In 2006, IMPACT 100 Owensboro began as an organization that combines donations from a minimum of 100 members and gives large grants to non-profit organizations selected by its members. The only membership requirements are to be female and to donate $1,000 each year, although a half membership may be acquired by contributing $500.
The organization has grown tremendously and two founding board members have found new roles within the organization that provides the opportunity for women to make an impact in Owensboro.
Joy Carroll, an active member of IMPACT 100 for all 13 years, who also served on the IMPACT 100 board of directors for seven years, has begun a new role within the organization — serving with the next generation of women philanthropists, known as NextGen.
Using the example of IMPACT 100 of Austin, Tx., which started Girls Giving Grants (G3) in 2006, Carroll and other IMPACT members began thinking of ways to invite the younger generations into philanthropy — specifically her oldest daughter, Merrie Katherine Allen.
“I grew up watching my mom volunteer in our community, whether it is was for my school, church or the Junior League. I followed her lead and now I want my girls to follow mine,” Carroll said. “IMPACT 100 NextGen is the perfect opportunity for that. And, as a bonus, it gives my girls and me a place to serve and to give together.”
Junior Mary Grace Hemingway said that she has always been surrounded by generous, empowered women. Her mother, Sara Hemingway, also a founding board member of IMPACT 100 Owensboro, helped in the creation of NextGen.
“After discovering more about this women’s giving circle and their collective philanthropic power, I instantly
wanted to be involved; the only issue was I was too young to participate,” Mary Grace said.
So, instead of waiting to join IMPACT 100, Mary Grace and her mother were inspired to join in the launch of Impact 100 Next Generation.
Mary Grace enlisted a core committee of high-school-aged women and IMPACT 100 Owensboro members to create a mission statement for their purpose:
“IMPACT 100 Next Generation will strive to cultivate a new generation of informed and passionate philanthropists and provide an opportunity for young women to become invested in the IMPACT 100 Owensboro model of transforming lives in our community through high-impact and lifelong giving.”
Members of NextGen contribute $100 to be a member, but those that desire to be a member and cannot afford it are provided the membership fee through local sponsorships.
Each year, members meet for four grant review sessions where NextGen members study grant applications — 13 this year — from local non-profits.
During these sessions, IMPACT 100 members were impressed with the teens civility and ability to debate effectively.
“These young ladies are smart and inquisitive. They are treated with respect because they are so respectful,” Carroll said. “Teenagers are so often viewed as selfish, but there is nothing selfish about these ladies when they get together as NextGen members. They are poised, passionate, curious, engaged and committed to making a difference. It is a lovely thing to behold.”
In the first year of NextGen there were 35 members, which allowed a $3,500 grant to Hospice of Western Kentucky to create a book describing the grief process to be given, along with a teddy bear friend, to children experiencing the loss of a loved one.
In the second year, NextGen grew to 102 members and provided a $10,200 grant to OASIS, a shelter for domestic violence victims, to build a playground for resident children.
Put into perspective, this past year, G3 (in Austin) gave their largest grant of $8,200. And Owensboro, in its second year, gave a grant of $10,200.
“Can you imagine continuing to grow and be able to give even larger grants?” Carroll said. “It is remarkable, really.”
Carroll has also had the opportunity to share this experience with her daughter, Merrie Katherine Allen. Although Allen jokes that her mom did not give her a choice on being involved in NextGen, she sees the importance of being involved in her community and think about others.
“Being involved has given me an insight on how to help people,” Allen said. “This is my base, and I hope to grow from here. And this is who my mom is, and I want to follow her example. I’m excited to carry and continue her legacy.”
Mary Grace sees the value of the lifelong skills she had learned as a founder of NextGen, from how to conduct meetings to improving her public speaking skills.
“During grant review sessions, I became proficient in respectful discourse and honed my critical thinking,” Mary Grace said. “Most significantly this process taught me that although I support organizations individually, there is a greater strength in collective philanthropy.”
Carroll echoes Mary Grace’s sentiments in how the collective experience adds to their character by helping them develop their own passions & beliefs.
“I love watching them become empowered,” Carroll said. “I want to continue to see young ladies meeting and learning from leaders in our community so that they, too, can become leaders for communities who are fortunate enough to have them in their midst. This is not only a gift to Owensboro-Daviess County. It is a gift to any community to which any one of our NextGen ladies may one day become a part.”
Allen says that it has been easy to get girls her age involved.
“Once they know about it, they are immediately interested,” Allen said.
She also noticed that community non-profits want to connect to the next generation and the women of NextGen want to learn from them.
“It is fun to be with your friends and think about other people, not just ourselves,” Allen said. “It’s fun to talk about how we are all making a difference.”
Carroll, whose daughter Julianna will be part of NextGen for 2019, hopes the members continue to demonstrate empathy for others.
“This is another example of their looking beyond themselves,” Carroll said.
