Giving Circles in N.J. Payout $3.48 Million
More than 1,100 New Jersey women have joined one of the four women’s giving circles hosted by The Community Foundation of New Jersey (CFNJ) and have made nearly $3.5 million in philanthropic gifts.
Through Impact 100 Essex, Impact 100 Garden State, Impact 100 Jersey Coast, and Impact 100 South Jersey, 1,100 New Jersey women have made 40 grants to nonprofits totaling $3,488,500. Most grants were for more than $100,000, with some smaller awards to additional finalists, according to an announcement from CFNJ. The foundation has $460 million in assets.
Impact 100 Garden State was founded in 2013, with 135 women joining together to make one $135,000 grant. Now in its seventh year, Impact 100 Garden State, led by president Merle Johnson, has more than doubled in size with 346 members who have granted more than $1,697,000 to nonprofit organizations serving Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, and Union counties to date.
“The concept for Impact 100 was and remains simple,” said Carole Rogers, who first brought the Impact 100 idea to the Garden State. “When we approached the Community Foundation of New Jersey in late 2012 to launch the state’s first Impact 100, the idea was for 100 women to each contribute $1,000 to the fund, which would then solicit applications from nonprofit organizations and hold a vote to select one grant recipient for that year’s total amount of funds.”
Impact 100 Jersey Coast, the state’s second chapter, was launched in 2016 and has granted a total of $1,167,000 to projects in Monmouth County in its first four years. “The growth has been astonishing,” said Heather Burke, co-founder of Impact 100 Jersey Coast. “Impact has resonated with hundreds of women from all walks of life in our community and has touched the lives of many thousands more through the projects we have supported with our shared dollars. The story we are telling throughout our state offers a new model of philanthropy and collective action.”
Impact 100 Essex was founded the following year and will have granted out more than $395,500 in Essex County by the end of this month. “We revel in the collaboration of the engaged and diverse women of Essex County and the many inspiring local non-profits working to make our communities stronger, safer and more just,” said Margo Greenfield, who is a co-convenor of Impact 100 Essex.
Impact 100 South Jersey, founded in 2017 through the Community Foundation of South Jersey, has granted a total of $229,000 across Camden, Burlington, Gloucester, and Cumberland counties.
“We saw the vitality of the Impact 100 model across the Delaware River in Philadelphia, and we knew that we wanted our own giving circle supporting organizations in need in this southern part of the state, which doesn’t always get the same attention,” said Kyle Ruffin, one of the five founding members of Impact100 South Jersey.
“We are beyond inspired by the more than 1,100 women from across the state who have stepped up, formed strong associations, and are learning about and investing in nonprofit partners who are leading change in their communities,” said Margarethe Laurenzi, chief philanthropic officer at the Community Foundation. “Collaborating with and supporting these Impact 100 women to help them make their philanthropic vision a reality is especially rewarding for the Community Foundation.”
Impact100 Essex Awards $120,000 Grant to MEND
Impact100 Essex awarded its third annual grant to Meeting Essential Needs with Dignity (MEND), a network of 20 food pantries throughout Essex County, at its annual meeting held at Seton Hall University. MEND received a $120,000 grant that will enable the nonprofit to source, store and transport fresh produce to its food pantry network. Three other nonprofits were finalists for the award, each will receive a $10,000 leverage grant to support their work in Essex County.
