Mission Realty Advisors News
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In The News
Mission Realty Advisors Receives $30,000 Investment to Advance Community Impact in St. Louis
Meet some of the leaders who are helping address community needs.
Mission Realty Advisors, has received a $30,000 gift from Summit Real Estate Group to expand its work of strengthening communities across the St. Louis region by providing expert real estate solutions.
This investment will directly support Mission Realty Advisors’ efforts to leverage real estate expertise, industry relationships, and strategic resources to create sustainable, community-focused solutions. Funding will help advance key initiatives designed to drive long-term neighborhood stability and opportunity.
As a nonprofit founded on the belief that real estate can be a catalyst for meaningful change, Mission Realty Advisors remains focused on delivering measurable impact throughout the region. Strategic partnerships and aligned investments like this one play an important role in accelerating that work.
We are grateful for the continued support that enables us to expand our reach and deepen our impact in the communities we serve.
Movers & Shapers: St. Louisans working to build community
Meet some of the leaders who are helping address community needs.
January 23, 2026 at 5:50 AM
The St. Louis business ecosystem doesn’t grow without support at the grassroots level. It’s full of people doing steady, sometimes thankless work in the neighborhoods that dot the metro area. They’re the builders—leaders in community improvement districts, neighborhood coalitions, and regional efforts to bring people together. Their efforts help to boost small businesses and ensure that economic growth is shaped by and shared with the people who call St. Louis home.
Peter Kinsella | Mission Realty Advisors
With more than 35 years of real estate experience, Kinsella helps nonprofits navigate often-complex aspects of commercial real estate, from site selection to scope development, contract negotiation to construction oversight. The nonprofit helped with such projects such as Refuge and Restoration’s redevelopment of a 90,000-square-foot shopping mall, as well as a new facility for the nonprofit FamilyForward.
Three Service Organizations Come Together to Form St. Louis–Based Nonprofit Synergy Alliance
Three established organizations dedicated to providing nonprofit support have joined forces to form the Nonprofit Synergy Alliance (NSA), a St. Louis–based hub offering nonprofits integrated expertise in real estate, operations, and fundraising.
NSA’s mission is to empower mission-driven organizations with strategic guidance and innovative solutions in a rapidly changing nonprofit landscape. By unifying the strengths of the three firms, the alliance delivers a one-stop model designed to help nonprofits improve efficiency, secure sustainable funding, and expand their impact.
Mission Realty Advisors brings specialized knowledge in nonprofit real estate; Holmes Radford & Reynolds contributes donor-centered fundraising strategy and campaign leadership; and CVA delivers operational excellence with services spanning HR, finance, marketing, board development, and strategic planning.
As nonprofits grapple with rising costs, shifting donor expectations, and increasing demand for services, NSA positions itself as a comprehensive partner offering fresh strategies, streamlined operations, and support for collaborations, consolidations, and mergers.
“Three experts. One powerful solution.” This is the vision behind the Nonprofit Synergy Alliance; An integrated support system built to strengthen nonprofits and help communities thrive.
Mission Realty Advisors Hosts Conversation with Otis Williams on St. Louis Resilience and Tornado Recovery
On September 18th, Mission Realty Advisors hosted a special event at our Summit office featuring Otis Williams, Interim President & CEO, St. Louis Development Corporation.
The discussion highlighted St. Louis’ resilience, including recovery efforts from the recent May 16, 2025, tornado, while also focusing on the broader opportunities that lie ahead. A significant part of the conversation centered on economic development – how investment, development strategies, and strong public-private partnerships are shaping a stronger and more vibrant future for our city.
Otis emphasized the importance of inclusive, sustainable growth that benefits businesses, residents, and neighborhoods alike. He also underscored the role of collaboration and long-term planning in positioning St. Louis for growth in the future.
For Mission Realty Advisors, hosting this event reflects our commitment to engaging with thought leaders who are shaping the region’s future. Real estate is about more than buildings – it’s about supporting the people, opportunities, and economic vitality that make St. Louis thrive.
We extend our thanks to Otis Williams for sharing his insights and to everyone who joined us for this meaningful discussion.
Governor Mike Kehoe Visits Summit for Strategic Conversation with Mission Realty Advisors
At Mission Realty Advisors, our commitment to community-based nonprofits through real estate services begins with people – and grows through partnership. Last week, we had the privilege of sharing that commitment with Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe during his visit to Summit’s office, where MRA is proudly headquartered.
The conversation centered around one of our most pressing priorities: unlocking the potential of St. Louis through thoughtful development, equitable housing, and long-term neighborhood investment. We discussed creative solutions to address systemic challenges, from vacant property revitalization to innovative funding strategies that can lift community-first projects.
As a nonprofit, MRA exists to bridge the gap between mission and market – empowering local nonprofit leaders, and organizations to build projects that reflect the needs and hopes of the communities they serve at costs that are manageable.
Governor Kehoe’s visit reinforced the importance of public-private collaboration in shaping the future of our cities. His openness to ideas and willingness to engage directly with on-the-ground changemakers is something we deeply value.
We’re excited about what’s ahead – not just for MRA, but for the neighborhoods and families we aim to serve across the region. At the end of the day, real estate isn’t just about buildings, it’s about belonging.
Stay connected with MRA as we continue to drive impact at the intersection of mission and development.
Click image above to listen.
Pete Kinsella on Talk of the Town Podcast
June 8, 2025
Pete Kinsella was the special guest on the June 8 edition of Talk of the Town, a weekly public affairs show from Hubbard Radio St. Louis that aired on five local stations. Click on the image to hear Pete talk about Mission Realty Advisors and its value to local nonprofit organizations.
