Impact 100 Profile

Cincinnati, Ohio

Snapshot:
Impact 100, an independent 501(c)3 organization dedicated to improving Greater Cincinnati by collectively funding significant grants to charitable initiatives, was founded by Wendy Hushak in the fall of 2001 after she spent the summer brainstorming an idea to become more engaged in rewarding charity. Her concept was simple: recruit 100 women to give $1,000 each to make meaningful contributions in the greater Cincinnati area. By fall, Hushak had recruited a 15 member board looking to attract additional donors across socioeconomic, racial and ethnic spectrums. Hushak notes that one of her goals was to broaden and modernize the idea of philanthropy for women.

The concept was immediately successful and a year later membership totaled 123 and Impact 100 made its first grant in the amount of $123,000 to the The first grant went to the McMicken Dental Clinic through the Greater Cincinnati Oral Health Council, which provides dental care to the needy. In year two the group attracted 184 donors.

Donors to the foundation may choose to pay their obligation and do nothing more until the October Annual Meeting. Or, they may choose to be involved in one of the five focus areas: culture, environment, education, health and wellness, and family. A board member chairs each focus area, and that board member and a committee of members requests and evaluates proposals from non-profit agencies in the Greater Cincinnati area.

After research, site visits, and other necessary due diligence, each committee narrows their choice to one deserving agency. Each focus area's selected agency is represented at the organization’s Annual Meeting, where members listen to presentations from each Committee and their chosen non-profit and vote for the organization they deem most worthy of support.

Mission:
Impact 100 is an organization of women committed to dramatically improving lives throughout the Greater Cincinnati community by collectively funding significant grants to charitable initiatives and increasing philanthropy in our community.

Financial Commitment:
$1,000 a year

Number of Participants:
Impact 100 functions at minimum threshold of 100 donors, in 2004 they had 211 members.

How the Circle Functions:
Every dollar donated by the members is passed on directly in the grants. Administrative expenses are covered by interest earned on the collective fund, “friends of” gifts of less than $1000 and corporate gifts. In 2004 the organization passed the $200,000 level, so two $105,000 grants were awarded.

Future Ambitions:
The group continues to pursue its charitable goals, hoping ultimately to reach the 500 member mark so that they can annually support a cause in each of the five program areas.