I've been a member of Impact 100 since 2013. This is a wonderful group of women who truly care about the community and want to have a positive impact to make the Cincinnati tri-state area an even better place for all. It is "no pressure" - when I started I could not participate other than with my funds and voting due to family health issue that I needed to support. By 2015 I was able and wanted to participate on one of the sub-committees which was a truly rewarding experience. I learned so much about the needs of the region and was delighted that I was able to participate in helping meet those needs. 100% of the donations goes to the non-profits who are awarded. Impact 100 is a fantastic and rewarding way to have my donation help the communities I live in, be able to influence where the money is spent and to be able to do it in so many ways across Health, Family, Education, Culture and Environment. Critically important is knowing that the CIRC sub-committee investigates and follows up to ensure that the money goes directly to the non-profit and is spent in the way they indicated it would be spent. A truly rewarding and impactful experience each year.
Impact 100 offers a way for women to give together, learn from each other, learn from the region where we live and make a positive IMPACT. I have never met so many motivated, kind, and wise women. I feel blessed to be part of this great organization that has a stellar reputation for providing a way for nonprofits to make a transformational difference in the region.
As a board member of Impact100, I have found Impact100 to be grounded in principles and nimble governance to guide our decisions to fairly and responsibly support our mission to empower women through collective giving to improve our communities by funding significant grants which make a truly lasting impact. It is an absolute joy to work with so many talented women who truly care to make a lasting difference in our communities.
Founded in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2001-02, Impact 100 pools membership dollars to award $100,000 plus transformational grants to nonprofits in a 10 county region. Guided by strong ethical values, and a mission to fund "significant grants that make a lasting impact in our community," and a vision to be the "model organization which enables a woman to realize the power and reward of her giving," Impact 100 encourages and supports women of all ages, races, and ethnicity to join together to make a difference in our community. As an all volunteer organization, Impact 100 is committed to ensuring that every membership dollar goes to fund the grants to the nonprofit community.
Have been with impact since 2016, 1st year served as a FAC member and now on the board. I am proud to be associated with this organization for multiple reasons. The integrity, trust knowing not even one cents is wasted, the network of compassionate women wanting to make an impact, the friendships, the learning, all in all is priceless!
Integrity, transparency and a shared passion for giving back - this is why I am a proud member of Impact 100.
I have been involved for over 13 years beginning as a member and then serving for seven years on The Board including a term as President.
I continue to be inspired by the mission of Impact 100 which brings women together to fund transformational grants in our community.
Although, I contribute to fund the grants the biggest benefit I receive is learning about all the nonprofits in my community and the work they do to address and solve various community needs.
Finally, I love the flexibility of Impact 100 — I can be as involved as I am able. Minimally, I make my annual contribution entitling me to a vote to determine recipients. I can also be involved in committees to review the grants, committees that support the Board (nominating, marketing, governance, etc) or special events. My level of involvement is solely up to me and can change year to year with regard to my other commitments both personally and professionally.
Impact 100 is a wonderful nonprofit organization. I contribute $1,000 each year - and this contribution is pooled with that of other members to enable awards of $100,000 to nonprofits in our community. Impact 100 has awarded over $4 million to local nonprofits for transformative programs - and the Impact has been amazing!
I love getting to know many of the creative nonprofits in our community as they apply for our grants and as they implement them. I value the fact that every membership dollar contributed goes to a nonprofit awardee. And I love getting to know the many wonderful, philanthropic women who are members. Other members have become some of my closest friends and colleagues.
I've been an Impact 100 member for 13 years - - - and plan to be a member forever!
In a world where often times the voices of women are silenced, Impact 100 gives women a platform to be heard and to make a dramatic difference in the communities in which they live and work. There is something very special that happens when you bring together women of different backgrounds, experience/expertise, age, etc. These women work together toward a common goal: to make our city a better place to live through the spirit of philanthropy. The committee meet-ups are good way to get to know other members and to become more aware of the challenges that many non-profits face as they work toward their specific causes. The conversations are rich and informative.
