Impact 100 Southern Indiana Grant Program

Impact100 Southern Indiana is inviting nonprofit organizations serving Clark, Floyd, and/or Harrison counties to apply for its 2025 grant opportunity. Impact100 SI is a women-led philanthropic group founded from the evolution of the Women’s Foundation of Southern Indiana (WFSI), which began in 2007. In 2016, inspired by Wendy Steele’s vision for women-led community philanthropy, the foundation transitioned into Impact100 Southern Indiana and has since awarded over $850,000 in grants. The organization follows a national model and awards grants in five focus areas: Arts & Culture, Education, Environment & Recreation, Family, and Health & Wellness. For 2025, the organization will award two separate grants of $85,000 each, totaling $170,000 in available funding. The purpose of the grant is to support transformational change, defined as a structural shift in programming or the introduction of a new initiative with significant impact on those served. Eligible projects can include programming, capital expenditures, or technical assistance/training. All proposed initiatives must be implemented within 12 to 24 months and must benefit residents in at least one of the three designated counties, regardless of the organization’s physical location. Eligibility criteria include being a 501(c)(3) organization in good standing for a minimum of three years, possessing three years of financial records, and providing services to the target geography. Applicants may only submit one application, but collaborations between two nonprofits are allowed if both meet the eligibility criteria. Organizations must also obtain internal approval from their executive leadership and board before applying. Impact100 SI mandates that all communications regarding the application avoid lobbying or direct contact with board members beyond publicly available information. The submission process involves two steps. First, an Email of Intent must be submitted by August 1, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET to grants@impact100si.org. The email should include the organization’s contact information and confirm eligibility, though it does not need to outline the specific project proposal. Second, the full application is due September 1, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET via the Impact100 SI website. The application must be submitted in a single PDF, include all required sections and attachments, follow formatting guidelines (12-pt font, 1-inch margins, numbered pages), and clearly specify whether the proposal is for a one-year or two-year term. Evaluation of proposals is conducted by at least three vetted members of the organization who follow a standardized scoring rubric totaling 80 points. Criteria include the relevance and depth of the community need addressed, potential for transformational change, the strength of the implementation and sustainability plans, evaluation methods, organizational capacity, and budget justification. Finalists will present their proposals at the Annual Awards Celebration on November 6, 2025, where grant recipients will be selected via member vote. Award recipients are required to sign a formal agreement that outlines deliverables, including quarterly progress reports, a mid-project sustainability plan, and a final evaluation report. The organization must host annual site visits, comply with record-keeping requirements, and adhere to spending restrictions which exclude operational deficits, capital campaigns, and other non-permissible activities. Additionally, recipients are restricted from reapplying for Impact100 SI funding until two years after the conclusion of their funded project.

Ensure formatting is followed precisely; submit in one PDF; no lobbying of members.