What does it take to start with more than 150 agency applications, narrow them down to 10 finalists, and then select five to receive $100,000 High Impact Grants? It requires an Olympic-level relay effort from a group of passionate Impact SA members who’ve come together with open minds, open hearts, and a commitment to learning from and listening to each other through every step of the process.
Most of us will never be Olympic-caliber athletes, but what we can do during each annual grant cycle is raise our game with the help of our fellow members to nominate the best of the best agency applications to be grant finalists in their specific focus areas.
Our Impact SA relay team consists of four super-powered sub-teams of women members. This year’s effort is being performed by more than 120 members who each bring their best selves to this important task. Here are those teams.
Agencies and Applications is first out of the block and trains agencies in our application process. They then complete a two-stage review to ensure that each application meets our grant criteria and that the organization demonstrates they are ready to take on a $100,000 High Impact Grant.
Grant Review takes the baton next and evaluates all qualifying applications, using the rigorous techniques they learn in our training program to narrow down the pool to 10 agency finalists — two per focus area. Serving on grant review is a personal highlight for me each year. I enjoy getting to know more of our amazing members, benefit from their diverse perspectives, and learn about the outstanding agencies that work so hard to improve the quality of lives in our community.
Third up is the full membership of Impact SA, who have the opportunity to review and analyze each of the finalists’ proposals in depth, and then vote for one agency in each of our five focus areas to receive our High Impact Grant.
The anchor position is held by our Grant Oversight and Outcomes team, which partners with the grant recipients through the implementation process
While many of us spend the spring and summer doing fun leisure activities that help us take a break from our hectic, overscheduled lives, these impressive member volunteers are working together in support of our community. That’s what I call Olympic-level commitment!
To celebrate their hard work, mark your calendars for Monday night, October 25, for Grant Award Night. It’s our version of a Closing Ceremony to the 2021 grant cycle when we announce our High Impact Grant recipients. It’s here that we show up on the field as one unified team of women making a profound difference in our community through this next group of grants.
