Roberta Knickerbocker Jaggers is Vice President of the Indianapolis Public Library Foundation, which supports and enhances programs, services and facilities of The Indianapolis Public Library and its partnerships in lifelong learning initiatives that benefit a diverse community.

 

Roberta Knickerbocker Jaggers

Impact 100: When did you first hear about Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis? What were your first impressions?

 

Roberta Knickerbocker Jaggers: I heard about Impact 100 when the organization publicized its first round of grants. It was a bold, innovative venture that presented a great opportunity for area not-for-profit organizations.

 

Impact 100: What do you think people would find to be the most interesting thing about Impact 100?

 

Roberta: The women in Impact 100, particularly those who serve on Focus Area Committees, are REALLY INVESTED in their finalist organization. They dedicate their hearts and minds to the grant making process and helping their finalist succeed.

 

Impact 100: What first got you interested in pursuing a career in philanthropy?

 

Roberta: That's an interesting question, because it doesn't seem children aspire to be fundraisers when they grow up - the way they want to be teachers or doctors or firefighters. For the longest time, I thought I was destined to be a reading specialist and had planned to go to graduate school for teaching right after college. But, for some reason, it didn't seem right to plan for a lifetime in the classroom without experiencing the outside. So, I delayed my plans and took a job at a small not-for-profit organization in Poughkeepsie, NY called Dutchess Outreach. We served the poorest of the poor with emergency assistance for food, prescription medicines, and utility and rent payments. It was the most eye-opening year of my life, and it was there I discovered the profession of fundraising. One day, there was a fire drill and while everyone was outside, I approached a development officer from another agency in our building for advice. He encouraged me to attend what is now the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. So, that's the story of how I ended up in philanthropy and in Indiana.

 

Impact 100: What should people know about Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis?

 

Roberta: Because the concept of philanthropy can seem rather "high brow," it is important for potential members to know how welcoming and inclusive Impact 100 actually is. While the women of Impact share a commitment to making Indianapolis a better place through collective philanthropy, we are diverse in age, professional background, family life, experience in philanthropy and even financial capacity. While the membership fee of $1,000 is a lot for some of us, Impact is really committed to offering members a variety of options - ranging from paying the membership in installments, to joining a syndicate where a group of women split the membership fee and share a vote. In the past, the organization has also provided scholarships to seed young philanthropists. While the organization needs to raise enough to give away $100,000 each year, members are valued above all for their talent, time and enthusiasm.

 

This is a condensed version of the interview. See the complete interview on our blog.