Our collective grantmaking is off and running
Thanks to more than 200 nonprofits that applied in December through Impact100's short Letter of Inquiry. Last week, member volunteers across our five Focus Areas met virtually to discuss these applications and learn about the remarkable breadth of nonprofit activity across our region. Last Friday, all applicants were notified of committees' decisions, and 76 organizations were invited to submit a Full Proposal.
One question added to our application this year asked applicants to describe how their board and staff reflect the demographics of the community they serve. Answers provided valuable context and showed that many organizations are actively seeking to improve in this area. (We can relate to those efforts, as this has been a major focus of Impact100's leadership as well.)
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What comes next? Once full proposals arrive in early February, Impact volunteers will work in small teams across Focus Area Committees and the new Community Awards Committee — reading, researching, and discussing where Impact's $420,000 is most needed. In total, more than 200 members will be hands-on participants in our grants process this year.
Pictured right: From former times, a training session for Focus Area Committee volunteers.
Donate in installments: An option that works well for many
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Many Impact100 members choose to join by making an automatic monthly credit card payment. Members who want to spread their 2022 grants contribution over many months are able to do so starting now. It's easy to get set up on the Join/Donate page of our website. Feel free to email Membership Chairs Ellen Gilbert or Isabel Clark with questions.
Pictured right, the duo working behind the scenes to make installments possible: Administrator Cari Sundermeier and Treasurer Pat Bonney
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Bryn Mawr Trust Supports Impact's Operating Costs |
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We are deeply grateful to Bryn Mawr Trust for making a generous operating contribution to Impact100 in 2020. BMT's donation had a magnifying effect as it allowed Impact100 to increase the 2021 grants pool.
Membership donations include an operating contribution to help cover the ongoing expenses needed to run Impact100. BMT's generosity allowed us to free up money from our operating fund and transfer it to the grants pool. We thank Bryn Mawr Trust for leveraging members' funds to do even more good in the community!
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First Up: A Powerhouse Supporting PA's Youngest Learners |
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For 50 years, First Up has championed high quality early care and education for children from birth to age 8 in Southeastern Pennsylvania. It's clear why Impact members found this organization so compelling and selected it in 2020 to receive unrestricted funds of $45,000.
We recently interviewed Executive Director Carol Austin to hear how First Up managed during the challenges of 2020, and what's on the horizon for 2021.
What do you feel were most important among your accomplishments in 2020?
Carol Austin: Staying tuned into the needs of the field and being quick to respond to meet the needs that emerged. That included launching a resource webpage within 24 hours of shutdown so we could ensure providers had one location to turn to for everything they needed — from teaching and curriculum resources, to information and support to access grant and loan programs.
We also produced quality online events — celebration events like the Terri Lynn Lokoff Teacher Awards in May, as well as meetings, workshops, and trainings attended by hundreds of teachers, directors, and partners. It was a steep learning curve for us but we were able to deliver needed resources.
And we launched our very first Infant Toddler Teacher certificate program. This 3-course series allows teachers to matriculate into Community College of Philadelphia with 9 credits toward their ECE (Early Childhood Education) Associates degree. The participating teachers are non-traditional-aged, first-time college students who are on this exciting new pathway.
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What are you most excited about for 2021? Most concerned about?
Carol Austin: We're excited for three new initiatives. First, we'll produce our first Terri Lynn Lokoff Teacher Awards under the First Up umbrella of programs. These awards recognize and celebrate early childhood teachers. Second, we will expand our trauma initiatives to ensure that the ECE sector, including its families and children, can flourish. And third, we'll launch a series of equity projects that will impact the entire ECE ecosystem.
I am most concerned about the viability of the fragile ECE system and providing the supports that are needed to truly support the recovery of quality programs.
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About Impact100's funding, Carol Austin said that the unrestricted $45,000 allowed First Up to launch its equity initiatives and meet emerging needs in the field. She said, "Your partnership made it possible for us to improve the quality of and access to education for our region's youngest learners, and was especially critical during this time when the COVID-19 pandemic and discussions and protests around racial justice and equity have made our work more imperative than ever. These two crises have impacted the operations and viability of ECE centers, as well as the social and emotional needs of young children and educators."
Read more about this vitally important organization at FirstUp.org.
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Grantee Wish Lists
Did you know that Impact100 asks grantees for wish lists — items or services that volunteers can help support?
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First Up has openings on its board of directors. If interested, please contact Impact100 Grant Champion Randy Schwartz.
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Tuesday, February 9, 7:00pm
A Conversation about DEI and Structural Racism
with Penn's Dr. Kevin Ahmaad Jenkins and Impact100 Founders Fellow Nnenna Akotaobi
Wednesday, February 24, 6:00pm and/or Wednesday, March 10, 6:00pm
"Impactful Conversations" with small groups of Impact100 members
Members: see your January 5 Member Letter for details, or email us to sign up
April -- (TBD), evening
Educational Program
details coming next month
Monday, June 7, evening
Impact100 Philadelphia's Annual Meeting
a celebratory event to mark the end of the grants year and honor the 2021 grantees
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Would you like to join us or tell others about Impact100? |
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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.
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Women ages 36 and over join for $1,150; of that total, $1,000 is added to the grants pool for 2021 and the balance supports our operating expenses. Women 35 and under join as Young Philanthropists at half that rate, $575, with $500 going to the grants pool.
Members joining now will help fund the 2022 grants.
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We welcome anyone — whether a member or not — to contribute to Impact100 Philadelphia's 2022 grant funding and to leverage a personal donation into large grants that will benefit nonprofits in the region.
Only members may cast a vote for grantees, but everyone is welcome to add to the funds that will support Impact100's 2022 grant recipients.
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