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In this column, we “check our homework.” Are we serving those who serve our neighbors - through partnerships, capacity building and financial possibilities? We intend to share stories here to hold ourselves accountable, and hopefully encourage more people and organizations to invite us to be their service partner. This month, we shine a light on Impact 100 Greater Peninsula, an organization that exemplifies the power of collective giving.
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In 2015, a group of women were seeking to bring together more women in this community to make an impactful difference for nonprofits on the Virginia Peninsula. Knowing they could not do it alone, they recruited women from all walks of life to join them, and Impact 100 Greater Peninsula was born.
Today, Impact 100 Greater Peninsula still operates on its founding principles:
- anchored in the compounding power of collective giving
- in partnership with the Peninsula Community Foundation, as a donor-advised fund
This true community-wide effort brings together women from all across the Virginia Peninsula to collectively fund transformational grants for local nonprofits.
A Powerful Return on Investment
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Since its inception, Impact 100 Greater Peninsula has awarded over $1 million in transformative grants - 47 grants to date in amounts of up to $50,000 each. This powerful giving model ensures that the funds go to projects that:
Foster long-term positive impact and change. Are programmatic and/or capital in nature. Represent new programs or significant expansions/improvements to
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existing ones. Demonstrate specific, measurable goals for creating community impact.
These grants aren't just stop-gap measures; they are designed to fundamentally change the way an organization or a community operates, proving that collective giving can lead to truly transformational change.
Empowering Women and the Community
The Impact 100 model is built on the principle of empowering women to see themselves as philanthropists. The membership gift of $1,100 is intentional—it ensures each member is deeply invested and connected to the transformational grants that result. And that gift level can be achieved individually, or as a group of up to four people. Impact 100’s members represent all ages and include mother-daughter teams, busy professionals and retirees!
This united mission empowers not only the recipients of the grants but also the women who give, fosters social connection and friendship among its members, and creates a collective voice that reaches across the entire Greater Peninsula, including: Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson, James City County, Williamsburg, York County, Gloucester, Isle of Wight, and Smithfield. Impact 100 will make its 2025 awards later this month, voting for and granting over $100,000 to area nonprofits on November 18.