LWRWC General Meeting
November 2, 2023
7:00 PM LWR Town Hall
Janet Dobbs, Recording Secretary
Presentation by Pam Kandziora:
Pam began her presentation by thanking Carol Belmont for the invitation to address the LWRWC. She also thanked the LWRWC for what we are doing in the community. Pam introduced Gail Lisi, the Vice President of Membership and Nancy Platkin, Membership Recruiting Director.
Pam stated that Impact100 SRQ celebrates its five year anniversary this year. Impact100 SRQ was started by three women in Sarasota (Jane Watt who was the Founding President, Jodie Zerega, and Tilly McFadden.) Impact100 Global has 60 Chapters across the United States and in several Countries.
Impact100 SRQ’s mission is to empower women to collectively fund transformational grants to nonprofits in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. The model used by Impact100 SRQ has women coming together every year with each member donating $1,000. The goal is to give incremental grants of at least $100,000 each year. The donations are multiplied by the number of members in a given year, and at the end of the year the donations are provided as grants to local nonprofit organizations to fulfill their needs and dreams.
Pam related her own story of volunteering within the community and in her church as a CPA. She understood that there are roughly 4,000 nonprofit organizations in the two counties. One day her husband shared with her a news article about Impact100 SRQ and said this is the organization you’ve been looking for, and she has been there since. Pam stated that Jane Watt created a huge sisterhood of intelligent women who want to make an impact on their community. In the first year 228 women came together and collectively donated $228,000 with two grants of $114,000 being disbursed to nonprofits; in the next year it was 332 women and they gave grants to three nonprofits in the amount of $110,000+ each; the next year it was 404 women and they provided four grants to nonprofits in the amount of $101,000 each; and in 2022 they seen their membership increase to 663 women and provided grants to six nonprofits in the amount of $110,500 each. This year they have 763 members and will announce the 7 grant award recipients each receiving $109,000 this coming Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at the annual celebration.
Pam advised that the model they use invites nonprofit organizations to complete an eligibility form and then they may receive an invitation to apply for a grant in increments of at least $100,000 across five main focus areas: Arts, Culture and History, Education, Environment and Recreation, Family, and Health and Wellness. Additionally, the proposed initiative must predominantly serve the Sarasota or Manatee County communities.
Finalists are chosen and a representative of each of the finalists gives a brief presentation of their organization’s initiative proposal at the annual meeting of Impact100 SRQ. The entire membership of Impact100 SRQ votes to select the grant recipient(s). Recipient nonprofit organizations are given 24 months to complete their projects with funds being distributed as the programs are implemented. Additionally, nonprofits that are not awarded grants may reapply and are provided training on completing necessary forms, preparing for a site visit, and attending a mock presentation process to prepare for a final presentation.
Pam stated that to date they have awarded 15 grants over $1,600,000 to Mother’s Helping Mothers, Selby Preschool at The Haven, Sky Family YMCA, Mayor’s Feed the Hungry, Girls, Inc., Crowley Museum and Nature Center, HOPE Family Services, Resilient Retreat, Children’s Cancer Center, Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center, Booker Promise, Dreamers Academy, Florida West Coast Symphony, Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, and the Senior Friendship Center.
Pam reported that the organization has two signature events each year. The first being the reveal of the annual membership numbers in the Spring. The second event is the Annual Celebration and Awards Ceremony where the members vote on which nonprofit organizations are awarded the grants.
Pam invited all of our LWRWC members to attend the Annual Celebration and Awards Ceremony, on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium from 6:00-8:00 pm.
Pam stated that Impact100 SRQ empowers our members on how to be better givers. Members and their guests join together to complete Walks for charities, Meet and Mingle events, and Coffee Chats. Membership is open to all women that are 18 and over and is renewable annually, noting that when you join you will be ask for an additional $100 to help subsidize operating expenses, such as QuickBooks, office supplies, and printers. Additionally, members may volunteer to serve on committees that evaluate grant applications and select finalists in each area.