Impact100 Spark the Leadbelt
Women have the power to transform their communities through collective giving. That’s where we come in.
The Impact100 Model
The Impact100 model was created by Wendy Steele in 2001 in Cincinnati in response to feeling as though women’s roles in philanthropy needed a new way to be expanded and encouraged. The model is designed to empower women to see themselves as philanthropists and overcome the barriers women have historically faced in this arena. The Impact100 model is designed for transformational grant-making within local communities, with a minimum grant size of $100,000. The concept is simple, but profound.
How it Works
The annual $1,000 donation of each Impact100 Spark the Leadbelt member is pooled together with the donations of other members to create a grant fund to be given away to nonprofit organizations serving the counties of St. Francois, Madison, Iron and Washington. Impact100 Spark the Leadbelt has no paid staff, so 100% of each member’s annual contribution of $1,000 goes directly into the grant pool with no deductions for overhead or administrative costs. The number and size of grants awarded each year are dependent on our membership, but our goal is to give incremental grants of $100,000 annually. Grant amounts are announced in the Fall at the Big Reveal event, commencing our grants cycle. Nonprofit finalists are chosen by grant committees through a competitive application process, and grants are awarded based on a membership vote at our annual meeting. Every woman who gives $1,000 or more has one vote.
