We are excited about our 4th grant-making year.  We look forward to increasing Impact100's membership and funding to the greater Philadelphia nonprofit community, while continuing to offer practical grant-making experience and interesting educational opportunities. 

In three years, Impact100 has provided more than $400,000 in grants to the greater Philadelphia community.  We thank those of you who have already joined Impact100 for the 2012 grant year.  We also appreciate the operating funds you've included over and above your membership donation.

The key to increasing Impact100's funding to local nonprofits is you.  Expanding membership depends on the efforts of all of us to introduce friends and colleagues to the experience of collective giving and to Impact100.  Here are some suggestions:

• Join or renew your membership today.
• Tell a friend or colleague about your experience and provide her with our membership forms.
• Bring a prospective member to an event this fall.
• Add a prospective member to our mailing list.

Ellan and Charlotte

Invitations went out earlier this month to Impact's Opening Reception, to celebrate the start of a new grant year. This is a wonderful chance for members to re-connect and meet new friends.  It is also a chance for women who know a lot or a little about Impact to come and learn more, and find out if our organization is a good fit for their interests.  Any and all are welcome, and feel free to bring friends!  To receive an invitation to this free event, please email us.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

7 to 9 pm

Bala Golf Club, Philadelphia  

Jessica Franzini and   volunteer Sheila Roberts

New Jersey Tree Foundation, the 2010 project grant recipient, submitted its final grant report to Impact in August.  NJTF's Jessica Franzini reiterated the original project goals:

• Plant 250 trees and 1,200 shrubs and perennials in Camden from June 2010 to September 2011.
• Engage 500 residents and volunteers in hands-on tree plantings.
• Host at least five planting projects throughout Camden to reach as many communities as possible.  

And then she cited the actual results, which surpassed expectations on every level:

NJTF planted 345 trees and 1,287 shrubs/perennials in Camden. These projects greened streets, beautified gardens and created community-shared open space throughout the city. This work engaged over 1,000 volunteers in nearly 20 planting projects. 

Interviewed last week, Jessica said, "The Impact grant and Mayor Dana Redd coming to the 2010 grant presentation boosted awareness of NJTF's programs.  Comcast Newsmakers featured us twice, and that was completely because of Impact100.  Volunteers reached out to us because of seeing us on TV.  We also had a wonderful cover story written about us in the Courier Post."  She added, "We're small....We've always been good on the ground, working in communities, but not so good at advertising our program.  Impact100 made it easy for us to expand our outreach.  The grant was such a big deal." 

To read Jessica's full report, see the Grant Recipients section of the website.

Volunteer Event:

NJTF invites Impact members to a planting day on Saturday morning, October 22nd.  

Volunteers prepare hole for new tree last fall

Sheila Roberts, who spoke at the 2010 Annual Meeting, is transforming a blighted space at 7th and Newton Streets into a garden and gathering space for the Cooper Lanning community.

Join the planting day!  NJTF provides tools, water, training - and welcomes children ages 4 and up as long as they're supervised.  Email us by  October 1 if you're interested, so that we can give Jessica an idea of our group's size. 

Coming next month:   

WePAC opens 5 new school libraries with 2011 Impact funding! 

Interviewed by Beth Dahle

Who she is:

Beth grew up in Cinnaminson, New Jersey, but now
lives in Lower Merion with her husband and two sons. After beginning her career as a lawyer, Beth became a consultant with The Camp Experts and Teen Summers, providing free guidance on summer camps, teen travel, academics and internships. A long-time community supporter, Beth has volunteered with many organizations including Art Goes to School, where she met Impact board member Wendy Peck.  Beth joined in 2009 after attending an event hosted by member Sharon Taffet.

Why she joined Impact:

Knowing that 100 percent of her donation would go to the grants was key to Beth's decision to join. By the Annual Meeting in June 2010, she was hooked. She realized that Impact was providing a valuable opportunity to smaller organizations, and found it "incredibly uplifting to be reminded of the bigger world around us and how good it feels to help others." She said she especially appreciates Impact's flexibility regarding her level of involvement - that she can come to events if it suits her schedule but is not obligated to attend if time does not permit.   

What her experience has meant:

Based on her Impact experience, Beth has refined her personal giving strategy, and now looks more closely at an organization's mission and stated outcomes. She concentrates her giving on fewer organizations "rather than making scattershot donations to dozens of causes." This philosophy has extended to Impact, as Beth has made several unrestricted donations toward operating costs (such as auditor's fees) to honor family and friends on their birthdays or as memorial donations.   Beth likes the idea that "even small donations can become something big for a charity the size of Impact."

Want to share your membership experience?   

Email members@impact100philly.org.