For questions regarding Impact100’s guidelines or process, you may email us. To be fair, we do not communicate with prospective applicants except to answer specific questions about our guidelines or application process.
How should I submit my Application?
Applications are submitted online. See the How to Apply page for application instructions and important dates.
Can you give us guidance on which Focus Area is appropriate for our application?
Out of a desire to be as fair as possible to all applicants, we do not provide advice about selecting a Focus Area. Each organization must make that decision for itself. We recommend that applicants determine the Focus Area that best aligns with the nature and emphasis of their organization’s mission.
Who can we contact to discuss our grant application?
For technical questions regarding our online application, please contact SlideRoom.
Does our organization need to have our own 501(c)(3) to apply for an Impact100 grant?
Organizations that are a local chapter of a national nonprofit can provide evidence the funds are controlled locally, usually with a bank account in the name of the local entity. Impact100 Philadelphia does not accept grant applications from organizations that operate under the 501(c)(3) of a fiscal sponsor.
How are your grant amounts and grantees determined?
Impact100’s grants each year depend on the number of women who join. Annually in mid-December (after the membership deadline November 15), Impact100 announces its funding total and the distribution of general operating grants up to $100,000 to be awarded the following June. Grantees are announced at the Annual Meeting in June, as determined by the vote of the membership.
Will you consider a proposal from a group of organizations collaborating together?
Yes. One of the collaborating organizations must be the “lead organization,” applying on behalf of the collaboration. The lead organization must be willing to take on all the potential rights, responsibilities, restrictions and liabilities of the grant, if it is received.
How does Impact100 Philadelphia decide who gets the grants?
We accept applications in five Focus Areas. Each Focus Area has a committee(s) of Impact100 members who review and evaluate applications. Some organizations will receive invitations to host site visits. Ultimately, a group of organizations are selected as Focus Area finalists.
Impact100 members review finalists’ proposals and presentations and cast a ranked choice vote. All finalists receive either a $100,000 or smaller grant, based on the outcome of members’ votes, and announced at the Annual Meeting in June.
What is the funding period for your grants?
Impact100 Philadelphia’s funding period for each grant is 24 months.
Your guidelines indicate you will not fund capital campaigns. Will you fund capital expenditures as part of a proposal?
Yes, our grants may be applied toward capital expenditures that are related to the core mission of an organization.
Once an organization receives a grant from Impact100 Philadelphia, can it reapply the following year?
Organizations that receive a $100,000 grant from Impact100 are not eligible to apply for the next three grant cycles. All other organizations, including those that receive smaller operating grants, may reapply the following year.
What kind of communication can we expect from Impact100 Philadelphia during this process?
Impact100 notifies applicants at each stage of the process, even if they are not invited to host a site visit or become a finalist.
Will the grant be paid in a lump sum?
Impact100 distributes $100,000 Operating Grants in installments established in a formal grant agreement written in consultation with the grantee. Our most common distribution is three installments paid over the 24-month grant period. Impact100 distributes its smaller operating grants in one or two payments (depending on the amount of the award that year) during the 6 months following the Annual Meeting.