Impact100 Philadelphia

Posted by on December 05, 2010

Impact100 Philadelphia Announces 2011 Grant Cycle
Deadline: January 10, 2011 (Letters of Inquiry)

The goal of Impact100 Philadelphia is to provide high-impact grants that reach underserved populations, raise the profile of deserving but lesser-known organizations, and highlight unmet needs in the region. Each year, the grant program’s funding is determined by the number of women who join as members and donate $1,000 toward the grant pool.

Applicants must be tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations located in the Pennsylvania counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia, or in the county of Camden, New Jersey, and have been in operation at least thirty-six months prior to applying for a grant. Impact100 will give preference to applicants that have annual operating budgets below $5 million, have limited access to large grants, do not have the resources of larger nonprofits, and are lesser-known organizations.

To be eligible for a project grant, projects must fit within one of the following focus areas: Arts and Culture — projects working to develop greater cultural and artistic opportunities and improve participation in the arts or arts education; Education — projects working to improve educational opportunities for children and/or adults; Environment — projects working to foster the connection between people and the environment, including stewardship and enhancement of physical or natural surroundings; Family — projects working to strengthen and enhance the lives of children and families; and Health and Wellness — projects working to improve the mental and/or physical well-being of people. Projects must serve residents of and expend funds fully in the eligible geographic areas; be a new program, an expansion of an existing program, or a new or expanded collaboration; have a total project budget of at least $100,000 (up to 15 percent of the Impact100 project grant may be allocated to organizational overhead expenses); and expend funds within fifteen months. Priority will be given to projects that target underserved populations, highlight unmet needs in the region, and aim to have a high impact on beneficiaries.

In 2009, Impact100 Philadelphia had 111 members and awarded a project grant of $111,000. In 2010, the organization changed its grant policy to cap any future project grant at $100,000 and to award excess funds above $100,000 in the form of general operating grants. The group’s 139 members in 2010 voted to award one project grant of $100,000 and a total of $39,000 in two operating grants.

Visit the Impact100 Philadelphia Web site for program information and details on previous grant recipients. Complete guidelines for the 2011 grant cycle will be available for download on or before December 13, 2010.

http://impact100philly.org/grant-applicants/overview/