Latest News:

2009 Grant Recipient - Outreach, Inc.

In 2003, the Indiana Department of Education approached Outreach, Inc. about starting a program to work with the homeless student population in the Indianapolis Public School system. These youth were moving from house to house, or on the streets with no stability and little or no parental involvement. They were youth who, without an outside support system, were dropping out of high school at an alarming rate. Project G.O.A.L. (graduation, occupation, address, lifestyle) was created. The G.O.A.L. program is designed to meet the basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter of unaccompanied youth enrolled in local high schools; to provide job skills training; to provide post-secondary educational opportunities; and to provide meaningful mentoring relationships.

Working together with school counselors, and administrators Outreach has been able to increase the graduation rate of homeless students who become involved in the G.O.A.L. program from 25% to well over 65%, and of those graduates an average 50% continue on to college, or vocational school. A national economist projected that the most recent graduating class (25 graduates, and 2 GED recipients) saved the city of Indianapolis over $6 million dollars in averted public assistance dollars.

Outreach, Inc. currently offers essential wraparound services for up to 50 at-risk and homeless students enrolled in four I.P.S. high schools, and the Greater Education Opportunities (GEO) charter high school. The Impact 100 grant will allow Outreach to double program enrollment, add staff members and help expand the mentor corps and its costs.

Outreach has proven that providing advocacy, case management counseling and mentorship, along with wraparound services to unaccompanied youth alleviates stresses about housing, food provision, transportation, and allows these individuals to focus on their education. It provides the best chance for at-risk teens to succeed and reach the goal of long-term self-sufficiency. "This grant will truly, positively, and permanently change the lives of homeless teens, and make our community a stronger place for having these young productive people in it." - Eric Howard, Executive Director, Outreach, Inc.

Impact 100 Announces $164,000 for 2009 Grants with Additional Funding from the Lumina Foundation

Impact 100 recently received a $3,000 matching gift from the Lumina Foundation for a new Impact 100 member. Impact 100 is pleased to announce that this gift will allow the organization to grant $164,000 to local nonprofits in 2009. With the current economic environment, the donor and the board of Impact 100 agreed to add these matching funds to the 2009 grant fund because the nonprofits in our community need the dollars now. Under Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis' new grantmaking structure, one nonprofit will receive $100,000 and four others presenting at the celebration dinner will receive $16,000 each in unrestricted funds in June of this year.

Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis Raises $161,000 for Granting in 2009, Announces New Grant Making Structure to Include Operation Support Grants

Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis has announced it has raised a total of $161,000 for grant making in 2009. More than 160 central Indiana women pooled their resources, each donating $1,000, to collectively make the high-impact grants in central Indiana.

Impact 100 president Donna Oklak also announced a new grant making structure. The four-year old giving circle will award one $100,000 grant as in years past, but it will distribute the remaining $61,000 to all non-winning finalists as unrestricted gifts for operating expenses.

“Our mission is to make high-impact grants,” Oklak said. “In this difficult and unpredictable economy, we can make a tremendous impact simply by providing unrestricted funding to local charities which are even more strapped for money to meet their basic operating needs.”

Operating funds are the least awarded but often the most needed kind of funding. With charitable giving expected to drop, especially from corporate and corporate foundations, the women are pleased with their ability to assist up to five organizations.

“It is a tremendous accomplishment to be an Impact 100 finalist, given the rigorous and thorough review process required,” said Karen Kennelly, Director at Katz, Sapper, Miller and the Impact 100 treasurer. “It is exciting to know that Impact 100 is now doing its part to minimize the economic burden for all five deserving finalists, rather than just one.”

Impact 100 members now will turn their attention to determining how the grant funding will be allocated. Impact 100 will accept grant proposals until January 20, 2009, in five categories; health and wellness, education, arts and culture, environment, and family.

Members then will meet in focus area committees to review proposals. The finalists in each focus area will make a presentation in June, at which time each member will cast her vote. The nonprofit with the most votes will receive the $100,000 grant. The remaining finalists will evenly split the remaining funds.

While many women lack the individual means to make a charitable gift of this magnitude, Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis allows women to collectively make an impact for the needs of the community.

In the past three years, Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis has cumulatively distributed more than $550,000 in grants to the community, with a minimum $100,000 awarded to each grantee. 2008 grant winners were Herron High School and Horizon House. Previous grantees include Indy Reads, Craine House Inc. in collaboration with Fairbanks, and Wishard Memorial Foundation for the Pecar Health Center Pharmacy.

Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis is pleased to announce to its 2008-2009 membership the opportunity to serve on a Focus Area Committee.

There are five focus area committees from which to choose.

On our website, please visit Join Impact > Focus Area Committee Members for more information about the five focus area committees, the locations and dates where they will meet and the chairs and vice chairs leading this important grant selection process. To join a committee, please contact grants@impact100indy.org OR Tracy Haddad at 317-289-5518.