WHO WE ARE
Impact Austin is an Austin-based women’s collective giving organization, funding Central Texas nonprofits that provide services in Bastrop, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties.
Our membership and leadership proudly reflect the many faces, cultures and walks of life that make up our society. We believe diversity helps us to better understand and address the issues facing our community.
Since 2003, Impact Austin has invested $9.45 million in Central Texas. This includes 140 high-impact grants benefiting 108 nonprofits and their clients.
Impact Austin members pool individual charitable donations and decide collectively how to award multiple strategic, high-impact grants.
We offer an accessible path to membership with three annual giving levels: $2,500, $1,250, or $625. We encourage each new and renewing member to choose the level that best aligns with her financial capacity and philanthropic goals — and to consider: How much impact do you wish to make?
As women with a passion for giving back, we believe
we are strongest when we learn, grow, and give together.
MISSION
Through the power of informed women’s collective giving, Impact Austin provides transformative grants to Central Texas nonprofit organizations that strengthen our community and improve lives.
VISION
An equitable, thriving Central Texas community advanced by collaborative women philanthropists.
VALUES
INCLUSIVITY
We welcome all women with a passion to learn about and contribute to the Central Texas community.
CURIOSITY
We listen to and learn from people with lived experience and those working to solve our community’s issues.
COLLABORATION
We work together to determine the distribution of our pooled funds and with other organizations to magnify our effectiveness.
IMPACT
We make grants that enable our community partners to meaningfully address community issues.
TRUST
We support the work of our community partners with respect and humility, and are guided by the principles of trust-based philanthropy.
COMMITMENT TO DEIB
Impact Austin acknowledges the harms committed through pervasive and systemic inequities such as racism, sexism, and classism. We are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in all our programming and practices, and we pledge to continue offering our members, partners, and the public learning opportunities that aim to both illuminate and reduce inequities. We recognize that our commitment to DEIB will enhance our effectiveness and serve our mission of making a positive impact through strong relationships and the power of collective giving.
View Impact Austin's definitions of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging →
Join Impact Austin’s DEIB Committee and its meaningful work →
Download a catalogue of actions Impact Austin has taken related to DEIB →
OUR USE OF AI TOOLS
As artificial intelligence (AI) tools become more widely available, we believe it is important to be transparent about how we use these technologies. We want our members, applicants, and partners to understand how we protect the integrity of our organization and its grantmaking.
Impact Austin grant decisions are made by members who listen deeply, ask thoughtful questions, and apply shared values to their funding choices. AI is not used in our grant selection process. All grant review, scoring, deliberation, and funding decisions are made by Impact Austin members. We believe effective and equitable philanthropy requires lived experience, knowledge of community and trust.
Applicants may choose to use AI tools to help draft or refine grant applications, helping support equitable access to funding opportunities, for organizations with varying levels of capacity. Applicants are responsible for ensuring their submissions accurately reflect their organization’s work and impact.
Impact Austin Staff and volunteers may use AI for non-grantmaking activities. Protecting applicant, member, donor, and grantee information is a core priority. We do not allow for confidential or personally identifiable information to be entered into public AI platforms.
Impact Austin will continue to monitor emerging technologies thoughtfully and update our practices as needed. Any use of AI will remain aligned with our mission, our values, and our commitment to the Central Texas community.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2025-2027
PILLARS & OBJECTIVES
GRANTMAKING
Our grantmaking:
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Is guided by the goals of trust-based philanthropy: advancing equity, shifting power, and building mutually accountable relationships.
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Evolves to meet the community’s needs.
LEARNING
We engage in learning that:
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Generates increased understanding of community challenges and solutions.
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Recognizes and collaborates to dismantle racial, ethnic, gender, and other systemic inequities.
MEMBERSHIP
We value and engage our members by offering:
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Opportunities to take initiative, collaborate, and lead.
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Relationship building through events, networking, and volunteering together.
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Invitations to connect with and welcome new members.
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Evolving membership pathways that are increasingly accessible and inclusive.
SUSTAINABILITY
We create and maintain operational effectiveness through:
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Capable and cost effective operations and technology.
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Sustainable volunteer systems to engage, manage, and retain members.
We seek to increase revenue through:
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Driving membership enrollment and retention.
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Boosting income from sponsorships and donations.
We uphold responsible financial management as stewards of our members’ and sponsors’ contributions.