In September of 2001, an idea to promote philanthropy among women formed in the mind of Wendy Steele. With the help of close friends and business associates, that idea became the not-for-profit organization operating as IMPACT 100.
Impact 100 is committed to improving Greater Cincinnati by collectively funding significant grants to charitable initiatives. Impact 100 has given over $1,200,000 to the Greater Cincinnati community in the six years since its founding.
The direct beneficiaries of these grants are the grant recipients. The indirect beneficiaries have been the hundreds of other non-profit agencies whose good works have been reviewed, discussed, and seen first-hand by the members of the organization. Many of these worthy organizations have received other grants or funding as a direct result of the exposure gained through their application to Impact 100.
In addition, the members of Impact greatly benefit from supporting the organization, participating on teams which choose the award finalists and learning more about the many non-profit organizations in the greater Cincinnati area. Our members report a 95% satisfaction rate with their Impact 100 experience, and nearly all of them (92%) recommend membership to their friends or colleagues. Our membership ranges in age from their 20’s to their 70’s, includes working, non-working and retired women and comes from over 30 zip codes in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. We continue to actively seek to expand the diversity of our member base.
Of course, finally, the beneficiary of Impact 100 is the community as a whole. What began in 2001 as an idea in the mind of its founder has become a viable, valuable and effective organization that will continue to carry on the mission that people began long ago – promoting human welfare through the caring actions of people working together toward a common goal.
