While we've all been watching for hints of warm weather to come and enjoying spring bulbs and the magnolia trees in bloom, our Focus Area Committees (FAC) have been busy. They're reviewing grant applications, looking for at least two innovative proposals that could have an impact on our community. They'll conduct site visits at those nonprofits in April, and then each FAC will select the nonprofit and program to represent their focus area.

There will only be four finalists this year. After much discussion the Environment Focus Area Committee decided not to request a full grant proposal from any of the proposals submitted to them. The committee carefully weighed the proposals against our eligibility requirements (you can review them at http://www.impact100indy.org/grants/eligibility/), and determined that none of this year's proposals to their committee met them.  The committee members, some of whom work for or have worked for nonprofits, felt it would be unfair to ask an organization to go to the effort and cost of submitting a full proposal if the project was not eligible. Because this was unprecedented, the FAC Chair consulted with the Grant Co-Chairs and myself, and after a review we agreed with the committee's decision. While it's disappointing not to have an Environment finalist, the actions of the FAC prove our process is unbiased and our members take their responsibilities seriously.