Our Grant Process |
Our Grant Process |
Impact Giving’s grant process is a Partner-led experience that includes hands-on, personal interactions with nonprofits seeking funding.
Official grant season begins in the Fall at the Grant Kickoff Brunch and wraps up in Spring at Impact Giving’s Annual Awards Event. This ‘can’t miss’ event offers opportunities for guests to interact with grant finalists of the current season, as well as have the opportunity to give back even further through live auction.
If you’re interested in learning more about the grant process or how to become an Impact Giving Partner, contact us or attend Impact Giving’s Grant Season Events - Fall Kickoff Event or attend Spring Awards Event.
GUIDE TO IMPACT GIVING’S GRANT SEASON
STEP 1: GRANT SEASON KICKOFF
Hosted every Fall, the Grant Season Kickoff Event is a great place for nonprofits and those interested in Partnership to learn about how Impact Giving’s grant process works. Check out our grant calendar for more event details.
STEP 2: PARTNER SPONSORSHIP
To apply for a grant, nonprofit organizations must be sponsored by a current Impact Giving Partner. Nonprofits have the opportunity to meet Partners at the Grant Season Kickoff Event and other organized events throughout the year. See our events calendar.
STEP 3: GRANT APPLICATION
Grant applications can be requested by a nonprofit’s Impact Giving Sponsor as early as October each year. Complete the application and return as instructed to qualify for the next step of the grant process.
STEP 4: SITE-VISITS & REVIEW
Grant applicants are then reviewed by Partner-only Grant Committees. The process includes a vetting process and site visits where possible. Grant Committees collectively decide which nonprofit projects will move forward to the next step.
STEP 5: FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
Having narrowed down the top applicants of the year, the grant finalists are announced a few weeks prior to the end of season awards event. Then, Partners privately vote for which finalists they deem worthy of receiving a grant from Impact Giving.
STEP 6: ANNUAL AWARDS EVENT
Partners, Grant Finalists, and guests are invited to attend the Annual Awards Event, where the year’s Grant Recipients are revealed to everyone’s surprise. Additionally, guests are given opportunities throughout the event to raise funds to support the projects of the finalists who was not awarded a grant this year.
current GRANT CALENDAR
October 2024
Oct 6: 16th Grant Season Kickoff Event
October - december 2024
Oct 7 - Dec 13: Grant Application Request Period
October 2024– JANUARY 2025
Oct 8 - Jan 5: Grant Committee Sign-up Period
december 2024
Dec 13: Request a Grant Application Deadline
january 2025
Jan 5: Grant Committee Sign-up Period Deadline
Jan 9: Grant Application Submission Deadline (6 p.m. PST)
February – April 2025
Grant Committee Meetings, Site Visits, Summary Reports
April - May 2025
Mid Apr: Finalist & Non-finalists Notified
Apr -May: Partners Vote Online
MAY 2025
May 29: 16th Annual Awards Event
GRANT COMMITTEES
Partners have the amazing opportunity to serve on Grant Committees.
Grant Committees consist of a small group of women who join forces to review and vet the season’s grant applications. During this important step of our process, each Partner is able to conduct onsite visits with nonprofits and communicate what they’ve learned with their committee.
After the committee has properly vetted the applicants, the group decides which nonprofits will be selected as grant finalists.
Finalists are then voted on by all Partners to reveal the new grant recipients.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Frequently Asked Questions
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You must have an Impact Giving Partner who has agreed to sponsor your organization. They will contact you directly
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Impact Giving will be accepting Grant Applications requesting funding from $10,000 to $40,000. Requested funds must be used within 1 year of the grant donation.
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No. A strong application should have high impact and meet at least one of the five principles. For example, providing operating funds to a community organization may be a response to an urgent need, but not be a new innovative approach. This does not reduce its eligibility for funding. Sometimes the most viable need is operating support for an established organization or an innovative program; sometimes providing seed money to a new program will be the direction the committee chooses. Again, an organization should meet our standard of high impact and qualify within one or more of the stated principals.
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Yes
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No. We make grants to organizations for programming, capital and operating funds only.
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We fund faith based organizations where the programs are available to the general public, broadly promoted and free from religious programming.
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Yes. If your organization is a 501(c)(3) in the United States and operates out of the country, a site visit will be arranged electronically, and/or by phone. Live stream video, Zoom and other electronic applications may be used.
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Organizations that received a grant , will now need take a one-year break before applying again, in order to ensure projects have been completed before being considered for a grant on a new project.
This change will also provide more opportunities for a wider range of organizations to receive funding. While we greatly value the work of our long-standing recipients, this policy allows us to support new and equally deserving organizations.
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Yes. It is mandatory that an active Impact Giving Partner sponsor your organization. Each Partner may sponsor one nonprofit per year, two if they serve on a grant committee.
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No, we do not provide funds for redistribution. We grant directly to nonprofit organizations chosen by our Partners.
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All organizations will be contacted in mid April by the Grant Chair to let them know if they have been selected this year as a Grant Finalist. Finalists will be notified if they will be a grant recipient in mid-May.
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The Impact Giving Partners who will be sitting on Grant Committees and vetting the grant applications are required to attend this training. The training is for Impact Giving Partners only. Additionally, your sponsoring Partner is offered training, as it is beneficial for your organization to have a clear understanding of our grant making process.
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No. You are limited to the word count on the application. Overage may disqualify your application. All grant applicants will receive a site visit at which time you can provide additional information and insight into your organization.
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No. All applications must be submitted electronically to Grants@ImpactGivingNow.org by 6:00 p.m. (PST) on the deadline given.
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If you have technical / formatting questions regarding the grant application or submission, please contact Kim.Fry@ImpactGivingNow.org. For general questions please contact our Grant Chair, Kathy Osann at Grants@ImpactGivingNow.org.
