Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis names 2024 Change Maker finalists

This week, during its annual Big Reveal event, Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis announced the five Indianapolis-area nonprofits that will compete next month for the $100,000 high-impact Change Maker grant.

Nonprofits within five focus areas can apply for the grant: arts, culture and preservation; education; environment and animal welfare; family; and health and wellness. After thorough research and evaluation, a finalist is chosen from each focus area.

During the June 11 awards celebration at The Heirloom at N.K. Hurst, each finalist will have seven minutes to present a live pitch to Impact 100 members, who will vote for the winner of the 2024 Change Maker grant. The winner will receive the $100,000 high-impact grant, and the remaining finalists will each receive a Community Support grant worth one quarter of the remaining funds collected for the grants. The total amount raised for the 2024 Change Maker and Community Support grants is $144,000.

Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis creates transformational change in the community by empowering female philanthropists to collectively pool their dollars and award annual high-impact grants of $100,000 or more to at least one deserving nonprofit.

2024 Change Maker finalists in the five focus areas are:

• Arts, Culture, & Preservation: iibada Dance Company (https://iibadadance.org/)
• Education: Kids’ Voice of Indiana (https://www.kidsvoicein.org/)
• Environment & Animal Welfare: Medical Mutt Service Dogs (https://www.medicalmutts.org/)
• Family: Coburn Place Safe (https://coburnplace.org/)
• Health and wellness: 91 Place (https://91place.org/)

“We are very impressed with the caliber of nonprofits that have applied for Impact 100 grant funding, and this year’s grant pool is no exception,” said Freedom Smith, Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis president. “These organizations are truly change makers who make our community better.”

To date, 21 local nonprofits have received $100,000 high-impact grants, and 58 have received Community Support grants through Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis’ collective giving. Previous Change Maker grant recipients include: Unconditional Indy (2023); NeuroHope (2022); NeighborLink Indianapolis Foundation (2021); Family Promise of Hendricks County (2020); Kennedy King Memorial Initiative (2019); Brookside Community Development Corporation and Trinity Episcopal Church (2018); Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana (2017); The IMPACT Project (a joint project between Ascent 121 and Lutheran Child and Family Services) (2016); Indianapolis Parks Foundation for Indy Urban Acres Flower Farm (2015); LifeSmart Youth (2014); Tindley Collegiate (2013); Jameson Camp (2012); Outside the Box Inc. (2011); Rock Steady Boxing (2010); Outreach Inc. (2009); Herron High School and Horizon House (2008); Indy Reads and Craine House/Fairbanks (2007); and Wishard/Eskenazi (2006).

Membership in Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis is secured through an individual donation of $1,000. Shared memberships, in which two to four women pool their money to share one vote, are also available. Membership funds are used exclusively for the purpose of grantmaking.

While voting for the 2024 Change Maker recipient is restricted to current Impact 100 members, the organization encourages nonmembers to participate in the annual awards celebration to see firsthand the caliber of nonprofits vying for the prize. Tickets to this year’s celebration are $68 per person if purchased before May 31, and $83 per person until registration closes at midnight June 5. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Eventbrite.

“Each year, we start over at $0, relying on the generous giving and support of our members,” said Smith. “Preparation for our 20^th-anniversary award cycle begins at the annual awards event, and we anticipate even greater excitement to raise the tide in Greater Indianapolis during this milestone year!”

Since 2005, Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis has fostered profound and positive change for several nonprofits in the community. Together, the women of Impact 100 have given more than $3 million to over 70 nonprofits.

For more information about Impact 100, please visit impact100indy.org.

###

About Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis

Founded in 2005, Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis is a 501(c)(3) charitable women’s giving organization dedicated to awarding high-impact grants totaling $100,000 or more to at least one nonprofit in the Greater Indianapolis community in the areas of arts, culture and preservation; education; environment and animal welfare; family; and health and wellness. The organization seeks to fund critical needs, new ventures and innovative ways to solve social problems and to create a more civil and respectful climate in our community. Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis has a minimum of 100 members, each donating $1,000 per year to fund the grants. For more information about Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis, visit www.impact100indy.org or follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.