According to Merriam Webster, the definition of impact is “having a direct effect.” But how should we measure the impact of philanthropic dollars? All funders and nonprofits must evaluate organizations and programs carefully and consistently, and often struggle with the challenges of creating meaningful change in the broadest possible way. At Impact100 Philadelphia, our members constantly study the breadth and depth of the nonprofits we fund, and know it is not an easy balance to strike. Every year during our grantmaking cycle, many hours are spent in Team Meeting and Focus Area Committee discussions hashing out this conundrum. Our only conclusion has been that there is no specific correct formula.
ArtWell
, Impact100 Philadelphia’s 2014 Arts and Culture $100,000 grant recipient, has worked hard to create programs that reach a broad audience without compromising their deep and powerful effect, which makes this organization a leader in our local nonprofit community.
