News
Please join us this Thursday:
Launch the new year & learn together

We look forward to kicking off Impact100's new grant year with two expert, engaging speakers: Dr. Kevin Ahmaad Jenkins of Penn and Nelly Jimenez of ACLAMO. Dr. Jenkins will talk about understanding structural racism, while Ms. Jimenez will share her experiences with health care inequities as the leader of ACLAMO, a 2020 Core Mission grantee. ACLAMO addresses the needs of low-income Latino communities in Montgomery County through education, wellness, and social service programs.

If you're interested in these topics, and in learning more about Impact100, we'd love to have you join us Thursday evening at 7 pm!
Register here to receive the Zoom link.
A change to our Gift Acceptance Policy

Last week Impact100's board approved a change to the Gift Acceptance Policy. Going forward, Impact100 Philadelphia will accept additional donations to the grant pool.

Why make this change, and what does it mean for members?

Our collective giving model is based on member donations funding the grants pool, and that remains true. Member contributions are $1,150 (with $1,000 going to the grants pool) or $575 for Young Philanthropists 35 and younger (with $500 going to the grants pool).

Members have always been able to donate additional funds toward Impact's operating expenses, and those donations have been essential to our organizational health and financial stability. With this policy change, if a member wants to donate additional funds to the grants pool, she may. However -- and importantly -- no matter how much a member donates, she may cast only one vote to determine our grantees. Our long-standing value of One woman, one vote remains firmly in place.

What about non-members?

Collective giving is incredibly powerful and we want to open up participation to all people who want to leverage their personal donations into large grants that benefit nonprofits in the region. Beyond enabling this collective funding, Impact100 Philadelphia takes advantage of members' collective wisdom. Our grantees each year -- identified through thousands of hours of volunteer review and discussion -- are some of the most effective and inspiring organizations in the region.

So with this policy change, we welcome anyone -- whether a member or not -- to contribute to the grants pool. Only members may cast a vote for grantees, but everyone is welcome to contribute to the pool of funds that will support Impact100's grant recipients.

The outstanding nonprofit agencies working so hard in our region need funding now more than ever.

Will you join us? Please become a member or a donor to the grants pool!
Save the Dates!

Please mark your calendars for these upcoming programs on Zoom.
More details and invitations will follow in the coming weeks.


October 8, 7 pm - Fall Education: Combating Domestic Violence
Evening program for members and all guests interested in learning about Impact100.
Featuring Maria Macaluso, executive director of 2020 Core Mission grantee Women's Center of Montgomery County, and Impact100 Founders Fellow Chelsea Hicks.

November 5, 1 pm - Grant Applicant Information Session
Afternoon program for all prospective applicants to learn about Impact100's application process. Please save the date and watch for an invitation in early October. Feel free to forward this newsletter and encourage others to join our mailing list to receive the invitation.

November 10, 12 pm - Fall Education: Youth in the Criminal Justice System
Lunchtime program for members and all guests interested in learning about Impact100.
Featuring 2019 Core Mission grantee Youth Sentencing & Reentry Project.
DEI Update

Infusing DEI values into all we do

This summer was an active and productive planning period for Impact100's volunteer leaders. Teams fanned out -- across Zoom -- to work on:

  • contemplating our mission and core values
  • envisioning changes to the 2021 grants process
  • reexamining board policies
  • thinking deeply about our members' experience, and how to make Impact100 as meaningful, open, and welcoming as possible to all women who want to engage in collective giving

Impact's DEI Committee has been integrally involved in all planning and is helping to instill the values of diversity, equity and inclusion in all we do. In addition, each planning group paid close attention to lessons learned from our member survey and from the nonprofit and philanthropic communities.

The Gift Policy change mentioned above is one example of this work. We're excited to share other news as plans roll out and are finalized.

"Why I'm a Member"
IMPACT100'S NEW FOUNDERS FELLOWS
We're delighted to welcome these seven impressive women as new Fellows in 2020-21.
CHLOE HAVEN-TIETZE
Executive assistant, Northeast Treatment Centers, with prior experience at several other nonprofits in the region. Lives in South Philadelphia.
"I wanted to be a Founders Fellow to contribute to my community in a direct way that also gave me new professional skills. Working for nonprofits, I have seen people truly in need - of safety, stability, money, sobriety, food, housing. It is beautiful and important for people to work together to help each other."