Pictured: The Impact100 Essex Steering Committee and from MEND Kate Cahill, Karen Hartshorn Hilton, Robin Peacock, Sister Linda Klaisse and Jabbar Abdi
Robin Peacock, Executive Director at MEND received the award, “With this grant, MEND will now be able to deliver substantially more fresh and healthy food to pantries and people living with the highest food insecurity rates in New Jersey. We are thrilled to have the funds to build a fresh food hub that will streamline and innovate the way families, children, and individuals in our community access the nutritious food they need.” “It’s gratifying to award our third grant to MEND and know the funds will benefit entire families in Essex County” said Mayuri Chandra, co-head of the grants committee of Impact100 Essex. “We’re also very gratified that our membership grew in 2019, so we are able to award the other finalists a leverage grant. All of these nonprofits do very important and impactful work in Essex County. They all put forth inspiring and transformational project proposals. The Impact100 Essex membership is extremely pleased that we are able to support all of these organizations” added Kate Shoemaker, co-head of the grants committee. The three nonprofits in receipt of the $10,000 leverage grants are Hetrick-Martin Institute of New Jersey (HMI-NJ), Imagine: A Center for Coping with Loss and Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ). Margo Greenfield, co-convener of Impact100 Essex, added, “We’re proud that in 3 years we’ve awarded $400,000 to leverage the ambitions of local nonprofits dreaming big and ready to launch impact programs. Our members are dedicated to this work and our goal continues to inspire more women to join our mission.” The Impact100 Essex grant is funded by gifts of $1,000 per member, per year. The organization holds information sessions throughout the winter and spring to establish the grant funding for the year. For more information and to receive details on upcoming sessions visit www.Impact100Essex.org or email membership@impact100essex.org.
Maplewood Non-Profit One of Four Finalists for Impact100 Essex Grant Award
By IMPACT 100 ESSEX
January 10, 2020 at 8:00 AM
Essex County, NJ — The four finalist nominees for the Impact100 Essex 2019 grant award include one Maplewood organization. One of the finalists will be voted the recipient of the $120,000 grant by the Impact100 Essex membership at the organization’s Annual Meeting to be held on January 21, 2020 at Seton Hall University in South Orange.
“Once again, identifying only 4 finalists from the dozens of excellent proposals we received was painstaking work undertaken by our members,” said Kate Shoemaker, co-chair of the Impact100 Essex grant committee.
The 2019 finalists are:
Hetrick-Martin Institute of New Jersey proposes to expand its services providing safe and supportive environments for LGBTQ youth and their families with a new site on the border of Maplewood and Irvington.
Imagine: A Center for Coping with Loss envisions expanding their Newark pilot project providing trauma-informed grief support to children and families dealing with loss due to death, incarceration or deportation in Newark.
Meeting Essential Needs with Dignity (MEND) hopes to source, store, and transport fresh produce to its network of 20 Essex County based food pantries serving some 134,000 individuals.
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) proposes addressing the exploding eviction crisis by tripling the pro bono attorney time devoted to tenancy issues and expanded information sessions for the community.
“These four finalists are proposing particularly transformational projects that will substantially impact lives of our neighbors in Essex County”, said Mayuri Chandri, co-chair of the grants committee.
Impact100 Essex is a collective philanthropic group founded and funded by women in Essex County. We bring women together to amplify and leverage the impact of members’ giving and to empower solutions for our community. Each year, Impact100 Essex awards a minimum grant of $100,000 to support an important, innovative project managed by a local nonprofit organization. For more information about Impact100 Essex and to find out how you can join, go to: www.Impact100Essex.org.
Photo – Impact100 Essex members at the organization’s launch reception at 3rd Space in Newark last September.
Four Local Nonprofits Selected As Finalists for Impact100 Essex Grant Award
Four Local Nonprofits Selected As Finalists for Impact100 Essex Grant Award
Announcement -December 8, 2019
Four finalist nominees for the Impact100 Essex 2019 grant award were announced Sunday. One of the finalists will be voted the recipient of the $120,000 grant by the Impact100 Essex membership at the organization’s Annual Meeting to be held on January 21, 2020 at Seton Hall University in South Orange.
“Once again, identifying only 4 finalists from the dozens of excellent proposals we received was painstaking work undertaken by our members”, said Kate Shoemaker, co-chair of the Impact100 Essex grant committee.
