting to know someone in order to build relationships. She asked Lulu: How do I prioritize? It’s difficult as a baby non-profit: figuring out on a daily basis: who do I contact? Who do I reach out to? Who should I build relationships with because there are many people who might want to help us carry out our mission. (Listen to the podcast for their answers!)
Lulu also suggests: Treat every single person as a real authentic person. Your next giant check might not come from here-it’s not always about the ask of financial help. Focus on building real, honest, authentic relationships-and the rest of it happens. Lulu seen her working with the Hero Herd...building trust.
Most importantly, she stresses: Create a community that understands what you’re doing. Then ask yourself: What can we do for our community? When our community comes together, and we have a healthy, strong community, we are going to be able to help more people. Always ask: What can we do for you?
Nikk'si suggestions: Be authentic! Lead with your WHY. As the founder it’s not my non-profit. It doesn’t belong to me. It is designed for the people and community we serve. This is always in the back of my mind. And I love that the ask isn’t always financial. Sometimes the ask is simply looking for resources.
Because of a recent conversation here at the ranch, Lulu and Nikki brainstormed about a program Nikki was planning for Schnucks. With Lulu’s networking, Nikki is now facilitating an adaptive culinary program with ten Color-Coded Kits designed by Terri Jordan. Each participant receives a kit to take home. https://www.thecolorcodedchef.com/
Nikki has ten businesses/individuals who sponsored a kit and who are now part of One Table STL’s network. As Lulu says, “People want to do good. They want to practice philanthropy. It feels good when someone says, “I can buy you a cooking kit, they are included and part of something bigger. And that “give back” is meaningful to each of us in our own way.
Stay tuned for more collaboration.
What’s coming up:
Hoedown for Hope: October 10th. This fundraiser supports everything EAT does all year. Fund raisers, donations, community involvement, and family foundations, all of this happen. The funds provide the care of the horses, assistance for program organization, and scholarships. EAT-never turns anyone away for financial reasons. In addition there is no charge to veterans, first responders, and kids in the foster care system.
As one of the auction items, Nikki will be donating an in-home cooking class.
Tickets are available in mid-late August.
Thank you to Lulu, the staff, the horses, the volunteers, and all of the participants at Equine Assisted Therapy. Website, FB, and Instagram below.
Thank you to Nikki Carey of One Table STL. Website, FB, and Instagram below.
Thank you StoryCorps!
Expect Good. Defy Gravity. Sparkle ON! Walk on! Be your authentic self. Create community!
For more St. Louis Girl Storytelling blogs and St. Louis Girl Podcasts and Interviews and to find out how I empower people to discover and use their voice through storytelling:
To reach Lulu Bogolin and EAT:
314-971-0605
Equine-Assisted Therapy, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing therapeutic horseback riding and non-riding activities for individuals with challenges within the St. Louis area.
Podcasts from the Pasture…From the heart.
To reach Nikki Carey at One Table STL:
Nicole Carey
Co-Founder & Executive Director
One Table STL
(636) 579-6478
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