MRA Hosts Event to Advance Real Estate Solutions for Nonprofits
May 8, 2025
Last week, MRA—a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping community-based nonprofits with their real estate needs—welcomed nearly 100 attendees to an evening focused on collaboration, innovation, and community impact.
MRA provides nonprofits with the expertise, bandwidth, and access to resources they need to navigate real estate challenges and focus more fully on their missions. Our aim is to deliver cost-effective solutions that strengthen nonprofits’ ability to serve communities in need.
The event was hosted by MRA founders John Ross and Pete Kinsella, whose leadership continues to drive our mission forward. Attendees also heard powerful insights from speakers Pastor Ken Jenkins and Arrey Obenson, both of whom emphasized the importance of strategic collaboration in community development.
A key focus of the evening was the introduction of the Nonprofit Synergy Alliance—a new initiative led by MRA and partners to create a one-stop services hub designed specifically to support nonprofits.
We’re grateful to everyone who attended and contributed to the momentum. Together, we’re helping to build stronger foundations for organizations that serve those who need it most.
New nonprofit group helps International Institute develop housing for immigrants, refugees
James Drew – Reporter, St. Louis Business Journal
Jun 3, 2024
A new nonprofit group is working with the International Institute of St. Louis to help it potentially develop housing for immigrants and refugees.
Summit Real Estate Group last fall launched the nonprofit, Mission Realty Advisors, to provide community-based nonprofits with consulting and development services including budgeting, contractor selection, and capital and funding source strategies.
Led by Executive Director Peter Kinsella, Mission Realty Advisors is evaluating options for the Institute that could include the acquisition or construction of transitional and rental housing for new arrivals, and possibly opportunities for home ownership. Those options would be presented to the Institute’s board of directors, which would decide whether to proceed to look for investors.
“If we are going to raise capital to invest in a housing initiative by way of building and developing or purchasing, we want to ensure it works for us — meaning that we don’t want to carry a burden or a cost that is not going to make financial sense for us,” said Arrey Obsenon, president and CEO of the International Institute.
The Institute works with a network of landlords to house refugees and landlords in St. Louis, but sometimes it doesn’t get more than 24-hour notice of families’ arrivals. That forces the Institute to pay for hotels and motels, with the cost for a week in some cases exceeding the cost of an apartment for three months, Obenson said.
“So it would make a lot of sense if we had 40 or 50 units as transitional housing so that once we stabilize a family, we can move them to more permanent rental housing, making sure we put them in a job,” he said.
Last year, the Institute leased 239 units to settle refugees with an average rent of $968 per month. A federal program provides an allowance of $1,125 per person over three months, but it must cover spending money, a security deposit, three months of rent, home set-up materials such as furniture and housewares, utilities, and bus passes.
The Institute relies on donations to close the funding gap, which can cost $4,315 for a single person and $3,454 for a family of three, according to an Institute spokesperson.
John Ross, CEO of Summit Real Estate Group, said Mission Realty Advisors was formed to meet demand from nonprofit groups in need of assistance on real estate matters.
John Ross, CEO of Summit Real Estate Group and Pete Kinsella, Executive Director of Mission Realty Advisors
“On the rare occasion that they run into a situation where they have to solve a real estate problem, they don’t have the expertise or the bandwidth typically — and often quite frankly the access to the resources they need nor do they know where to find them,” said Kinsella. A 30-year veteran of commercial real estate, Kinsella moved over to Mission Realty Advisors after serving as a senior vice president development and asset management with Summit Real Estate Group.
Board members of Mission Realty Advisors include Ken Jenkins, chairman of the board of the nonprofit group behind the R&R Marketplace in Dellwood in north St. Louis County; Lou Brock Jr., owner and president of Lou Brock Mechanical Inc.; and Sheryl Sinclair, senior vice president, real estate and facilities at Midwest BankCentre.
In addition to the International Institute, Mission Realty Advisors is working with the Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls and the African Diaspora Council. Mission Realty doesn’t work with nonprofit groups that can afford a for-profit firm for real estate consulting, Ross said. It charges community-based nonprofits $95 an hour and a development fee of 1.5%.
Kinsella said the Institute faces housing challenges given the increasing number of immigrants and refugees it expects to serve. Mission Realty is helping the Institute develop a housing plan and working on budgets to renovate or construct affordable housing, he said.
Obenson said the collaboration with Mission Realty Advisors is a valuable one.
“It’s understanding the needs and the challenges that not-for-profit organizations have. It’s really helpful that an organization like Mission Realty realizes that’s a niche where they can support us to achieve our goals. Without that kind of help, we’d be transforming ourselves into a housing company and that would take us away from our mission,” he said.
According to the Form 990 filed with the IRS covering 2022, the Institute had $17.3 million in revenue, expenses of $17.4 million and net assets or fund balance of $7.8 million.
Mission Realty Advisors Board Member Apollo Carey Recognized in St. Louis Business Journal’s 2024 Champions for Diversity and Inclusion Awards
Mission Realty Advisors proudly announces that board member Apollo Carey has been honored in the St. Louis Business Journal’s 2024 Champions for Diversity and Inclusion Awards. This annual recognition celebrates individuals and organizations advancing diversity and inclusion in areas such as race, sexual orientation, and disability.
Apollo Carey, a member of Lewis Rice LLC, is among 13 individuals, a nonprofit, and a for-profit company recognized this year. His dedication to promoting inclusivity aligns with the awards’ focus on making St. Louis a more welcoming place to live and work.
Congratulations to Apollo for this prestigious recognition and his continued efforts to champion diversity.