The 2019 finalists are:
Hetrick-Martin Institute of New Jersey (HMI-NJ) proposes to expand its services providing safe and supportive environments for LGBTQ youth and their families with a new site on the border of Maplewood and Irvington.
Imagine: A Center for Coping with Loss envisions expanding their Newark pilot project providing trauma-informed grief support to children and families dealing with loss due to death, incarceration or deportation in Newark.
Meeting Essential Needs with Dignity (MEND) hopes to source, store and transport fresh produce to its network of 20 Essex County based food pantries serving some 134,000 individuals.
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) proposes addressing the exploding eviction crisis by tripling the pro bono attorney time devoted to tenancy issues and expanded information sessions for the community.
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“These four finalists are proposing particularly transformational projects that will substantially impact lives of our neighbors in Essex County”, said Mayuri Chandri, co-chair of the grants committee.
Impact100 Essex members at the organization’s launch reception at 3rd Space in Newark last September.
Gathering of Givers
March 19, 2019 Hillary Viders Northern Valley Press
New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy is pictured at “A Gathering of Givers: New Jersey Women Making an Impact.” | PHOTO BY HILLARY VIDERS
BY HILLARY VIDERS
SPECIAL TO NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
NEWARK, N.J.—It was a power breakfast and then some. Three hundred women from several New Jersey counties gathered on March 8 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark to network, speak about philanthropy and hear New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy.
The event—titled “A Gathering of Givers: New Jersey Women Making an Impact”—was a timely celebration of International Women’s Day and a discussion on how investing time, talent and resources can strengthen communities.
There were speeches and inspirational stories from some of New Jersey’s most resourceful and dynamic community builders. The attendees as well as the speakers were a diverse network of women who represent giving circles, local family foundations, nonprofits and corporations.
“A Gathering of Givers” was hosted by the Women’s Association of NJPAC and Impact100 Essex with support from 15 organizations, including Association of Black Women Attorneys, Bibliophiles, Executive Women of New Jersey, Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey, Latinas in Business Inc., National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. (Bergen/Passaic Chapter) North Jersey Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. and Alpha Kappa Alpha – Cluster IV.
The event was underwritten by the MCJ Amelior Foundation, the Community Foundation of New Jersey and the Women’s Association of NJPAC.
After a buffet breakfast and informal meet and greet that began at 9 a.m., Sarah Rosen, managing director of the Women’s Association (WA) of NJPAC opened the speaker’s program. Rosen proudly announced that the WA is celebrating 25 years and over $52 million raised to support NJPAC and its programs that enrich the lives of our current and future generations of cultural citizens. The WA, established by nine women in 1994, now has 2500 members.
“Many of the most influential and powerful women in New Jersey support arts education for our young, champion Newark’s remarkable evolution and advance NJPAC as a home for world class artistry,” said Rosen, reflecting on the theme of women who give.
She then introduced John Schreiber, president and CEO of NJPAC, who spoke about how the NJPAC is the most diverse arts center in the country, citing some of the numerous programs and events that it hosts.
Rosen continued with a dramatic speech about the vital but under recognized power of women philanthropists.
“Women give differently than men. We’re not just about giving, but about relationships with the organizations we support. Women don’t just write checks, we are hands on!” she declared.
Rosen touted how women in New Jersey not only raise millions of dollars each year but also give their time and talent serving on numerous boards and community initiatives.
“As [American social activist] Mary Williams said, ‘Our biggest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure!’”
Lee was followed by Hali Lee, co-founder of the Asian Women Giving Circle, Shane Harris, executive director of the Prudential Foundation, and a panel discussion moderated by Sherri-Ann Butterfield, Ph.D., executive vice chancellor of Rutgers University–Newark.
Panelists spoke about their backgrounds and how they became involved in philanthropy. The group—which consisted of Tamara Harris, executive director of CASA of Essex County; Ellen Weisbord Lambert. Esq., president EWLambert, LLC; Gabriella Morris, senior vice president of strategic partnerships UNICEF USA; and Jane Wilf, trustee of the Wilf Family Foundation—then took questions from the audience.
