NEWS

Hello from the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Committee! We've kicked off 2022 with three incredible sessions during Impact Austin's Discovery Days. For the first session, leaders in TX demographics, healthcare, education, housing, and government joined together to discuss the impact of community growth, COVID, and industry infiltration in their respective areas. They shared the key issues being faced, and what we can do as funders to impact positive change.  Our second session focused on Trust Based Philanthropy (TBP) with leading experts in TBP grantmaking, and a deep dive into tangible practices we can implement in the grant application and evaluation process, as well as decision making. We wrapped up Discovery Days with a third session focused on the funding landscape in Central TX, highlighting the most critical needs of our grantees and how our philanthropic peers are addressing these issues.

All these learnings inform and shape our giving circle's grantmaking! We recently completed a well-received DEIB training for the Grant Review Committees (GRCs), to help incorporate those trust-based philanthropy practices into our grant review process. In addition, our Strategic Advisory Council is currently reviewing our process to incorporate more inclusive practices. We're also finalizing a sponsorship opportunity that will reduce financial barriers to membership.

The DEIB committee's work is driven by the passion and lived experiences of our members, as well as truly listening to the feedback of our community. Take a peek at the Discovery Days 2022 sessions if you haven't already! We'd welcome your engagement to help craft the next learning series and shape our grantmaking. Join this incredible group of women at Impact Austin and make a difference in your community!

Share our News!

Use the gray button above to share Impact Austin news with a colleague or friend. Growing our membership means more funding available for grants in the focus areas of Equity, Health & Well-Being, Community, and Education. Expanding our pool of grant applicants helps us to get funding into nonprofit budgets. Building networks helps us all serve Central Texas to our best abilities. In all cases, sharing our news helps to expand our impact. Thank you!

Join the DEIB Committee

The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Committee of Impact Austin is leading exciting work: Impact Austin's Impactship opportunity (scholarships for Impact Austin memberships); researching tiered membership models for the organization to explore; assessing and researching strategies to further the organization's trust-based philanthropy approach; developing strategic partnerships with other corporate, social, and philanthropic organizations; and learning and professional development related to DEIB.

At our monthly meetings (held the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm), the DEIB committee will be engaging in shared learning related to DEIB topics as well as discussing progress and strategies related to the priority areas listed above. We are looking for new committee members to help advance our work and participate in shared learning. Interested in contributing to any of the projects above? Passionate about increasing DEIB at Impact Austin? Have other DEIB ideas you'd love to share with the organization? Reach out to join the committee or explore other ways to get involved. We'd love to have you!

Zones Social Activities

Just amazing! The Zones Team has done it again, creating an array of fun ways to connect with other members. From March to May, we’ll enjoy wildflowers, boxing lessons, and Cinco de Mayo – in that order! Learn more here and take note of upcoming dates. We’ll meet among the flowers or boxing gloves or margaritas – or all three!

Volunteers

One of the ways to deepen your connection to Impact Austin is through volunteering. Do you like to write? Do you have media connections? As you passionate about DEIB? Is fundraising your passion? Do you love to arrange events? Is your technology expertise something you can share? Whether you have time for a regular position or prefer to drop-in as your schedule permits, we have a role for you!

Spring Grant Review Begins

Impact Austin will award $188,600 in Community and Education Grants at our June 6 Annual Meeting. What is the process that takes us there?

In January, Impact Austin members registered for Grant Review Committee (GRC) service. The Community GRC has 26 members, and 27 serve on the Education GRC. Both GRCs began work in February with DEIB training. The evaluation process continues with monthly meetings that advance to April site visits with three applicants in each focus area. Two Community finalists and two Education finalists will be presented to the membership in May for electronic vote. The finalist in each focus area receiving the majority votes will be awarded a restricted grant of $75,500 (for the purpose proposed in their grant application) and the other finalist will be awarded an unrestricted grant of $18,800. Learn more here.

Girls Giving Grants Names Finalists

The 61 members of Girls Giving Grants (g3) have named two finalists for the $9,200 award they will announce on April 25.

Nicole's House: Creating a Space for Texas Girls to Recover from Human Trafficking

Williamson County Children's Advocacy Center: Helping Kids Overcome Trauma

The g3 team will prepare for Zoom site visits on April 9. The annual g3 award is made to a nonprofit supporting youth in Bastrop, Hays, Travis, and/or Williamson counties. Learn more!

Discovery Days Wowed Again

Back in 2020, this was a one-day event! Discovery Days expanded in 2021, and we maintained a multiple-day virtual format in 2022. More than 360 unique registrants heard from 13 panelists, presenters, and moderators. And, thanks to 6 amazing sponsors including Title Sponsor Baird Private Wealth Management, the event was free to all. You’ll find links to event videos and recaps, plus all other details here. 

Bite-Size Learning with Applied Materials

On April 6 from 12:00-12:45, join Impact Austin members Michelle Fike Barry and Karen Courter for a quick session of inspiration and community impact. Both are professionals with Applied Materials, and they’ll invite their colleagues to join as well. Member Margaret von Flatern will moderate the learning event with Michelle and Karen. Join here!

We have a team of amazing individuals working hard to keep you up to date with what is happening at Impact Austin.

Visit our blog to find event info, press releases, member profiles and so much more! Plus, don't forget to #JoinImpactAustin on your favorite social media sites!

When you "like" and "share" our posts, you help to promote Impact Austin to a wider audience and potential members. We would love to hear from you...what do you want to learn more about? What type of information is useful for you?

Contact us at contact@impactaustin.org.