Impact100 South Jersey, a collective women’s giving fund at Community Foundation of South Jersey, awarded its first grant to Hopeworks ‘N Camden at the group’s Annual Meeting on June 26 at Tavistock Country Club. Hopeworks will receive $74,000 to further its mission of partnering with young men and women as they identify and earn a sustainable future for their communities.
During the Impact100 annual meeting, members heard from Hopeworks and CASA For Children of Mercer and Burlington Counties, which were the finalists from among the 23 organizations that began the grant review process in January. Following presentations from the finalists, the members voted in keeping with their one-member-one-vote model. Hopeworks ‘N Camden emerged as an organization that will receive the inaugural Impact100 South Jersey grant.
The annual meeting was the culmination of a year-long cycle that began with recruiting Impact100 members last fall. That was followed by a thorough, member-driven grant review process throughout the spring. Last fall’s recruitment efforts yielded 74 Charter Members who each contributed $1,000. The combine contributions of $74,000 will fund the Hopeworks grant.
“This has been an incredibly exciting thing to watch. South Jersey women eagerly came together to support the needs of people in our community,” said Leadership Council co-president Nancy Weber of Haddonfield. “When we heard about the Impact100 model, we were certain the time was right for South Jersey. Our goal is to double our membership during our fall 2018 drive so we can award at least $150,000 to organizations dedicated to serving our region.”
Impact100 is a global women’s collective giving initiative that combines the financial resources, expertise and talents of local women who want to be part of transformative philanthropy in their communities. There are dozens of Impact100s throughout the United States and several more in Australia. The model is simple: Every year, each member contributes $1,000 in an effort to raise enough for a $100,000 grant. Volunteer members then vet local organizations that apply for the grant.
Impact100 South Jersey supports nonprofit organizations in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Cumberland Counties. They are currently accepting new members for the 2019 grant year. The deadline for membership is December 15, 2018. Fall information sessions will begin in September.
Visit impact100sj.org or email info@impact100sj.org to learn more and to sign up for email alerts.