Impact Giving awards $120K to six nonprofits

Impact Giving hosted its 11th Annual “Making the Impact” Awards Event last week and awarded $120,000 to six deserving nonprofits. This year’s grants ranged from $14,000 to $27,000.

After months of preparation, vetting, and voting, the women of Impact Giving proudly revealed how their collective giving dollars will help communities around the globe.

“Selecting six nonprofits from 18 finalists was no easy task, but we are excited for each of the grant recipients’ funded projects to begin and see the impact made within their communities.” said Jennifer Lipinski, Board Chair of Impact Giving.

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Guests at Impact Giving’s 2019 event

This year’s Impact Giving grant recipients include:

1. Bracken’s Kitchen: Funds received will be used to purchase equipment that will help increase food production and provide more healthy meals to homeless and underserved communities. Learn more at www.brackenskitchen.com. 

2. CASA of Orange County: Awarded grant will be used to recruit, screen, and train 75 new Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) that assist foster youth as they transition into adulthood. Learn more at www.casaoc.org. 

3. Girls Inc. of Orange County: New funds will be used for the organization’s externship program that serves at-risk 10th through 12th grade girls. This program inspires girls to be smart, strong, and bold as well as empowers them with skills and a pathway into today’s workforce. Learn more at www.girls-oc.org. 

4. Bourke Family Foundation – Lights for Literacy: Awarded grant money will provide solar lights to middle school students and library solar systems to Zimbabwe communities. Learn more at www.BourkeFF.org. 

5. ReWritten: Funds will be used to purchase a passenger van that will be used to transport program participants, which are primarily at-risk youth aged 5-18. The van will be used for daily carpool services and outings to colleges, campgrounds, and museums. Learn more at www.rewritten.org. 

6. Stand Up for Kids: New grant will be used to transition “last chance” homeless youth in Orange County off the streets. Learn more at www.StandupforKids.org/orangecounty. 

Unlike previous events, this year’s presentation was run virtually through Zoom, allowing each grant recipient, the chance to make a brief acceptance speech to the hundreds of Impact Giving Partners and guests who attended the event. A recording of the event can be found at www.impactgivingnow.org. 

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This year’s virtual event can be viewed at www.impactgivingnow.org

During the live event, viewers were given the chance to make a donation to the organizations that were put forth as finalists but did not receive any grant money this year. This year’s virtual guests raised over $37,000 additional funds for the 12 other grant finalists. 

The team of women Partners who form the foundation of the organization aim to change lives both locally and globally through the power of collective giving. 

Following the event, Impact Giving has now raised more than $1.45 million since launching in 2009. In addition to its grant season events, Impact Giving hosts various social and networking opportunities ranging from monthly coffee connections and wine nights to book clubs and educational seminars, and supports current and past grant recipient events. 

To learn about Impact Giving and how to get involved as a volunteer or a Partner, visit www.impactgivingnow.org/get-involved.

The 2021 Grant Season will commence later this fall. If an organization is interested in applying for a grant, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit must be sponsored by a current Impact Giving Partner. When all submissions are received, Impact Giving committees evaluate how the nonprofits will use the potential funds. Final selections are then made prior to next year’s “Making the Impact” Awards Event. 

The full grant season calendar is available at www.impactgivingnow.org/grants/grant-calendar.