Impact Austin, one of the largest women’s philanthropy organizations in the country, today announced its new grant guidelines and 2016 membership campaign with a goal to select and award approximately $500,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations in Central Texas next year.
In its 12-year history, Impact Austin has awarded more than $5 million to nearly 60 nonprofit organizations in five counties. Its 2016 grants will benefit organizations providing services in the areas of culture, environment, education, and family.
Impact Austin leadership announced strategic changes to its grant program designed to improve their effectiveness for organizations of all sizes. Among the changes are:
Nonprofits may apply for Program Grants to be used to support existing programs in addition to funding new programs; previously, grants were awarded only for new or expanding programs;
Up to 20 percent of each Program Grant can be used for general operating expenses;
Four Program Grants will be approximately $100,000 each; and,
Qualified nonprofit organizations can also apply for $50,000 Catalyst Grant.
An Impact Austin committee studied its grant strategies thoughtfully to make them most useful to more organizations.
“Our nonprofit partners teach us a lot about what is needed to be successful in their missions,” said Executive Director Donna Benson-Chan. “We want to provide resources that both sustain and grow programs that are working and making a difference in our community. We are hopeful that our new guidelines will make our resources more widely available and appealing to nonprofits of all sizes and stages of programming.”
In addition to its Program Grants, Impact Austin will award a Catalyst Grant for a second year.
This $50,000 grant is designed to improve a nonprofit’s future performance, impact and sustainability. Impact Austin is the only philanthropic collective giving organization in the United States that offers such a capacity-building grant. This program aims to serve an additional, well-qualified nonprofit organization that had achieved finalist status during a prior grant review cycle.
Impact Austin ranks among the largest organizations of its kind in the United States, both in terms of its membership and its total grants awarded. Impact Austin members represent women of all ages and professional and personal backgrounds who share an interest in making a meaningful impact in their community. In addition to having a hand in awarding grants to deserving organizations, they may also participate in IMPACT-edu, a philanthropy skill-building initiative.
Nonprofits interested in receiving an Impact Austin grant should submit a letter of inquiry by January 5, 2016. Members will then select 30 organizations to complete grant applications before choosing finalists to make a presentation in June 2016. Organizations must provide services in Central Texas including Travis, Hays, Bastrop and/or Williamson counties.
If you are a woman in the Central Texas area who would like to be a part of this organization and join the hundreds of women who are giving with great impact by giving collectively, just click Join Today!
