Impact 100 Jersey Coast Offers Generous Donation to COVID-19 Response Initiative

Since its founding in 2015, Impact 100 Jersey Coast has made tremendous strides in empowering women to improve the lives of others through philanthropy. Thus far, the all-volunteer organization has awarded nearly $1.2 million in substantial grants to ten Monmouth County nonprofits, with new recipients selected each November. This month, the women of Impact 100 Jersey Coast joined forces to provide additional assistance in the face of the extraordinary COVID-19 crisis.

On April 21, 2020, Impact 100 Jersey Coast announced its donation of $17,650 to the non-profit New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund (NJPRF) that was launched in March to address critical needs and fight the medical, economic, and social impact of COVID-19 in the Garden State. Every dollar raised by NJPRF goes to existing organizations with a demonstrated record of offering essential services to vulnerable communities and to assist those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. These include food banks and pantries, healthcare programs, transportation, housing, mental health services, and more.

“We are pleased to announce that, in addition to awarding four high-impact grants this fall, we will also be making a donation to the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund this month. We are proud to team up with other funders in this collective effort that will address the acute needs of numerous non-profit organizations across our great Garden State,” stated Deirdre Spiropoulos, president and co-founder of Impact 100 Jersey Coast.

This one-time gift was made possible by the vote of 353 Impact 100 members who agreed to allocate $50 of their annual donation towards its administrative fund to instead support the efforts of the state-wide New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund. NJPRF is managed by the Community Foundation of New Jersey, the trusted fiscal partner and parent 501(c)3 for Impact 100 Jersey Coast.

“It means the world to the NJPRF to have Impact 100 Jersey Coast’s support for pandemic relief. Like Impact 100, we will use the funding in the most strategic places to help our families and communities survive and recover. Thanks for being our partner in the work,” said Hans Dekker, president of the Community Foundation of New Jersey.

Despite the global pandemic and New Jersey’s state of emergency, Impact 100 Jersey Coast recently closed its fifth annual membership drive with a record 456 members. That will allow them to provide a total of $456,000 in grants – or $114,000 each – to assist high-impact projects for four non-profit organizations that will be selected this fall.

“This is a moment when our community needs us more than ever. Thanks to the support of our members, our collective dollars now represent a lifeline to our local nonprofit community,” said Heather Burke, vice president and co-founder of Impact 100 Jersey Coast.

Impact 100 members and supporters are also invited to visit the organization’s website for updates on ways to help with urgent community needs, including wish lists from grantees and grant applicants, during the COVID-19 emergency. Along with so many others, Impact 100 Jersey Coast salutes all the healthcare professionals, emergency responders, educators, nonprofits, community organizations, volunteers, and fellow neighbors for taking care of one another under these uncertain and challenging times.

Monmouth County nonprofits interested in being considered for the Impact 100 Jersey Coast 2020 grant program should visit www.Impact100JerseyCoast.org to review the guidelines and submit an eligibility form by May 15. Once eligibility is confirmed, applicants will receive a link to complete the application, due on or before June 1. Upon completion of the member-run grant review process, finalists will present their proposals for the final vote by the wider Impact membership in November. Impact 100 members donate $1,100 annually, with $1,000 going into the main Grant Fund and $100 going into the Administrative Fund, which covers membership activities and other operational expenses.

Learn more about Impact 100 Jersey Coast, its members, and its mission at www.Impact100JerseyCoast.org.