news release

Impact 100 Indian River, comprising of nearly 500 dedicated and philanthropic women, announced on Wednesday, March 8, the 2023 Impact 100 grant finalists.  After months of outreach by the Visioning and Grants Committees, a record number of applications from local nonprofits were submitted, all determined to make transformational changes in the areas of Arts and Culture, Children and Families, Education, Environment, and Health and Wellness.

Finalists are:

Ballet Vero Beach, Inc. Fellowship Initiative For Dancers Expansion

Bike Walk Indian River County Wheels on Wheels

Gifford Youth Orchestra GYO Audio, Recording, And Communications Studio

IRC Healthy Start Fatherhood Initiative Indian River County

Junior Achievement of PB & TC From Youngsters to High School Graduates

Learning Alliance Moonshot Lab School and Hub for Teacher Training

McKee Botanical Garden Nurtured by Nature

Senior Resource Association Meals on Wheels Waitlist Relief

The Source Dignity Wellness

Vero Beach Theatre Guild Theatrical Learning Center

Whole Family Health Center WFHC Mobile Medical Office

Each year, Impact 100 Indian River invites all area nonprofits to apply for $100,000 grants. Impact 100 grants allow local nonprofits to make substantive and transformational changes in our community, based on specific criteria. Grant finalists were announced Wednesday at the annual “Meet the Finalists Reception” at the Vero Beach Heritage Center and were chosen from a large number of applicants.

“This year’s finalists are well-established nonprofit organizations in our community that have shown exceptional dedication and creativity in addressing our community’s most pressing challenges, and we are thrilled to announce the number of grants we will award and the slate of projects that will be voted upon by our members in April,” stated Mary Ellen McCarthy, Impact 100 Indian River president.

The Grants Committee, composed of 60 Impact 100 members, conducted an intensive vetting process, during which they selected the grant finalists. The applicants prepared detailed written plans for how the grant money would be used and what transformational result could be expected. They also met with a grant panel, hosted site visits by the panels, and had their financials reviewed by Impact 100’s volunteer financial advisors.

“We are grateful for the contributions that local nonprofits make to improve our community. Grant panel members reviewed the record number of grant proposals received in a serious and thorough manner, and made difficult decisions based upon the high standards of our organization. Congratulations are due not only to the finalists, but to all the local nonprofits that work to impact Indian River County,” said Liz Locke, Grants Committee chair.

Robin Lloyd and Associates, P.A. and Joanne Quaile were the event sponsors for this year’s Meet the Finalists Reception. Impact 100 is grateful to all our sponsors for their financial contributions, which help maintain Impact 100’s commitment to award 100 percent of membership dues in grants to the local community.

About Impact 100 Indian River

Established in 2008, Impact 100 Indian River is a membership organization comprising nearly 500 dedicated and philanthropic women who, collectively, impact the lives of individuals and the community through transformational giving. Founded on the premise of “one woman, $1,000 and one vote,” each member contributes $1,000 annually which is pooled to create grants in $100,000 increments.  Open to all women who are residents of Indian River County, Impact 100 offers women an opportunity to participate in “team philanthropy” through high impact grant making vs. traditional, transactional charitable giving. In just 15 years, IMPACT 100 has awarded over $6 million in grants to fund more than 50 local area nonprofits.  For more information or to become a member, visit www.impact100ir.com