Morristown Women, New Group Surpass Membership Goal

Local women are making some noise with a new organization called Impact 100 Garden State, which started this year.

The philanthropic organization is the first of its kind in the state and is following a model that has been successful elsewhere in the country. It recently closed its membership period with 133 women, each of whom donated $1,000.

“We are thrilled that so many women wanted to join us this first year. They are our charter members,” says Sally Epstein, Morristown, membership chair. “We look forward to working together to make a real difference in our communities with this transformative grant.”

Impact 100 will award a $133,000 blue-sky grant to one qualified nonprofit applicant in 2013.

Each member’s donation goes entirely to the grant, without any deductions for expenses, and each woman is entitled to one vote for the final grant recipient. Members may also participate on a committee to evaluate grant proposals.

“We have an amazing group of women who have joined us and who will serve on the focus area committees that will evaluate the applications,” says Bonnie Gardner, Morristown, grants chair. “The winner will be announced at our Annual Meeting in October when all our members will vote on the finalists selected by the focus area committees.”

Impact 100 now starts rigorous selection process. The group has chosen four counties—Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex—as the geographic area where an applicant’s program or project must operate.  Grant applications must also be made in one of five focus areas—Arts and Culture, Education, Environment, Family, or Health and Wellness.

The process begins with a Letter of Intent, which may be filed with Impact 100 Garden State between April 9 and May 10. The forms and further details for the process, including deadlines, are posted on the group’s website. www.impact100gardenstate.org

The women have scheduled an informational session on April 23 at 9:30am at the Community Foundation of New Jersey to explain the process to potential non-profit applicants. Attendance, which is optional but helpful, is limited to 50 and registration through the Impact 100 Garden State website is necessary.

Final selection by all Impact members will take place at the Annual Awards Celebration in October. 

In addition to Epstein and Gardner, the other Founding Board Members of Impact 100 Garden State are Carole Rogers, Morristown; Virginia Moriarty, Harding; Kathy Teti and Elisabeth MacDonald, Mendham.  Cathy Vinnicombe, Bernardsville, recently joined them as a member of the 2013 Leadership Team.

All inquiries should be directed to the organization’s email address: impact100gardenstate@gmail.com