For the first time in its 20-year history, Impact100 Owensboro will award three $100,000 grants this year. The organization, which typically awards two such grants annually, is using investment earnings from a fund established in 2009 to make the extra award possible.
Impact100 is still recruiting members to maximize its giving potential, with each $1,000 contribution helping fund these transformational grants. President Beth Clements said more members are needed to ensure they reach their $200,000 goal for the standard grants, with the additional award pushing the total beyond $300,000.
“In 2009, thanks to some very generous donations from our members, community supporters, and friends of Impact, we were able to start a development fund to ensure the future of Impact100 Owensboro,” Clements said. “Our board of directors created an investment committee to oversee and manage these funds diligently, ensuring they would be used appropriately for years to come.”
Clements credited the fund’s success to careful oversight by the investment committee, guidance from Edward Jones advisor Katie Kolonich, and a favorable market.
“We are beyond excited that in honor of our 20th anniversary, we can offer a one-time, additional grant of $100,000,” she said. “We want all of our members and community supporters to understand that the funds for this grant are 100% from the dividends and earnings from these donations. The original donations made are still in the development fund.”
The additional grant will be awarded alongside the organization’s traditional grants, with members voting on all recipients at the annual meeting in October.
“Because the mission of Impact100 is to award transformational grants, our board of directors felt strongly that our 20th anniversary was the time to put those dividend dollars toward our mission,” Clements said.
Grant applications will open soon, with focus groups reviewing submissions over the summer before finalists are selected to present at the annual meeting.
For more information or to become a member, visit Impact100 Owensboro’s website.
