Impact100 is a community of women seeking to transform lives in the Owensboro area. The primary way they do this is through collective giving.
The concept is simple: 100 women donate $1,000 to provide a $100,000 grant. Since forming in 2005, the nonprofit has given away over 4.1 million dollars to 38 nonprofits in Owensboro.
“We want to increase our membership numbers because we have organizations in our community that we need to be funded,” said President Beth Clements. “Each year, we receive worthwhile grants; however, we only have the membership dollars to fund a few.”
Impact100 is part of a global organization with over 70 chapters worldwide.
Clements said they take pride in what they’ve done so far but constantly ask each other, “How can we do more?” Every year, grants for programs and necessities go unfunded, and the nonprofit wants to change that.
“How do we get more women involved? How can we show them the passion, the need, the determination of the nonprofits in our community who are making this a better place to live for every citizen in our community?” She said.
Membership doesn’t require a special invitation. Anyone can join by going to impact100.org.
“Our goal is to have over 300 members this year,” Clements said. “We offer half memberships for $500, so it will take over 300 women coming together to award 3 $100,000 grants this October, which is part of the goal.”
The membership drive ends March 31, but members have until August to pay their pledge. Clements and her team hope, through their shared goal of community change, that members will utilize their strength in numbers to make a positive difference.
“Every woman who donates has the opportunity to serve on a focus group to review grant applications, to go on site visits, and vote for where our collective dollars go,” she said. “However, there are no mandatory meetings or events.”