Inspirational stories were related by Elisa Charters, who is president and founder of Latina Surge, and Kim Jacobs, a trustee of The Reitman Foundation.
In addition to the breakfast fare, there was food for thought. On the dining tables, each setting had a place mat divided into two sections that read, “How Do you Give?” and next to it, “What’s Next?”
Another interesting element to the conference was provided by Flash Rosenberg, an “Attention Span for Hire” artist who made acrylic drawings of each presentation as it was being made and then displayed the collection.
In the “What’s Next” segment of the program, Margarethe Laurenzi, director of leadership grantmaking and engagement for Community Foundation of New Jersey, advised that “We should be making decisions as educated consumers with serious purchasing power.”
For most attendees, the highlight of the morning was the dramatic and inspiring speech made by First Lady Murphy, which emphasized the need for women to use their influence to better the world.
“Women’s History Month is a time for use to make sure that the forgotten heroes and role models are forgotten no more. Today we celebrate the source of New Jersey’s strength—the women of New Jersey! And we want to ensure that every woman is going to have the opportunity to find her inner strength.”
Murphy, who works with numerous organizations, told the audience that she has a personal mission to eliminate infant mortality and racial disparity in New Jersey. She said New Jersey ranks 45th out of 50 states in maternal mortality and many of these deaths occur in women and babies of color.
“In the government, we have begun a statewide campaign with many partners and resources in the cabinet and the health care industry to reduce infant and maternal mortality and to ensure equitable health care to women and children of all races and ethnicities,” she said.
“Just last weekend, I hosted my third Family Festival in Camden. With over 90 nonprofit and community organizations and resources at the state and county level, we were able to provide resources to 300 attendees,” said Murphy. “Essentially what we do is create a one stop shop for care, support, resources and relief. Phil [Gov. Murphy] and I and over 12 cabinet members are committed to equitable health care.”
In her closing remarks, Murphy announced with great emotion, “Together we are ensuring that all women in New Jersey prosper, and we are celebrating all of you here and generations to come. We are changing the conversation, creating a better future for mothers, babies and people all across New Jersey. We’re all in this together and it is our future. We are writing new chapters in our history, and because of everyone here today, I know that these chapters are going to be written by strong and determined women.”
As Murphy left the podium amidst a hail of applause, she said, “Women in future generations throughout New Jersey and around the world will celebrate a healthier Women’s History Month!”
The last speaker, Marcia Wilson Brown, Esq. president of the Women’s Association of NJPAC, praised Murphy and embraced the mission of all the organizations present in a phrase that elicited cheers and laughter: “In this room are people who are going to turn the world upside right!”
Kamilah Crawley, public health consultant and board member of the Newark Center for Meditative Culture, expressed the collective spirit in the room when she said, “An event like this is so important because it shows how critical is to give back to our communities and the impact that women have.”
Impact100 Essex Awards $120,000 Grant to Schools That Can
Pictured: The Impact100 Essex Steering Committee (in green) with Tiffany Jackson, Manager of School Programs, Erin Sweeney, Executive Director and Stephanie Baker, Advisory Board Chair of Schools That Can Newark.
Montclair, NJ, January 15, 2019
Impact100 Essex awarded its second annual grant to Schools That Can, a nonprofit that reimagines education to provide real-world, hands-on, industry-specific STEM education and experience for high school students in Newark. Schools That Can was voted the awardee by the Impact100 Essex membership at their annual meeting after each of the four finalists for the grant presented a proposed project.
Erin Sweeney, Executive Director at Schools That Can received the award," This is a transformational grant for us, supporting our Career Skills Program where we work with Newark high schools to expand high-quality, middle-skill career and technical education programs, preparing students for successful careers throughout our region. Because of this grant, we will hire a Career Skills Manager to build out our program, from a one-school pilot to an expanded multi-school model. We are thrilled!"
