Impact100 Owensboro

**Our History** In 2005, Marianne Smith Edge and Martha Clark learned about a women’s giving circle that was formed in Cincinnati, Ohio, called Impact100. They realized no other community in the state had a concept like Impact100, where 100 women donate $1,000 each and those combined donations became one transformational $100,000 grant. Despite Owensboro’s size, they believed women in their community would embrace the idea. They quickly formed their original Board and those women gave Impact100 Owensboro the foundation it needed to flourish. Since its inception, Impact100 Owensboro has empowered a diverse group of local women of all ages, stages in life, income levels and backgrounds to come together to fund transformational grants in the Greater Owensboro region. After awarding grants in 2022, Impact100 Owensboro has given $3,888,700 in grant funds to deserving nonprofits. **How it Works** The annual $1,000 donations of Impact100 Owensboro members are pooled into a grant fund to be given away to nonprofit organizations in our community. The number and size of grants awarded are dependent on our membership, but our goal is to give incremental grants of $100,000 each year. Grants can be awarded in the areas of Arts & Culture, Education, Family, Health & Wellness, and Environment & Recreation. Grants are awarded based on a vote of the Impact100 Owensboro membership at our annual meeting. Every woman who gives $1,000 or more has one vote. A member who donates $500 has half a vote.