To speak from the other side of fence, it has also been nice to actually witness Impact 100’s gifts in action--From visiting Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and noticing hospitalized children visiting with their family pet in the Impact100 Family Pet Center to seeing Fountain Square packed with children that are anxiously awaiting a bus that will transport them to a fun (and free!) day outdoors with The Outdoor Adventure Club, Impact100's presence is huge! I feel extremely honored and proud to be a part of such an amazing organization.
Impact 100 has made a tremendous transforming impact in our community. It has served over 200,000 individuals and continues to educate women about philanthropy.
I am proud to be a member.
Impact 100 is a master at collective giving, making a huge difference in our community. Grants of $100,000 are transformational for the organizations that ultimately make it through the thorough vetting process, which insures the organizations will continue to grow and thrive for those they serve. Additionally, through thoughtful programming and interactive committees, Impact 100 provides a way for women of all ages and social and economic backgrounds to connect and build long lasting relationships. There is room for every time commitment level, too, within in this organization.
I've been with Impact 100 (Cincinnati) for a few years now, becoming more involved each year. The professionalism and heart of this organization is amazing and I continue to learn more about our community through our efforts.
I have been a proud member of Impact 100 since 2016. Impact 100 pools membership dollars together to make transformational change in our community. I enjoy being a member because I have met so many kind, smart, women who want to make a difference. At events I smile hearing about the many friendships that have been forged between members and seeing the diversity among the members. But the best part of Impact 100 is knowing 100% of my membership dollars are going directly to a well vetted local nonprofit organizations that help our neighbors.
Activities Beyond the Classroom(ABC) is a non-profit that increases and enhances extracurricular opportunities for students in the Cincinnati Public School District. Impact 100 granted ABC $100,000 to transform an abandoned swimming pool building into a modern multi-purpose sports complex to be used by 250-350 students, daily. It was an honor and delight to work with Impact 100. Their integrity, seriousness of purpose and dedication to charity is unmatched.
I have been a member of Impact 100 since 2009. When I first joined, I just wrote my check and that was the extent of my involvement. I loved the "zero guilt" component of the organization. Over the years my involvement increased as I found that the work was energizing and inspirational. I am constantly amazed by the impact that Impact 100 has on the community as well as inspired by the incredible non-profits who work tirelessly every day to improve the lives of our local community members.
We make a much bigger impact by working collaboratively to award transformational grants than by working alone!
I am so proud to be part of Impact 100. It's inspiring to be surrounded by other women who want to make a difference in our community, and I love learning about the non-profit organizations who are working to improve the lives of those in our region.
Joined in 2013 after being introduced to Impact 100 by friends. I have been involved in some way ever since.
Love the mission of Impact 100, love the members and all the non profits who have been awarded grants and are transforming our communities!
Impact 100 has shown me how powerful a group of women can really be. The idea behind pooling donations in order to make a life-changing grant to one organization shows intention and brilliance. As an employee of a former grant recipient and current Young Professional Scholarship recipient of Impact 100, I've seen how transformative being a part of this network can be. At my job, we have been able to expand violence prevention programming to 3 additional area schools and expand in so many other ways. In my personal life, I've been introduced to so many amazing women and organizations that are truly changing the landscape of our city.
Being a part of Impact 100 has brought me closer to the city I now call home. Before joining, I had no idea how big the needs in our community were. Being a part of this collective giving organization has enlightened me & provided an opportunity to make a much larger Impact than I could on my own. I am so proud to be a part of Impact 100, which has allowed me to be a part of positive change that benefits those in need and our community as a whole.
Impact 100 made a HUGE impact on our small non-profit organization. They gave us recognition, moral and coaching support, and funding at a time that was pivotal for a new and immensely important project we are undertaking. Their role can not be understated when it comes to the growth and respect that our organization has undergone over the past year.