“It’s a great pleasure to award the second Impact100 Essex grant to Schools That Can” said Helen Mazarakis, co-founder of Impact100 Essex. Impact100 Essex is a collective giving organization that funds annual grants for transformational projects in Essex County. “Our members were moved by the opportunity to support Newark students in their dreams to thrive professionally. It’s important that Newark youth are well-positioned to succeed as the local economy grows.”
Schools That Can was a finalist with three other nonprofits that proposed projects, including The Community Food Bank of New Jersey’s project to distribute monthly menstrual supplies to low-income women and girls, Imagine: A Center for Coping with Loss project to support and foster resiliency in children and families grieving a loss, and NJ Tree Foundation to fund tree planting in urban neighborhoods in Essex County.
“As heartwarming as it is to award this grant to Schools That Can, it’s also heartbreaking to see these other incredibly worthy projects go unfunded. All of these organizations presented compelling, impactful and well-designed projects for our membership to consider. We wish we could fund them all,” stated Margo Greenfield co-founder of Impact100 Essex. The Impact100 Essex grant pool is funded by gifts of $1000 per member, per year. “Our goal is to increase our membership from 120 to over 200 in the weeks ahead so we can fund two grants in 2019. We invite more women from across the county to join us in supporting these transformational local programs. ”Impact100 Essex is holding members night out January 30 at Papillion 25 in South Orange from 6-8pm and welcomes prospective members interested in learning more to join in.
Impact100 Essex:
Impact100 Essex is a philanthropic, collective giving group funded by women in Essex County. Impact100 Essex enables members to amplify their giving and empower solutions for the community. Each year, Impact100 Essex awards a minimum grant of $100,000 to support a transformational local project proposed by a nonprofit organization operating in Essex County. For more information about Impact100 Essex and to find out how you can join, go to: www.Impact100Essex.org.
Schools That Can – Newark:
Schools That Can Newark is part of Schools That Can, a national network currently reaching more than 190 schools across 15 cities, serving more than 75,000 students. Locally, Schools That Can Newark serves a network of over 30 district, charter, and independent schools, and is a leader in supporting career pathways for students.
Impact100 Essex Selects Four Finalist Nominees for 2018 Grant Award
By IMPACT100 ESSEX December 4, 2018 at 9:00 AM
NEWARK, NJ - Impact100 Essex announced the four finalist grant nominees for their 2018 grant award today. One of these nominees will be voted the recipient of the $120,000 grant at the group’s Annual Conference to be held on January 15, 2019 at the Upper Montclair Women’s Club.
“We received 49 applications for inspiring and worthy projects this year. Through our grant selection process, we identified these four as particularly impactful and transformational proposals for Essex County,” said Helen Mazarakis, co-founder of Impact100 Essex. The finalists and their proposed projects are:
Community Food Bank of NJ: The Period Initiative - To address "period poverty" in Essex County through distribution of monthly menstrual supplies directly to low-income women and girls.
Schools That Can NJ - To close the opportunity and skills gap for students in Newark high schools with technical training and industry partnerships.
Imagine: A Center for Coping with Loss - To support children and families grieving a loss, fostering resiliency and emotional well-being.
NJ Tree Foundation - To revitalize Essex County communities with new trees and improve the health of Newark’s tree canopy.
“Each year our grant review committee members do the painstaking work of selecting four finalists. In the final phase, our members cast a vote to determine the grant recipient. We all have a very difficult decision to make”, said Margo Greenfield, co-founder of Impact100 Essex. “That’s why every year at this time, we’re inspired to do all we can to attract new members. If we can grow to 200 members next year, we can award two grants instead of one, and do even more to make a difference in Essex County.”
Impact100 Essex will hold an information session for prospective new members on Thursday, December 6, 2018. To RSVP and get directions, email rsvpevents@impact100essex.org.
