Impact100 Greater Sacramento Grants

Impact100 Greater Sacramento is a philanthropic organization that mobilizes women to collectively fund transformational and sustainable projects that address pressing community needs. Since its inception, this chapter has awarded nearly $1 million in grants to nonprofit organizations operating in the Sacramento, El Dorado, Placer, and Yolo counties. The organization’s funding model is designed to empower local nonprofits and ensure meaningful impact by offering significant grants that can bring about substantial change in these communities. Each grant cycle culminates in a community-driven selection process where members of Impact100 vote on which finalist receives the award, reinforcing the collective commitment to local giving. The purpose of the Impact100 Greater Sacramento grant is to fund projects that are innovative, sustainable, and address unmet needs within the local community. Grants are awarded across five key focus areas: Arts & Culture, Education, Environment, Family, and Health & Wellness. Applicants must choose two of these areas—one primary and one secondary—that best align with their proposal. Examples of eligible programs range from arts education and environmental conservation to family services and public health initiatives. While the grant floor is $100,000, there is no stated ceiling, and applicants are encouraged to propose larger budgets if appropriate, provided the minimum threshold is met. To be eligible, applicants must be a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, independent of a financial sponsor. Organizations must have at least three years of submitted financial documentation, including federal Form 990, California Form 199, and the Annual Registration Renewal Fee Report to the California Attorney General. Furthermore, applicants should ideally have a minimum operating budget of $350,000 to demonstrate fiscal capacity to manage the grant. However, this is a recommendation, not a requirement. Organizations that have received a $100,000 grant from Impact100 Greater Sacramento must wait three years from the date of the award before reapplying. The 2026 application period opens on January 12 and closes on March 21 at midnight. Applications must be submitted online, and late submissions are not accepted. Each nonprofit is allowed only one application per year and must designate their primary and secondary focus areas at the time of submission. Once the application window closes, dedicated focus teams review submissions and conduct site visits for selected semi-finalists over the summer. Finalists are announced in August, and representatives are invited to present their proposals at the Annual Celebration on September 24, 2026. Voting by members occurs that evening, and grant recipients are announced at the conclusion of the event. The review process is conducted entirely by members of Impact100 Greater Sacramento, reinforcing a peer-reviewed selection mechanism. Evaluation criteria prioritize proposals that address unmet community needs, demonstrate high potential impact, and are feasible in terms of infrastructure and organizational capacity. Emphasis is placed on serving underserved populations and proposing initiatives that are both transformational and sustainable. Faith-based organizations are welcome to apply, provided their proposed projects are secular and inclusive, in accordance with IRS regulations for 501(c)(3) entities. Organizations may submit proposals requesting more than $100,000, but the grant must be fully utilized within 24 months of award. Funding may not be used for debt reduction, interim or bridge funding, endowments, individual support, political or religious activities, fundraising events, or projects that do not require the full grant amount. For further information, applicants are encouraged to contact Impact100 Greater Sacramento via email at [email protected] or by phone at (916) 502-1740. There is no pre-application stage required for eligibility or advancement in the grant cycle.

Highlight unmet needs, demonstrate sustainability, serve underserved populations, show capacity to manage grant.