Dear Members and Friends,

The 2012 grant cycle is now fully under way, with a record number of letters of inquiry (LOIs) received earlier this month. Volunteers are currently reading the LOIs independently, and will meet in small groups by early February to decide which organizations to invite to submit full proposals in Impact100's five focus areas.

 

This year we've used a new paperless system for LOI applications, with digital files submitted by email. We hope it was more efficient for the applicants; we know it was more environmentally-friendly!

 

Anita Lockhart and I are the board members who guide the grants process from the time LOIs are submitted until the grantees are chosen in June. Anita focuses on the role of Impact members in proposal review. She manages the training and evaluation process and works closely with the Focus Area Committee Chairs to ensure the grant process runs smoothly. My role centers on the applicants, informing them about the Impact100 grant opportunity and communicating with them throughout the year. I also work with the board to monitor the progress and success of our past grants.

 

Already, the LOI pool includes many awe-inspiring organizations and exciting projects. We look forward to the months ahead!

 

Judith Harkins, Grants Co-Chair 

Last Wednesday evening, more than 60 members gathered at Friends' Central School on the western edge of Philadelphia for a Focus Area Committee Training Workshop to learn about Impact100's grant process.  Nearly all in attendance plan to be part of a FAC this spring.

Impact100's 2011 project grantee, the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children, submitted a second interim grant report in December.  To date, Impact has paid $60,000 of the project grant.  The remaining $40,000 will be paid in two installments in the spring and summer.

WePAC's stated goal in its Impact100 proposal was to open three to five new school libraries during the year, and serve 2,200 children.  It has already reached that goal, opening five libraries to date, and serving 2,240 children.  Furthermore, WePAC has increased library service hours at two schools opened in previous years, and updated and expanded book collections at each of its libraries.  As a result of the Impact100 grant, 50 additional classes are now visiting a library, checking out books, and gaining exposure to the pleasures of reading.

David Florig speaking at Samuel Gompers School library last June

The newspaper clubs that were up and running last year in four middle schools continue to thrive.  The clubs not only hone students' writing skills, but also empower kids to address local issues and represent students' interests in their communities.  In one school, students' newspaper pieces were used as writing samples in a language arts class for younger children.

Besides the faster than expected library openings, there have been no significant variances in timeline or budget from WePAC's Impact100 proposal.  Director David Florig said the organization's biggest challenge is meeting the needs of a growing list of schools asking for library services.  If the necessary staff and volunteers can be identified, WePAC hopes to open additional libraries during the remainder of the grant period.

On a broad scale, Florig wrote that the Impact grant has enabled WePAC "to do additional outreach at school and community events, to discuss our programs and childhood literacy issues, to recruit and train potential volunteers and partners, and to provide resources to our communities."