KALA PERRY
Analyst, Morgan Lewis, active volunteer, looking to pursue a Master of Public Policy/Public Administration degree next year.
"One of my volunteer coordinators is dedicated to helping everyone she comes across to reach their fullest potential. I hope to forge a career that enables me to do the same, and it is a direct result of the women in my life that have inspired me to reach that goal.. I'm excited to be a Founders Fellow and work closely with like-minded women."
 
KATIE CLARK
Assistant dean, Integrated Learning and Leadership, and director, Center for Innovation and Leadership at Swarthmore College.
"It is clear to me that philanthropy, small and large, can completely change the trajectory of a person’s life. I am humbled and grateful for the opportunities and doors that were opened for me. I wanted to be a part of the Founders Fellow community to develop relationships with an incredible group of strong, smart women and to help support the growth of Philadelphia nonprofits."

MEGAN SCOTT
Business performance advisor, Insperity, working with clients to provide HR solutions that fuel their success.
"As a new Impact100 Founders Fellow, I'm excited to learn more about nonprofits and the grant process. It’s an opportunity to really step into something that’s already making a huge impact, build relationships, and hopefully one day be a part of the influential women keeping it going for years to come."
 
NENNA AKOTAOBI
Executive director, Black Women in Sport Foundation and principal and founder of 122 Consulting Group, a diversity strategy firm, with a Masters in Educational Policy and Organizational Leadership.
"I want to invest more intentionally in this adopted community of Philadelphia that I love by building relationships with women who are committed to the same values I am. I feel indebted to the generosity of so many others, and have been moved to pay that kindness forward in whatever way I can."

SELENA MCKENZIE
Academic advisor for graduate students at Drexel’s School of Education, working toward a Master’s in Nonprofit Management from Drexel.
"Being a part of the Fellowship will allow me to make a greater impact and gain new perspectives on the needs of our surrounding community and nonprofits. I am also interested in the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of women to make grantmaking decisions."

SOPHIA PEAKE
Development associate, Pathways to Housing PA, currently completing a Masters of Public Administration at Adler University, focusing on Sustainable Communities.
"Philanthropy is not just needed - it's a vital aspect of seeing our communities thrive. I'm excited to join Impact100 and learn from fellow brilliant women who are all passionate about making a difference in their communities."

Grantee Update
Musicopia has had some big news recently. We've been following this unique music and cultural organization for years, but even more closely since Musicopia received a $100,000 Core Mission grant in 2019 to support its Drumlines program.

In late August, Musicopia's Gift of Music program was featured on WHYY's You Oughta Know. You can watch here (starting at 15:15). In the segment, a young musician describes what the program means to her and other students: "I like music. Most people like music. But I never really had an interest in making it, or knowing what that felt like, until I actually had the opportunity to do it." She added, "I'm really glad the program's here... You have all these kids with untapped potential, that might actually be legitimately interested in music, and they'll never be able to find that out because they don't have an instrument to use. It's a lifesaver."

Just last week, Musicopia announced a leadership transition. Our warmest congratulations and gratitude to long-time executive director Denise Kinney, who is stepping down after 15 years of remarkable service. Best wishes to Catherine Charlton who is taking over to lead Musicopia and Dancing Classrooms. Read more in this press release.

Would you like to join us or tell others about Impact100?
Impact100 Philly's growth is due to our members' enthusiasm for collective giving.
If you'd like to tell others about our organization, please feel free to forward
this newsletter - and we thank you for spreading the word. The top reason for Impact100's growth since 2008 has been members referring other women as members.
If you or a friend or colleague would like to join Impact100, we'd love to have you!

Women ages 36 and over join for $1,150; of that total, $1,000 is added to the grants pool for 2021. Women 35 and under join as Young Philanthropists at half that rate, $575.

The deadline to join and support the 2021 grants is December 1, but members
who join or renew now are much-appreciated. Your early support is
tremendously helpful for planning and helps expand our membership
and funding for the coming year.