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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Impact100 South Jersey?

Impact100 South Jersey is a women’s collective giving group. Our goal is to bring together over 100 diverse and philanthropic-minded members who will combine their contributions to give high-impact grants to local organizations. The goal is to annually award a $100,000 grant to an organization that is thoroughly vetted and selected by Impact100 South Jersey members.

Impact100 South Jersey is part of a growing international movement that empowers women to come together and combine their resources in order to achieve a transformational change in their communities.

What is the cost of membership?

To become a voting member, a woman must be 21 years of age and make a contribution of $1,150 to Impact100 South Jersey before our annual December deadline in order to fund our grant for the following year.  Of your $1,150 donation, $1,000 will go to our grant award and the additional $150 is for administrative costs such as printing, software, website and account management fees.

We recognize that this amount is a significant commitment. By asking our members for this contribution, we are not only carrying out our goal of making an impactful difference in our local community, but also making sure that we have a vital and committed membership, and an organizational structure that is capable of carrying out our work. 

Impact100 South Jersey is Field of Interest Fund of the Community Foundation of South Jersey (CFSJ), which is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.  CFSJ serves as our fiduciary agent and we are covered by their non-profit tax-exempt status.  This means 100% of your membership contribution is tax-deductible.  

When can I join?

Anytime! We welcome new memberships throughout the year, but payment in full is due by December 1 in order to participate in the proposal review process and vote on grants awarded the following June. Women joining after December 1 may participate in Impact100 South Jersey events but will not have voting rights until the following grant year.

How do I become a member?

There are three ways to join. (New membership forms for 2023 membership will be added to website once they’ve been updated.)

  1. Complete an Impact100 South Jersey membership form and MAIL it with a check payable to Impact100 South Jersey, c/o Community Foundation of South Jersey, PO Box 446, Haddonfield, NJ 08033
  2. Complete the ONLINE membership form and make a credit card contribution through the secure online CFSJ donation tool.  There is also an installment contribution plan for members that act early enough.  Payments must be complete by December 31st to become a voting member for the following year.
  3. Make your contribution through your Donor Advised Fund to “Impact100 South Jersey Fund at Community Foundation of South Jersey.”  (We will provide supporting documents to share with your fund manager.)
  4. Through Community Foundation, we can also accept securities to cover membership contributions.

Can my company make or match a portion of my membership contribution?

Yes, however your membership only becomes effective when the entire amount is received. In addition, only members have voting rights. This does not extend to any companies that partially cover membership through matching funds.

Do you accept in-kind donations to cover membership contributions?

While we cannot accept in-kind donations to cover your membership, we encourage all members to share their expertise, talents and professional services to expand our outreach and growth.

If I give more than $1,150, may I have more than one vote?

Every member gets one vote — even if she gives more than $1,150. Any donation over $1,150, however, is greatly appreciated by Impact100 South Jersey as it will help offset our operating costs.

How long is my membership valid?

Your donation of $1,150 provides membership for one calendar year. 

What are my obligations if I join?

Once you become a member, you are under no obligation to take on any other responsibilities. However, we recommend that all of our members make an informed decision on our grant recipients. We also welcome them to serve on committees that evaluate grant applications and strengthen the organization.

What counties does Impact100 South Jersey serve?

We will award our grants to nonprofit organizations that serve Camden, Burlington, Gloucester, and Cumberland counties. Our members do NOT need to reside in these counties.

How is the recipient of the grant award decided?

We have three focus areas for our grant applications:

  • Education
  • Women, Children & Families
  • Community Health & Wellbeing

Each focus area has its own committee, made up of members who will be trained to carry out a grant review process that is thorough, thoughtful and reflective of best practices. We will send out a request for grant proposals to non-profit organizations throughout the four-county region we serve. After reviewing proposals and conducting selected site visits, each committee will arrive at a finalist. Information on these finalists will be provided to each member of Impact100 South Jersey for review. We will hold a member meeting where the finalists will give a short presentation. At the end of that meeting, members will arrive at a final decision by voting, with each member casting one vote.  For more information about our grant review process, visit our Grants FAQ page.

What organizations has Impact100 South Jersey supported?

We have awarded over $1 million in grants to 15 organizations since 2017.  For a complete list of grantees to date, click here.

Why does Impact100 South Jersey plan to give a $100,000 lump sum to a single organization?

As our name states, our goal is to make a significant impact in the community. By pooling our giving, we are able to affect a higher level of impact than we can individually.

Do you give smaller grants?

We have begun creating a small grants program for organizations that have annual operating budgets that are less than $300,000. The first small grants are expected to be awarded in 2024.

What role is there for me if I can’t make the $1,150 contribution?

You can become a Supporter of Impact100 South Jersey and play a very important role in our organization. We use donations of less than $1,150 to cover additional administrative costs. If we receive more money than we need to cover our administrative costs, our Leadership Council has the discretionary power to add that money to the grant funds.

I have a male friend who is interested in becoming a member of Impact100 South Jersey.  Can he participate?

Men may participate as Supporters of Impact100 South Jersey or they can encourage or sponsor women in their lives to become members.

If I am unable to attend and vote for one of the grant finalists at the award event, may I still place a vote?

Yes, members may cast an absentee ballot based on information about the grant finalists that Impact100 South Jersey will provide them.

How does Impact100 South Jersey handle conflict of interest issues?

We are committed to selecting our grant recipients through an honest and fair process. In support of this commitment, Impact100 South Jersey has adopted a Conflict of Interest policy requiring disclosure of any relationships between members of our grant review committee and any grant applicant.

Are there any added benefits to joining Impact 100 South Jersey?

Members in other Impact100 organizations report a higher level of awareness of the problems facing their communities and the organizations that are working to solve them. Often, members become actively involved with organizations that have received our grants, serving as board members and volunteers. In addition, members learn more about ways they can increase their own individual philanthropic efforts.

How is Impact100 South Jersey affiliated with other national Impact100 groups?

Impact100 South Jersey is among more than 65 Impact100 chapters in operation worldwide and the 4th in the State of New Jersey. The original organization was in Cincinnati, Ohio. Some of the other Impact100 organizations formed prior to ours are: Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Detroit, Palm Beach, Pensacola and Austin.  However, we do not pay fees to a national organization nor do we have official ties or obligations to any other Impact100 program.