Impact San Antonio
What would you do with $100,000?
Many of us may answer, “Buy a new car,” “Go on vacation,” or maybe even “Give some away to charities.” Well, some local ladies have found a way to impact San Antonio and raise that much money for organizations in need.
They call the group Impact San Antonio because they are impacting the community in unimaginable ways. This amazing group of philanthropic women is doing something for San Antonio that is practically unheard of.
Their mission is to empower women and to improve the community through effective philanthropy.
Each year, Impact San Antonio gives a grant of $100,000 to a non-profit organization in need.
Organizations must apply for the grant, and ISA members vote for the winner in October of each year.
The process starts by reviewing all of the applications. The organizations are then narrowed down to the top five (as voted on by ISA board committee members), in accord with Impact San Antonio’s five focal points: culture, education, environment/recreation/historic preservation, family, and health and wellness.
Multiple organizations have been affected by the generosity of Impact San Antonio. Since its start in 2005, ISA has given over $525,000 to other San Antonio non-profits.
They did not start out being able to give so much, of course. In its first year, Impact San Antonio collected 25 members and a total of $25,000. This first grant was awarded to The Arc of San Antonio, which used the money to rehabilitate their nursery.
In 2006, Christian Senior Services was given $33,000 to buy a truck for their meals on wheels program. According to Sharon Baugnman, Christian Senior Services’ executive director, that truck has been used to deliver about 100 meals per day, and more than 150,000 in the past six years.
Impact San Antonio has built their funds over the last seven years, and now, with more than 100 members, they are able to give $100,000 to every grant recipient
In recent years, they have had enough funds to give smaller grants to the other four finalists – making everyone a winner.
Their goal for this year is to have enough money to give two full grants away (a total of $200,000), but they hope one day to be able to earn at least $500,000 in a single year in order to give five grants at once to different non-profits.
They get all of their funds from member donations. A $1,000 donation will set up membership for any woman who would like to participate in Impact San Antonio. Every penny of that $1,000 goes directly to the grant.
Membership gives full access to the organization. These women are able to serve on one of five grant committees, which review the grant applications and learn more about the organizations applying. They are also able to vote on the winning organization at the Grant Award Night in October. The deadline for membership this year is September 30.
Though membership is open only to women, men are also welcome to donate. Men will become “friends” of Impact San Antonio and their donations will aid in any operational costs.
All administrative work is done on a voluntary basis, so no one is paid, but money is still needed to keep the organization running.
Impact San Antonio expects to continue its philanthropy for many years to come.
Keep up the good work, ladies! You are a true blessing to our community!
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