Environment FAC gathers to discuss grant proposals

This week, Impact members learned the names of the five grant finalists culled from a record number of grant proposals submitted by Philly-area nonprofit organizations earlier this year.  It’s an exciting time of year especially because 2012 marks the first time that members will award $100,000 each to two organizations for their proposed projects.  The remaining three organizations will split $42,000 in operating grants, for a grant total of $242,000 to be awarded at the Annual Meeting on June 4.  In four short years (Impact was founded in 2008), Impact will have awarded $656,000 to the Philly nonprofit community.  It’s an extraordinary accomplishment!

The announcement this week brought to a close weeks of reviewing, analyzing and discussing 39 grant proposals chosen from 203 applicants that submitted Letters of Inquiry in January.  Focus Area Committees (Arts & Culture, Education, Environment, Family and Health & Wellness) chose 18 organizations to visit and finally, one  organization to present its project to the full membership at the Annual Meeting.  Following presentations, members will vote to award grants and the winners announced.

Read about each grant finalist on our News page. Members, watch for details and summaries about the finalists in your inbox soon.  If you haven’t already done so, plan to celebrate and cast your vote at the Annual Meeting, 6-9 pm, June 4, World Cafe Live in Philadelphia!

Arts & Culture members attend a site visit above and Health & Wellness members discuss proposals at a meeting below

Watch for an announcement on May 15 to see the five finalists and their proposed projects!

Finalist representatives at the 2011 Annual Meeting last June.

Heston Principal Icilyn Wilson-Greene helps Cassidy students cut ribbon at new library

The West Philadelphia Alliance for Children had new reason to celebrate this week:  The recipient of Impact’s 2011 project grant re-opened its 12th public school library Wednesday, to excited applause from students, state leaders, WePAC staff and board, volunteers, and the media.

“This is a great celebration of books, reading and literacy,” said David Florig, WePAC executive director, speaking over the chatter of a class visiting the new library.  WePAC’s goal?  Make reading fun and books accessible to all kids.  The 12 re-opened libraries are supported and operated entirely by WePAC volunteers, and without more of them, additional libraries can’t open, Florig said.  “We have an extensive waiting list of schools.”

State leaders heaped praise on WePAC for is efforts. “All young people deserve to have this kind of space.  It’s like an oasis,” said State Rep. James R. Roebuck Jr.  Unfortunately, government cuts have forced many library closings, Roebuck said, and he thanked “all those who have stepped in to fill the gap.”  WePAC has donated 33,000 books to the 12 libraries; an average of 2,600 are in circulation monthly.  Research has shown that regular library visits help kids to achieve in school, as well as inspire a lifelong love of reading, said Jeff Lambert, WePAC’s library leader at Heston.

In addition to local media on the scene Wednesday, four 5th and 6th graders from Lewis Cassidy School came to write a story.  Cassidy donated hundreds of books to the Heston library and the students are members of a school newspaper club recently founded by WePAC at Cassidy.  The students plan a story in the next edition of the Cassidy Times. WePAC runs three other newspaper clubs as well.

What has struck him most in his work is the sheer number of people in the Philadelphia region living in deprivation and the hundreds of others “wearing themselves out trying to help,” he said.  Moreover, people harbor — and express through letters and emails to Lubrano — intense negative feelings about the poor, as if living in poverty is their fault, he said.  “There is a deep American anger toward the poor.”

“The single-hardest thing to do in this country is rise out of poverty,” he said, pointing out that despite what many believe, little fraud exists in Pennsylvania’s welfare system, safety nets aren’t working and ‘monthly’ food stamps last only three weeks, leaving many parents skipping meals so children can eat.

A former NPR commentator, Lubrano also is author of the book, Limbo:  Blue Collar Roots, White Collar Dreams. Stay tuned:  A more comprehensive story on Lubrano’s talk will be published in our Impact newsletter later this month.

Guests mingle at Free Library before talk begins

Lubrano addresses members and guests

Guest Laura Boyce (left) and member Michele Frank speak to Lubrano after talk

Audience at Free Library as Deborah Correll of Impact (at distant podium), introduces Lubrano

In yesterday’s Philadelphia Inquirer (2/1), Carolyn Davis wrote about the growing phenomenon of giving circles, locally and nationally, and highlights Impact100 Philadelphia’s contribution to the trend.

Davis points out that although collective giving is not a new concept, many of today’s giving circles have evolved from a basic model into groups with diverse memberships that target a variety of issues.  Moreover, the giving circle not only helps its members to become aware of charitable causes, but also helps them to become engaged citizens in their communities.

Read the full article about the giving circle trend here.

With a record number of letters of inquiry received, Impact100 kicked off the 2012 grant evaluation process. Applicants will be notified in early February if they are invited to submit a full proposal and Focus Area Committee members are gearing up for the evaluation process which runs through the spring.  Last week, members attended a training workshop to review Impact’s funding priorities and learn how to evaluate proposals.

Impact100 provides an opportunity for individual women to collectively fund high-impact grants and find out about the good work being done by nonprofits in the Philadelphia region.  Every member will be able to vote to determine how $242,000 in funding will be awarded when this year’s grant cycle concludes at the June annual meeting.

Members Toby Gang & Julia Golden at the training workshop

Impact members evaluating a mock proposal

Last week, a range of local and regional websites picked up Impact’s press release about the grant opportunity and the news that two large $100,000 grants will be awarded next year.  We welcome applications from any eligible nonprofit organization.  Letters of Inquiry are due on January 9th, and details about funding priorities and application guidelines are on our website.  New this year:  Applicants will submit Letters of Inquiry electronically.

Nonprofits interested in applying for the Impact grant can review eligibility requirements and access the application on our website.  Letters of Inquiry are due in early January and the grant review process concludes in June with the awarding of five grants.  

By the end of the current grant cycle, the fourth since its inception in 2008, Impact100 will have awarded over $650,000 to 14 organizations in the Philadelphia region.

Focus Area Committee members Kathy Echternach and Wendie Broker reviewing proposals last year for the Family FAC.

Last night’s audience also heard 2010 Impact grantee Jessica Franzini of the New Jersey Tree Foundation offer additional observations about what the Impact grant has meant to NJTF.  Noting that Impact targets nonprofits which are often “overlooked and out-competed,” Jessica reported that the $100,000 Impact grant “got NJTF on the radar.”  The grant raised the profile of NJTF, deepened its relationship with Camden Mayor Dana Redd and forged a partnership with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the Delaware Center of Horticulture to launch the Plant One Million Trees initiative.

To be part of the 2012 grants that Impact will award next June, become a member by December 1, 2011.

Guest speaker Larry Eichel

NJTF's Jessica Franzini, Impact Co-president Ellan Bernstein & Programs Chair Deborah Correll