1. IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Secrets of our Success
ORGANIZATION’S HISTORY
People Magazine Article
Super Bowl Party
Committed Women
Original Board
13 members
Not friends, but shared vision
In-kind support from the Gannett newspaper
Legal expertise
Financial expertise
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2. IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Secrets of our Success
ORGANIZATION’S HISTORY
By-laws
Developing our own created ownership
Not a social organization
2 county area
$1000 membership per person
Matching employer gifts accepted
Developed Mission Statement
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3. IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Secrets of our Success
ORGANIZATION’S HISTORY
MISSION STATEMENT
To know and serve the community
To collectively fund significant grants to charitable initiatives 
To set an example of effective philanthropy
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4. IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Secrets of our Success
 CORE VALUES
Significant Grants of $100,000 or more
We take total membership and divide into equal amounts
All funds in by March 1st are awarded in October of that year
Any 501(c)3 in 2 county area may apply
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5. IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Secrets of our Success
CORE VALUES
$1,000 gift annually per member
Members who can contribute less are considered friends, with no voting or membership rights
100% of your donation goes right back into our community
One Woman One Vote
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6. IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Secrets of our Success
CORE VALUES
5 Focus Areas
Arts and Culture
Education
Environment, Recreation and Historical Preservation
Health & Wellness
Family

7. IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Secrets of our Success
CORE VALUES
No paid staff
A site visit for each grant in each committee
Committees vote out the finalists
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8. IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Secrets of our Success
MEMBERSHIP
Membership (recruitment and retention) is a year round assignment for the entire Board of Directors
Methodology:
10 Open houses for potential and returning members
“Each one get one” is a mantra we use with all members
Meet the Women of IMPACT are distributed in Annual Meeting package, for use in mailing to friends with a note

9. IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Secrets of our Success
MEMBERSHIP
Events:
Held at restaurants and hotels, or prior IMPACT 100 recipients
All food, beverages and space are donated
Fun for new, potential, and returning members
Very social
Amy

10. IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Secrets of our Success
MEMBERSHIP
Publicity:
We TALK about IMPACT 100
Local TV and radio stations, newspaper, billboard and magazines have been invaluable to our success
Local civic organizations (Sertoma, Rotary, Optimist clubs, Kiwanis, etc.) and churches invite us to speak and share our mission and process
Our members are our greatest ambassadors
Amy

11. IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Secrets of our Success
MEMBERSHIP
Process:
Each February the current and some prior board members meet to review the list of the members from the previous year that have not rejoined
List is strategically divided up for follow-up
Each of those women receives a personal phone call to encourage them to rejoin. We don’t take no to mean “no”, just “not this year”
Ladies should feel comfortable coming back if they can’t rejoin one year. We keep careful lists of why they don’t rejoin and the feedback is invaluable. Members from prior years are contacted by phone or .
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12. IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Secrets of our Success
MEMBERSHIP
Sponsorships
To help current members that are having a tough time financially or potential new members that might not be able to give $1,000
$500 is offered because we feel that members must put something in themselves
Funds come from men in our community or members that want to help others be a part of IMPACT
Sponsor candidates must sign a form promising to save $83 each month to be able to join on their own next year and participate in the process
Sponsored members are kept confidential and receive the full rights and privileges of membership
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13. IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Secrets of our Success
MEMBERSHIP
Stewardship:
First year members all receive a handwritten thank you note for joining and are assigned a Mentor.
New Mentor Program. The Mentor calls the new member prior to our Announcement Meeting (where we announce the number of women that joined that year). The Mentor answers questions about how the IMPACT 100 process works or just what to wear to a meeting. The new member feels comfortable showing up to an event knowing they have a “friend” there.
Mentors stay in touch throughout the year with their assigned new member.
Prior to our Annual Meeting (where we vote for our grant recipients) each member that has not RSVPed or sent in an absentee ballot is called.
Amy

14. IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Secrets of our Success
MEMBERSHIP
Other Insights:
Many of these ideas were efforts to retain our new members. First year retention was always lower than 2nd year or longer.
We encourage all members to serve on a committee and about 25% of our membership is a part of the committee process. When women read the grants, visit nonprofits for site visits, participate in discussions and vote for finalists, they LOVE IMPACT 100.
We also have opportunities for women to volunteer to lighten the load of the board. They make phone calls to update our nonprofit database, bring food to events and help review grants as they are submitted.
Amy

15. IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Secrets of our Success
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16. IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Secrets of our Success
GOVERNANCE
Board Recruitment
Top Priority is a “Passion for IMPACT 100”
Determine skill sets needed and recruit for them
Outline expectations in a realistic way
2 year term with a 2 year extension if everyone is happy
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17. IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Secrets of our Success
GOVERNANCE
Board Commitment is Built
Instill our Core Values in all new members
Board retreat/slumber party is a requirement for all new board members
Creates the bond needed to effectively work together
Each board member is given a responsibility:
Co-chair a committee
Plan Membership events
Act as a grant liaison
Technical expertise
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18. IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Secrets of our Success
 GOVERNANCE
Funding Administrative Costs
Community support helps out in a huge way
We beg very nicely
Commitment is that all funds stay in our 2 county area
Some members add $$ to their annual membership
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19. IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Secrets of our Success
GOVERNANCE
Need to adapt to changes within IMPACT 100
Growth required larger donated space for larger committees
Change in number of finalists as growth continued
Change in Finalists’ presentations from 7 to 5 minutes
Coach finalists if they want it

20. IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Secrets of our Success
GOVERNANCE
Community Trust
Role of Good Stewards of our Members’ funds
Banks are all highly rated (makes more work for us but pays off)
We help the nonprofits in our community. We are not competing with them.
Grant Management is important and essential
We are transparent
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