Impact100 Essex is a women-led philanthropic organization that provides high impact, transformational grants to local nonprofits that reach under-served populations in Essex County. Each member contributes $1000 a year and that donation is pooled for collective giving.
For more information about Impact100 Essex and to find out how you can join, go to: www.Impact100Essex.org.
Impact100 Essex:
Impact100 Essex is a collective philanthropic group founded and funded by women in Essex County. We bring women together to amplify and leverage the impact of members’ giving and to empower solutions for our community. Each year, Impact100 Essex awards a minimum grant of $100,000 to support an important, innovative project managed by a local nonprofit organization.
Short Hills Residents Looking to Make a Big Impact with $100,000 Grant
By TAPINTO MILLBURN/SHORT HILLS STAFF
July 25, 2017 at 9:20 PM
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/millburn-slash-short-hills/articles/short-hills-residents-looking-to-make-a-big-impac
Cathy Rowe (Maplewood); Mayuri Chandra and Kate Shoemaker (Short Hills), Helen Mazarakis (Montclair). Impact 100 Essex grant committee at work,
Credits: Margo Greenfield
Impact100 Grants Committee at work. Cathy Rowe (Maplewood); Margo Greenfield, Mayuri Chandra and Kate Shoemaker (Short Hills)
Credits: Margo Greenfield
NEWARK, NJ - Ten Short Hills residents joined forces with Impact 100 Essex to provide one local non-profit with a $100,000 high-impact grant. Impact100 Essex is based on a national model in which 100 women each contribute $1,000 to fund a one-time grant to a local non-profit organization addressing the needs of underserved populations. The group will begin to accept applications from Essex County non-profits on September 5.
After a multi-step review process, members will vote on the $100,000 grant at a full membership meeting in early 2018. "Impact grants give groups serving local communities an opportunity to achieve something remarkable in the face of reduced availability of public financing," said organizer Margo Greenfield.
Impact100 programs across the United States have raised more than $33 million for local, non-profit organizations since 2001. Further information for non-profit organizations interested in being considered for a future grant, or in being on Impact100 Essex's mailing list, is available at www.impact100essex.org.
"To contribute to worthy organizations as individuals is certainly well worth the time and energy," said Bonnie Carter, a member from West Orange. "But Impact100 Essex offers the opportunity to have a more hands-on role in a major, transformative grant. It's a truly unique opportunity for local women who want to give back."
The group's founders were determined that Essex County's rich diversity and many neighborhoods be reflected in the membership, which now includes members from 14 towns across the County.
"This is a chance for Essex County women to meet and work with other women and to do something positive and productive together," said Helen Mazarakis, Grant Committee Chair. "We're building a community both among the members and with those who will be served by our upcoming transformative grant."
The group is accepting members until July 31. Details about Impact100 Essex membership is available at www.impact100essex.org.
Local Women Give $112K to Covenant House NJ Through ‘Impact100 Essex’
https://villagegreennj.com/community/local-women-give-112k-to-covenant-house-nj-through-impact100-essex/
By villagegreennj
The Covenant House: Opening Doors to Homeless Youth Steering Committee members Kate Shoemaker, Helen Mazarakis (Impact100 Essex co-founder), Margarethe Laurenzi (Director, Community Foundation of New Jersey), Mayuri Chandra, Selma Avdicevic, Lyn Rosensweig, Jim White (Executive Director, Covenant House New Jersey), Margo Greenfield (Impact100 Essex co-founder), Honorable Barbara Curran, Christine Curran, Ellen Greenfield, Bonnie Carter, Wendy Steele (Impact100 founder), and Lee Heh Margolies.