I have been a member of Impact 100 for about 6 years. At the time I was new to Cincinnati and working for a local nonprofit. I attended an event hosted by Impact 100 and was able to hear a few progress updates from past grant recipients. I was looking to be a part of a group, meet new people, and make a difference. Impact 100 offered professional, social and educational growth for me. Additionally, I have appreciated the no-guilt policy of the organization (you choose your level of involvement.) When I first joined as a young professional I was very excited to have a lot of hand on experience within the group, so I joined committees and volunteered frequently. Recently, my job/life have been busier, so I was able to take a step back from the hands on aspects of being a part of Impact 100, but still be a member and contribute to the grant investments. I would recommend Impact 100 to any woman!
Most of us cannot afford to donate $100,000. Impact 100 allows you to donate $1,000 and collectively with other women donate a $100,000 grant to deserving local nonprofit.
This year was my third Impact 100 Annual Awards Celebration. This year, women pooled their money together to award four grants of $104,000 each! I appreciated learning about the nonprofit organizations who were educating the crowd about their organizations and respective causes. There is so much need in our communities and I felt moved to support in a new way. They were all fantastic and critical causes. I didn't join that night, though, as I was hesitant to write a $500 or $1,000 check without learning more. However, the next day, I saw the news that a foundation gave an additional $208,000 to ensure all of the finalists would receive a grant! That meant all six nonprofit organizations received a grant this year. I joined Impact 100 on the spot once I read the email. It was so inspiring to see that kind of trust and believe in the Impact process. I'm excited to get in the game and not just be on the sideline.
Impact 100 champions engaged philanthropy and has greatly educated me as a donor, volunteer, and member. Through the grant review committees that I have served on across four years, I've learned much about the challenges faced in our community and the creative, effective approaches many local nonprofits are currently taking to address them. Working in partnership with other like-minded women who are passionate about this region, we pool our dollars and our time to collectively invest in grants that have the power to transform organizations and outcomes. I love being a part.
Since I'm not from Cincinnati, I originally joined Impact 100 to learn more about my adopted hometown. What I found was an organization of women who opened by eyes to the remarkable nonprofit organizations who creatively serve our greater Cincinnati community. What I've received is a community of diverse friends who all care about making a difference in people's lives. I will be forever grateful to be a member of Impact 100.
I love being part of this organization. I joined Impact 100 it's second year and have thoroughly enjoyed all my years as a member. I get to learn about many nonprofits doing great work in the greater Cincinnati area, and meet some incredible women who are also passionate about what is happening in the greater Cincinnati area. I also know my money I have invested in Impact 100 is going to help do great things in our area. I love what a collective giving circle can do.
Seeing first hand the Impact 100 investments in action is a testament to collective giving grantmaking that is spreading around the world! The Impact 100 organization started here in the tristate region and is now worldwide. Seeing a prior grant recipient in action today (ABC; Activities Beyond the Classroom's THE MACK gym at Hughes High School) is an example of smart, well-vetted, and impactful community investments of the women of Impact 100. This seemingly unlikely project is having daily IMPACT on the lives of 7-12 grade students for sports access, sensory activities for kids with disabilities, and in-school PE classes. As a space that was formerly underutilized as a non-functioning pool, Impact 100 funds made the space a catalytic and critical space for youth recreation. And it's something I could never afford to do alone; collectively, dollars we're pooled to make this happen!
I've been part of Impact 100 for almost 10 years - I've seen the process full circle - from Letters of Intent, grant applications, review, interviews, presentations, grant decisions, follow up ...and it's thorough and transformational!
Think about a teacher free store getting funding for a mobile outreach unit and staff to allow them to bring supplies to the schools that so desperately need them. Imagine funding a laundromat cum community center in an area where there are none and the average household income is 48% lower than Cincinnati Metro - a few short miles away!
Inspiring? YES
Thorough? YES
Fiscally responsible? YES
Changing lives? YES YES YES
As a donor and supporter of Impact 100, I've seen an entire grant cycle first-hand and have witnessed the integrity and quality control that goes into the Impact 100 process. Women donate $1,000/year to be a part of Impact 100 and the power of collective giving allows Impact 100 to give away hundreds of thousands of dollars to deserving non-profits every year. The grant review process is led by experienced grant reviewers and committees of women go through a grueling and intense review process to decide the ultimate recipient of the grant funds.
