Impact 100 SRQ Announces 5 High-Impact Grant Finalists

Impact 100 SRQ, a group of local women philanthropists committed to high impact strategic grant making, announced the five finalists that will compete for two $114,000 grants at the inaugural Impact 100 SRQ annual meeting and awards celebration on Nov. 3 at Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club. 

More than 200 Impact 100 SRQ founding members, friends, corporate supporters, non-profits and community leaders gathered on Tues., Oct. 15 to meet the five local non-profit finalists vying for $228,000 in grants for community changing projects.

The 2019 finalists are:

Arts & Culture:  The Venice Institute for Performing Arts / VIP Arts Academy Phase III

Education:  The Haven / Selby Preschool Expansion to Accommodate More Children 

Environment & Recreation:  Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast / Next Gen Conservation

Family:  Mothers Helping Mothers, Inc. / Mothers Helping Mothers is Expecting!

Health & Wellness:  Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center, Inc. / Therapeutic Privacy Landscaping / SPARCC Shelter

After a stringent, organized and member driven review of all grant applications, founding members selected a finalist in each category.  The final vote to select the two high-impact grant recipients will take place at the annual meeting and grant award celebration Sunday, Nov. 3. Each finalist will deliver a 10-minute presentation to the Impact 100 SRQ membership. Following the presentations, members will cast their live vote and the two $114,000 grant recipients will be announced immediately.

“It’s incredible that 228 women have come together in our first year to collectively fund not just one, but two $114,000 grants supporting new, life-changing initiatives in our community,” said Jane Watt, Impact 100 SRQ chapter president.   “Impact 100 SRQ women give individually so we can collectively impact our community.”

“Through this collective giving,” Watt continues, “Impact 100 SRQ members demonstrate leadership and comradery as we cultivate community transformation together.  The only thing that would make this better is for more women to join this powerful new way of giving as one in 2020, allowing us to support more non-profits doing amazing work in our community.”

About Impact 100 SRQ:  The Impact 100 SRQ model is simple, effective and impactful.  1. At least 100 women; 2. Each donates $1,000; 3. Grants are dispersed in increments of at least $100,000; 4. Committees review non-profit grant applications, perform site visits, finalist(s) are chosen; 5. Finalists present grant application projects, members vote; 6. $100,000 Impact 100 SRQ grant(s) are awarded; 7. 100% of the $1,000 member donations are given directly to the local charity. 

Impact 100 SRQ has no paid employees or staff, so 100% of each member’s annual contribution of $1,000 is awarded to non-profit organizations in grants of $100,000 or more. Operational costs are kept to a minimum and funded voluntarily by members and corporate supporters. For 2020 membership, ongoing sponsorship or community partnership details visit www.impact100SRQ.org.