Five local nonprofits will receive a total of $267,000 in grant money during Thursday’s annual Impact 100 meeting. This marks the 16th year and the largest grant cycle to date for Impact 100, which has awarded more than $3.5 million back into the community since 2016.
This year, there will be two $100,000 grants and two $28,250 residual grants awarded by Impact 100. Impact 100 NextGen will also award a single $11,000 grant. NextGen is awarding a grant for the fifth year.
During Thursday’s meeting at 5 p.m., Impact 100’s members will come together virtually and in person at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum.
Each finalist — announced last month — will offer a 7-minute presentation about their organization and related project. Members were be able to read about each organization and project in advance of the annual meeting.
After the presentation, voting will be held electronically and tallied immediately. Recipients of all five grants, including the NextGen grant, will be then announced.
IMPACT 100 Owensboro is a community of women that “seeks to transform lives in the Greater Owensboro area through high-impact and life-long giving,” according to a release. One hundred percent of the membership dollars goes directly to local nonprofits through the annual grants.
Impact NextGen is the philanthropy organization for teenage girls that is associated with Impact 100 Owensboro. In five years, they’ve given $48,500 to the community.
FINALISTS
Five nonprofits were named finalists for the two $100,000 grants:
- Western KY Botanical Gardens
Project: “Path of Hope & Healing” - Girls, Inc.
Project: “Getting Grounded and Safe” - St. Benedict’s Homeless Shelter
Project: “Living with Dignity” - Dream Rider’s
Project: “Happy Feet” - Daniel Pitino Shelter
No project name listed
Three nonprofits were named finalists for the two $28,250 grants:
- Owensboro Community & Technical College
Project: “Full Steam Ahead!” - Fresh Start for Women
Project: “Transformation of the Keller House” - Cliff Hagan Boys and Girls Club
Project: “Teen Center Expansion”
Two nonprofits were named finalists for one $11,000 NextGen grant:
- Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Kentucky
Project: “Children’s Grief and Healing: Caring Bears Book Series” - Kentucky Wesleyan College
Project: “Build a Bed”
“No matter what projects are chosen to receive grant funding, they are all winners in our community,” Impact 100 Director Linda Wahl said during the finalists announcement ceremony held at the Salvation Army, which was a 2019 grant recipient. “It is our hope, and it has happened many times in the past, that through Impact 100’s recognition, the community may see their value and step up to support their very important work.”