Review from Guidestar
Impact 100 is a wonderful non-profit organization that brings together women who want to made a major impact with their pooled dollars. We make the difficult decision each year which non-profits in our community will be grant recipients. This is based on in depth reviews of each grant proposal and follow-up site visits with the leading contenders. It culminates with an award event in the Fall where five finalists present their case to the entire membership, and we vote. All members choose how much they want to be involved.
Review from Guidestar
I am the founder of Impact 100. My experience with is non-profit has been life changing. I am not in a position to make large grants on my own, by pooling my resources with others, I am a part of a significant grant - the kind of grant that changes lives. THe "impact" of these grants has been tremendous to the non-profits...but even greater in my own life. Though this work, I have had the privelige of getting to know so many non-profits in the community. I've learned about new solutions to long term issues and much needed assistance to those in great need. I no longer live in Cincinnati, but will always contribute.
Review from Guidestar
I have only started learning about Impact 100 over the past few years via the amazing Wendy Steele.
I try to visit the website and learn a little more as I have time. I have read personal stories of how Impact 100 has helped so many!
It's inpsiring and helps to propel me toward wanting to be more involved, learn more and help more.
Review from Guidestar
I truly love Impact 100. I have been a member since 2008 and have learned so much about my home town - its challenges and attributes. I really enjoy working with women who are different from me and bringing so many new and interesting points of view to our grant review process. MOst importantly, I really love being a part of something much bigger than myself - helping to give away over $200,000 in one night is a rush.
Review from Guidestar
Just over a year ago, on Cincinnati's NPR station, I was reminded about Impact 100. The organization was not unknown to me. I had heard about Wendy Steele and power of women creating opportunities for grants that transformed charitable organizations. I joined and worked on one of the grant commuties. The money provided to two groups last year convinced me that the pillars of Impact 100 can and must be sustained. The work of Impact 100 changes communites and lives. My experience led me to start recruiting others to the organization.
Review from Guidestar
I have been a member of Impact 100 since it was founded 10 years ago in Cincinnati, OH and I continue to be enriched by my experiences with this wonderful philanthropic organization. I initially was attracted to the idea of women joining together to make a difference in our community – pooling their financial resources and their collective wisdom to decide where funds are needed most. I love the Impact 100 model where 100% of the membership dollars go directly back out into our community in the form of $100,000+ transformational grants to deserving non-profit programs in the Greater Cincinnati area. Over time I became more and more involved in helping Impact 100’s mission and vision, leading grant reviews, enrolling new members eventually serving as board President. I am now a retired board member helping with outreach and start-ups in new cities. With each year I've gained more knowledge about the needs of our community and the incredible non-profit organizations developing programs to better meet these needs. I've been impressed with the quality of the grant requests we've gotten and the diligence of all Impact 100 members in reviewing and selecting those most deserving of funding each year. Over the past 10 years, Impact 100 grants been able to change numerous lives for the better and I’m proud to have been a part of these efforts. I believe that there's incredible power in the collective giving and wisdom of all the Impact 100 members involved in this process. I love the amazing, dedicated, charitably-minded women I’ve met through my experience with Impact 100 (in Cincinnati – and ‘sister’ cities throughout the U.S.) – they all truly inspire me.
Review from Guidestar
I joined Impact 100 last year after attending the year end presentation the prior year. I didn't expect to get involved much until I was talking to a friend about the group. She commented that I seemed really committed to this organization and the intention to make an Impact on Cincinnati. This was the push I needed to join a grant review group. It was exciting to work with so many bright women, all of whom want to make things better for these non-profits who are applying for our help. It is so great on the big "voting" night to see so many smart and energetic women in the city, all with the same goal: to make our money count toward a very specific goal/project that will help those right here in our own backyard.
