Our annual membership year runs from April 1 to March 31. Membership donations of $1,100 received annually by the close of membership on March 31 determine the total funding for that grant-making cycle. Of the $1,000 portion of your contribution, 100% is combined with those of other members to create $100,000 grants. The additional $100 helps offset our administrative expenses, such as salaries, insurance, web site hosting, printing, stamps, and other expenses. All fees, including those paid to cover credit card fees, are tax deductible. Our tax ID number is 83-1598994.

Impact 100 IR reviews grant requests from nonprofit organizations serving Indian River County that apply in one of five focus areas: Arts & Culture, Education, Children & Families, Environment, and Health & Wellness.

In addition, Impact 100 IR is specifically looking for:

Community Centered: The nonprofit operates in Indian River County and the awarded funds will be invested in the county to benefit those in our community.

Big Impact: They have a “big idea” that moves the organization to transform both the target population and the community at large.

Capable: They have the organizational strength and capacity to successfully administer a $100,000 grant.

Sustainable: They can support the project after the two-year funding period.

The rigorous grant-making process for Impact 100 IR is the gold standard in Indian River County. It starts with local nonprofits invited to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI). When the LOI passes the eligibility criteria, an LOI reviewer will meet with the nonprofit to review their project in more detail and provide any guidance needed. When the project completes this step successfully, they are invited to submit a grant application. The grant applications are then reviewed by financial analysts and grant panels. 

From November to March, members of Grant Review Panels read, review, and score grant applications, make site visits, and recommend which applicants move to the next phase of member voting, which is the Finalist Selection Panel. At this event, representatives from the grant review panels present the grants they wish to move forward to voting by the full membership. During this demanding review, grant panel chairs and the executive committee vote on the grants that will become finalists. The finalists are announced at the Meet the Finalist event in March. After this, members receive a packet of information about each project that has advanced to the final stage.

Lastly and most importantly, is the Grant Awards Ceremony where members vote. During this time each of the finalists gives a 5-minute presentation. Members then cast their votes to make the final selection of which nonprofits will receive the $100,000 grants. Each member gets one vote for each nonprofit based on the number of grants to be awarded.

Members in Good Standing may vote at the Annual Meeting in April.

A Member in Good Standing has paid the annual voting membership of $1,100 on or before the anniversary of when she joined or before the membership deadline of March 31.

Members in Good Standing may vote either online or in person at the Grant Awards Ceremony held in April. Grant project summaries and videos are available online beginning in March.

If I give more than $1,000, do I get more than one vote?

No. Our founding principle is “one woman, one vote.” Whether you donate $1,000 or $10,000, you have one vote to help select awardees of $100,000 Impact 100 grants. If you are feeling generous, please consider sponsoring a membership or an event.

The $100,000 grants are awarded to the nonprofits that receive the highest number of votes at the Grant Awards Ceremony. They are now our Community Partners, are under contract, and held accountable for spending these monies on the proposed projects within a two-year period.

Any remaining funds exceeding the number of $100,000 grants may be awarded as Merit Grants at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

A membership contribution received by March 31 is for the current year’s grant-making cycle, which concludes when grants are announced in April. Members decide each year whether to renew their membership.

Only two things are required to be a member: You must be a woman 21 or older, and you must make a membership contribution of $1,100 by March 31. If you would like to be more involved, you may join the Grants committee or one of various other committees; however, there is no expectation of members to participate beyond donating.

Men may support us in a number of ways including sponsoring a member, donating in memory of a member, and sponsoring an event.

Yes, we gratefully accept matching gifts if your employer has a charitable matching program.