Our annual membership year runs from March 1 to February 28. Membership donations of $1,100 received annually by the close of membership on February 28 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 the Visioning process, in which members of the Visioning Committee work with nonprofits to brainstorm big ideas and fine tune grant applications. Grant applications are then submitted by December 1. These are reviewed by a Reading Table comprising grant committee members to make sure they meet our basic criteria. Next, applications are presented to the board of directors for approval to move forward to the Grant Review Panels.

From December 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 Annual Meeting 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 February 28.

Members in Good Standing may vote either online or in person at the Annual Meeting held in April. Packets with grant project summaries and annual meeting information are emailed 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 Annual Meeting. 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 February 28 is for the current year’s grant-making cycle, which concludes when grants are announced at the annual meeting in April. Members decide each year whether to renew their membership.

Evergreen Members pledge to renew their membership year after year. There is no further obligation than your annual membership dues. Simply check the appropriate box on the Impact 100 IR membership application and set up a form of automatic payment.

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 February 28. If you would like to be more involved, you may join a Grant Review Panel 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.