Review from Guidestar
I've been a member of Impact100 for about 3 years and so happy that I found the organization. The women in the group have the biggest philanthropic hearts. I've made some outstanding friendships through the group and found a way that my donation can have a huge impact on the Cincinanti community by being pooled with everyone's donation. The changes and impacts that we've been able to make on organizations and individuals through our combined grants each year is amazing. If we could only get more members and touch more lives with the grants each year. There are so many organizations in need!
Review from Guidestar
It's been a few years that I've heard about the Impact 100 organization and the grants they provide to deserving non-profits each year, but it was not until last year that I personally became involved. The heart of this organization is huge and the women that run it are so passionate about making a difference in our community.
Each year, Impact 100 hosts an Annual Celebration giving the chosen finalists the opportunity to tell the community why they feel they should be the deserving non-profit to be awarded $100,000. These stories are so "real" and heartfelt, a few had me in tears. I'm looking forward to participating again this year and plan to get more involved.
All women involved in Impact 100 truly "Make A Difference"!
Review from Guidestar
I started in Impact 100 in college with a joint membership with my grandmother. With my grandmother living out of state and me going to school in another state, Impact gave us another reason to connect and discuss the world we live in and how we can make a difference. I can't imagine a better way for my grandmother, who was a life-long volunteer, to pass on her values to her grandchildren, living out of state, of being thankful for what you have and giving back to those who aren't as fortunate.
While I am now just starting my professional career, Impact 100 gives me the opportunity to connect with other like-minded women from all over the city. Not only do I get to meet so many fantastic role models, friends, peers from all different walks of life and spend time with them, but together-- these women and I-- we are able to change the lives of people that we don't yet know by giving over $100,000 to (usually multiple) deserving charities in our own backyard. If I were to do nothing for the rest of my life, I would know that as a member of Impact 100 I changed lives, both in large and small ways and not only for those that recieved the grants, but those that were members and those non-profits that went through the review process and those that were finalists, and those who were just a guest at one of our many events.
In the end being a part of Impact 100 means that you made a difference and that is what I believe life is all about.
Review from Guidestar
Impact 100 is one of the best non-profits I have ever volunteered with. The fact that I can contribute $1000 and the organization gives away $100,000 is such a great way to truly make a difference in our community. The possibilities of supporting life changing programs are only limited by the number of women that join us. I would hope that others will jump on the band wagon and help make a difference right here in our community.
Review from Guidestar
Impact 100 has a tremendous ripple effect, which brings about transformational change. Our members have donated (with 100% of member donations going to the grantee) to new dental equipment that provided hundreds of thousands of dental care to the underprivileged, a mobile medical van providing needed medical care, violin lessons and classes to underprivileged children, food for the hungry, housing for the homeless and many other grants. Over $2 million distributed, in the form of $100,000 grants to transform our local community. And.. it doesn't stop there, this model is replicated over 12 times across the country and over $13 million has been distributed in very large grants.
I love the fact that Impact 100 Cincinnati is:
a) all about women and philanthropy and making an IMPACT on the city
b) very well-run by volunteers
c) thoroughly researching how non-profits operate and how grant applicants can make a sustainable difference with a grant from Impact 100
d) paying appropriate attention to strong financials, but understanding that our recipients may have different situations now than they will have after a grant is received.
I've been a member of Cincinnati's Impact 100 for 3 years now. My first year, I served on the Family grant review committee. We saw some agencies doing awesome work ... and our recommended finalist was one of the two grant recipients this year. The grant review process is thorough, but (hopefully!) not intimidating.
It's so exciting to follow former grant recipients and see how they have used their Impact 100 grants as a springboard to increased impact in the community. This is one of the most productive charitable contributions I make, outside our church contributions!
Review from Guidestar
I became involved in Impact 100 over 5 years ago because of a desire to give back to my community and know that the funds were making a difference! Since then I've been part of buying a van to enable outreach, enabled a weekend food program to add MANY new schools (so children aren't hungry on the weekend!), created an after school program and much more. More importantly, I've been part of transforming lives of people impacted by grants.
Professional organization that runs lean, is open and transparent with good process and records..and phenomenal volunteers!