The following is from the Essex Chapter of Impact100, a growing movement of women making changes in their community by funding local nonprofits. “It started several years ago,” explained Maplewood resident and member Cathy Rowe, “100 women get together and contribute $1,000 each and through a grants process, vote on a local non-profit to award it to.” Rowe is on the local Impact100 steering committee along with Heather Evans from Maplewood; Margo Greenfield, Kate Shoemaker and Mayuri Chandra from Millburn; and Ellen Greenfield, formerly of Maplewood who still works at 1978 Arts. Joyce Andrasz from Maplewood is on the grants team.
Impact100 Essex, a local pass-through foundation, committed to giving back to the community, has announced that Covenant House New Jersey is the recipient of the organization’s very first grant of $112,000. The money will be used to fund the Dove Learning Center at its facility in New Jersey. The winner was named after four non-profit finalists presented at the organization’s annual meeting to elaborate on how they might use the funds if received, and then a vote was taken by membership.
“While all of the presentations were compelling, our members were struck by the transformational opportunities of Covenant House’s proposal to implement a pilot program to build resilience among the thousands of abused, trafficked and abandoned young adults it shelters each year,” stated Margo Greenfield, Chair of the Membership Committee of Impact100 Essex. “We are incredibly proud of the women of Essex who came forward to help us surpass our goal of a $100,000 grant in our inaugural year, and we look forward to growing our membership and grant even further in 2018.”
For more than four decades, Covenant House has helped transform and save the lives of more than a million homeless, runaway and trafficked young people. They offer housing and support services to young people in need – reaching 80,000 boys and girls every year. Covenant House New Jersey is an experienced provider with the will to overcome the limitations of its current food, shelter and GED programming, and the vision to construct a multi-pronged, sustainable, replicable model that can shepherd their charges to an autonomous future.
Jim White, Executive Director of Covenant House New Jersey, stated, “Covenant House New Jersey is deeply honored to be the first recipient of this prestigious award from Impact100 Essex. We are ecstatic about the extraordinary opportunity we are being given to transform the lives of the thousands of homeless youth who make their way to our doors. The innovative and empowering work we will offer in our new Dove Learning Center as a result of your belief in us will help our youth build the necessary resilience skills to maintain positive living environments and prevent future homelessness.”
Wendy Steele, the Founder of Impact100 stated, “I congratulate the women of Impact100 Essex on their inaugural grant and success in bringing like-minded women together for the greater good. Based on the amazing women I have spoken with here, this is only the beginning. I am confident more women in this community will join the movement, which will continue to increase the impact of transformational grants funded by diverse and caring women in the region.”
While Covenant House was awarded the grant, members of Impact100 Essex were impressed by all of the finalists who proposed transformative solutions to persistent problems affecting neighbors in marginalized communities in Essex County. They included: Prevent Child Abuse NJ’s projects to teach techniques of managing emotions to pre-schoolers, parents and school staff in high needs areas; Spectrum 360’s proposal for a hydroponic greenhouse to teach work skills to young adults on the autism spectrum; and Music and the Brain, a targeted program using music programming in underserved schools to boost cognitive development and build focus and concentration.
About Impact100 Essex:
Impact100 Essex is a local pass-through foundation, committed to giving back to the community, and founded and funded by women in Essex County. We bring women together to amplify the impact of their giving and empower solutions for the community. Each year, Impact100 Essex awards a grant of $100,000 to support an important, innovative project managed by a local non-profit.
Impact100 Essex is beginning is second year and is recruiting members for the 2018 Grants Cycle. If you would like to learn more at an upcoming recruiting session on May 5, please email RSVPevents@Impact100Essex.org or go to their website here.
For more information, please visit: http://impact100essex.org.
Impact100 Essex Inaugural Grant Review is Underway!
