Impact 100 Chicago April Newsletter

April 2020 Newsletter

"In every crisis, doubt or confusion, take the higher path -

the path of compassion, courage, understanding and love."

Amit Ray

Impact 100 Chicago's highest priority is to safeguard the well being of our members and the community we serve to minimize the impact of the Covid-19 virus as much as we can. It is difficult, but necessary, for us to put space between all of our stakeholders, including our members, nonprofit partners, and prospective members in the best interest of our community.

The Board of Directors of Impact 100 Chicago has been working together virtually to keep our process moving forward. Special thanks to Sue Key, Jennifer Lucas, Maren Deaver and Lauren Marwil as they work with our GRCs and NFPs to creatively execute the site visit phase of our process!

Grant Review Committees' Progress Update

Let the virtual site visits begin!!!

Our Grant Review Committees presented 12 NFPs to our Financial Review Committee in March and those approved are ready for site visits. Thanks to our FRC and GRC members for all their hard work to date.

Direction to the GRCs regarding next steps:

Dear Grant Review Committee Members -

This year has certainly provided everyone with a sense of uncertainty and unease. As we move through this time of spending more time at home, wondering when it will all change, and thinking how "normal" in the future will be adjusted, we still have the expectation of establishing some type of routine and following through on things that need to be done.

Impact 100 Chicago has tried to be proactive in determining the next phase of the grant cycle and the way in which it will operate while minimizing the negative impacts to our members and the nonprofits. We initially decided that no site visits would occur prior to April 7, 2020, as indicated by Governor Pritzker's shelter in place directive. Since that directive has now been extended until April 30, 2020, there will be no site visits for this year's grant cycle.

All nonprofits moving forward to the Site Visit phase have been asked to determine the best way to present their organization and project in a virtual format, e.g., Zoom, WebEx, Face Time, etc. It will be important for all committee members to be able to view the presentation and forward questions to the chairs or nonprofit as directed. Your GRC chair has probably already contacted the nonprofits and asked them to begin preparation so it is important that the communication within your committee remains up-to-date. It is also important that you make the effort to participate when your GRC chair provides you the information regarding the platform used and the method of presentation.

At this point, the Finalist Luncheon (GRC chairs and nonprofit representatives only) scheduled for May 20, 2020, and the Grant Awards Celebration scheduled for June 9, 2020, are still going forward. But, as we all know, this is a fluid situation and as it evolves there may be changes to these plans. The Impact 100 Chicago board will make the best decisions they can for the safety and health of all of our members and nonprofit participants.

If you have any questions or struggles, please contact either of us and we will try to help as best we can.

Sue Key and Jennifer Lucas

Grant Awards Celebration

Save the date for our

10t h Grant Awards Celebration

to be held on

June 9, 2020

at the

Arlington Park Race Track

STAY CONNECTED