I hope everyone enjoyed a peaceful holiday and had a chance to recharge with family and friends!

We are once again accepting nominations and self-nominations for Impact Austin’s Board of Directors. We welcome diverse leadership that helps us to better understand and address issues facing our communities. Members like you bring a wealth of professional expertise, personal strengths, nonprofit experiences, and connections that will help to advance our organization.

We are actively recruiting a Treasurer and have a strong Finance Committee with volunteers who are eager to support our new Treasurer. Other specific skillsets we’re recruiting include legal and fundraising expertise. We also have a need for members with other backgrounds.

As I am currently in my fifth year on the board, I can personally speak to the many benefits of board service. We meet once per month and board members also serve on a Board Committee (Advancement, Finance, Governance People, and Strategic Planning Committees). As a member of the Board of Directors, you will have the opportunity to directly contribute to the following:

•            Set the strategic direction to fulfill our mission

•            Expand the reach of our organization

•            Collaborate with other committees, members, and community partners

•            Develop fundraising approaches

•            Manage financials

•            Share input on signature events

•            Create and foster lifelong friendships

•            And so much more!

If you or someone you know might be interested in volunteering for the board of directors or simply looking to learn more information, please consider submitting a nomination or self-nomination here.

With gratitude,

Deanna DeHaven

Board President

In 2024, Impact Austin will offer a spring cycle of grantmaking only, with no fall cycle following. Members wishing to serve on a Grant Review Committee (GRC) in 2024 will have only the spring option available. To participate, a member’s dues must be paid, or monthly payments initiated, by Feb 4.

Each GRC will have 4 meetings, with “homework” outside of regular meetings, and site visits scheduled between April 18-20. Site visits are optional, but strongly encouraged.

• Community GRC will meet in-person on Tuesday evenings: Feb 20, Mar 5, Apr 2, and Apr 30. Location: Tarrytown United Methodist Church, 2601 Exposition Blvd
• Education GRC meets virtually on Feb 19, Mar 4, Apr 1, and in person on Apr 29

Members will financial skills are encouraged to join the Grant Finance Committee. GFC members participate on the GRCs and assist with more rigorous financial due diligence during the grant application review phase (during March). You can serve as a GFC member whether or not you serve on a GRC.

Still on the fence? Join our Jan 18 Zoom session, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Grant Review Committees. This friendly and casual online event from 12:00-12:45 PM is open to new members, non-members curious about Impact Austin, and anyone who has questions about serving on a GRC. Register here.

On Jan 21, our g3 philanthropists will continue their evaluations of 44 applications for their 2024 grant. In December, they took a break for some holiday fun but applied a philanthropic twist to their celebration. The girls created a “Take What You Need” board and filled it with inspiring messages for teens in the Wonders and Worries program, which was funded by their 2023 grant. The g3 members also created 50 holiday cards for people experiencing homelessness, these to be distributed by the Mission Accomplished nonprofit. Read more in a blog post written by g3 co-chair Summer McAfee. 

Discovery Day returns as an in-person philanthropy education event. We’ll revisit St. Edward’s University, where we last met in 2020, within the Ragsdale Center, Mabee Ballroom A&B, at 3001 S. Congress Ave. Light refreshments will be served, and we hope that members will gather together at pop-up lunches afterward. Details will come soon on our webpage and blog, but you can register now! Discovery Day is free for members, and guests are welcome at $25 per person. 

Impact Austin’s last book club event was very popular, so our Member Connections team scheduled a second. We will be reading Lady Tan's Circle of Women. This gorgeous book is the latest historical novel from Lisa See and tells the story of a female physician from 15th-century China.

This is a "brown bag" event; bring your dinner and Impact Austin will provide the wine! The location is the Overture Apartments at 10600 Jollyville Rd. with plenty of parking in the Great Hills Baptist Church parking lot behind the Overture. Register for yourself and a friend who may be interested in Impact Austin.

The MLK Day of Service 2024 falls on January 15. You may be considering how to make a difference on Dr. King’s birthday or another day. Here’s an idea: each of our current Community Partners offers ways to support their work, both long- and short-term. See below some activities suitable for the MLK Day of Service: everything from online gifts, to one-day volunteer gigs, to creative opportunities, and much more. Click on our partners' names for details.

Austin Creative Reuse – materials donations

AVANCE-Austin – toy-making preparation and more

CASA of Travis County – gift card drive

Explore Austin – donate gear 

Friends of the Children Austin – birthday gift closet

Girlstart – skilled and unskilled volunteer opportunities all year long 

Keep Austin Fed – donate food (necessary protocols apply)

Latinitas – Amazon wish list still has items available

Literacy Coalition of Central Texas – one time volunteer gigs include materials prep, photography, event facilitation, and more

Magdalene House of Austin – merch supports their mission

The Other Ones Foundation – cold weather drive

Seedling Mentors – explore what it means to be a mentor and share the info with a friend or colleague

Urban Roots – public volunteering on Tuesdays and Saturdays 

Wonders and Worries (g3 awardee) – wish list

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! And don't forget to #JoinImpactAustin on your favorite social media sites!

Please "like" and "share" our posts! You'll 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 [email protected].