The Impact100 Grants Committee is now beginning its process of evaluating the applications. Members of the committee attended orientation sessions, and four sub-committees will now review and discuss the applications. Each sub-group will recommend two or three organizations to move on to the next phase, which will include a full financial review and site visits. The four finalists will be announced on March 1st with a press event. Finalists will present their projects at the Impact100 Essex annual meeting on March 26, and the full membership will vote to choose the recipient. Inquiries: Grants@Impact100essex.org
Essex women pool resources to make an 'Impact'
Essex women pool resources to make an 'Impact'
Mollie Shauger , Staff Writer, @MollieShauger 3:49 p.m. ET June 16, 2017 
(Photo: Photo courtesy of Selma Avdicevic)
Women across Essex County are joining forces to support organizations making a difference in their communities.
Impact100 Essex is an all-volunteer philanthropic organization that is part of a broader organization with 40 chapters, most of which are in the U.S. Two are based in Australia.
Members pledge to give $1,000 a year, which goes toward a $100,000 grant to a local nonprofit or program.
To achieve that mission, the Essex chapter, which just formed in March, is working toward a goal of at least 100 members by June 30. On Thursday, the chapter was just 15 members - and 15 days - short of that target.
Montclair residents Selma Avdicevic and Lee Heh Margolies, two members of the steering committee for the Essex group, were surprised but excited by how quickly interest in the organization has grown.
Members are recruited largely through personal connections, the duo explained. Different women host meet-and-greets, inviting friends and friends of friends to learn about the organization. Members decide how much they want to become involved in the organization.
The women live in towns throughout Essex County, though a large number come from come from Montclair, noted Avdicevic. Ages and generations differ, as do the professions. There are retired women, women on their third careers, and those who work in fields such as media, government, law, and investment banking. Many are mothers and activists within their own communities.
Avdicevic and Margolies have been involved from the start. They spoke of the collective energy of a diverse group of women wanting to do something positive in their communities.
The Essex chapter came to be not long after two major political milestones that seemed to have a ripple effect across the nation.
"After the election and inauguration ... we all felt we should do something for the community that is good, something that will cause an immediate and positive impact in a community, that is in no way related to any of the news we are hearing," said Avdicevic, emphasizing that Impact100 Essex is nonpartisan.
"After the Women’s March, we women in general really saw the power of being with other women and doing something positive and effective, and meaningful and powerful," observed Margolies. "I think the genesis is just women being the drivers of philanthropy, and women making an impact in a meaningful way," she said.
Members do not have to live in Essex County to join. However, the grant will go to an Essex County organization.
Potential recipients apply for the grant, and after what the organization calls "a careful review process and presentations by finalists," members vote on the awardee.
There are two other New Jersey chapters: Impact100 Garden State and Impact100 Jersey Coast. Together they have distributed more than $900,000 in grants to charities serving veterans, or those feeding families and aiding domestic violence victims, according to Impact100 Essex. Across the U.S., more than $33 million has been raised since 2001.
"Essex County is home to hundreds of nonprofits who long to strengthen or expand their mission. A nonprofit applying for a $100,000 grant must propose a program that is both transformative and sustainable," stated Helen Mazarakis, grant committee chair for the Essex group.
The idea right now for the Essex branch is to issue a grant once a year, but depending on the membership and money raised, the organization could give more, according to Avdicevic and Margolies.
Margolies described Impact100's model of giving as "more personal."
As often happens with larger charities, "you kind of write the check and you don’t really know where that’s going, and you don’t know how it’s funding that group," she said. "This we will see directly, and it’s right in our backyard."
"There is really no lack of philanthropic efforts or organizations in Essex County," Avdicevic acknowledged. "People have always been extremely generous, especially in Montclair, from what I can see in my experience."
In a statement, Margo Greenfield, organizer of Impact100 Essex, said Impact100 offers a "hands-on approach to giving."
"Collectively pooling our resources, we can make a significant impact in a way we could not have otherwise as separate individuals," Greenfield said. The Community Foundation of New Jersey, a nonprofit organization, provides technical and administrative support to Impact100 Essex.
For more information or to join, visit impact100essex.org (http://impact100essex.org).
Email: gray@northjersey.com
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