Education is a cornerstone of the Impact Austin experience, but it is not limited to our members.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/978c69_88c9d6af09d84ba39664aebe3c130b83~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_108,h_95,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/978c69_88c9d6af09d84ba39664aebe3c130b83~mv2.jpg)
The Austin area nonprofit community is offered the opportunity each fall to spend a morning learning the basics of Impact Austin's grants and any changes veteran applicants need to know about.
On November 19, 2015, eighty-five participants representing sixty-nine nonprofits gathered to learn more from a group of experts!
Connie Lawyer, Impact Austin Grants Chair, opened the meeting and then turned the microphone over to Sheryl Brown, Impact Austin Nonprofit Coordinator.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/978c69_7774973274d54b98948fca04a7e300e2~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_108,h_86,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/978c69_7774973274d54b98948fca04a7e300e2~mv2.jpg)
Sheryl reviewed the five grants offered for 2016 and presented a step-by-step overview of the grant process. She talked about the new Catalyst Grant and other improvements that Impact Austin has made.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/978c69_0eeb1bc0ed5b493689d8cff4cf106949~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_108,h_72,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/978c69_0eeb1bc0ed5b493689d8cff4cf106949~mv2.jpg)
Wendy Varnell, Deputy Executive Director of Lifeworks, continued the program from the nonprofit community perspective and graciously shared her experience as an Impact Austin grant applicant.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/978c69_47607ce46dfa49cbbd69fd69ef64cc5a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_108,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/978c69_47607ce46dfa49cbbd69fd69ef64cc5a~mv2.jpg)
The program closed with a panel discussion featuring Wendy Varnell, Lifeworks; Betsy Blair, Impact Austin, Grants Innovation Chair; Linda Welsh, Impact Austin Grant Finance Chair; and moderated by Connie Lawyer Impact Austin Grants Chair.
Continuing education is offered to our area nonprofits each year and Impact Austin is always a learning experience! Sheryl Brown’s expressive brown eyes light up when she talks about this annual event.
“The Nonprofit Workshop is such a great way to kick off the grants cycle. This is my second year as Nonprofit Coordinator, and I truly enjoy looking around the room and knowing that some of the participants may be posing with checks for the $100,000 or $50,000 grants in June! It’s also inspiring to find out about new programs and services that benefit the Austin area,” she said with a smile.
Interested in learning more about applying for a grant from Impact Austin? Just click Apply for Grants!
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/978c69_e3365a10c3294fe28f2ea9f6f4f695c9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_108,h_72,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/978c69_e3365a10c3294fe28f2ea9f6f4f695c9~mv2.jpg)
Special thanks to Region 13 Center for use of their meeting facilities, and thank you to Thundercloud Subs for providing our lunch!
You can find a complete album with more pictures of this event at Impact Austin 2015 Nonprofit Workshop Album.