Member Spotlight: Terry Mumford, Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis
Get to know Terry Mumford, President of Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis.
How’d you get started with Impact 100?
I joined Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis in 2006. At that time, the first $100,000 grant had been just been given. I didn’t have any experience with the Impact 100 model, but I was intrigued by the opportunity to be personally involved in grantmaking. I was working full-time then and had to ration the time that I devoted to philanthropy. But once I retired at the end of 2014, I could get more involved and joined the Board of Directors. My initial focus was on membership, and now I am the President of the Board. Although my role and level of involvement have changed over the past 13 years, my initial impression of Impact 100 has proven to be correct—my participation gives me personal involvement in grantmaking to improve our community.
Tell us about your work.
To me a giving circle, such as Impact 100, is the essence of collaborative philanthropy. Each year, through our grant application process, our members learn first-hand about the problems that are facing our community and about the organizations that are developing creative solutions to those problems. Our grants make us part of the solution. Many of our members continue their involvement after our grants are awarded – serving on the agencies’ boards of directors, providing continuing financial and volunteer support. As an organization, we keep in touch with our grantees through periodic “follow-the-impact” events.
What’s happening at your organization?
2018 was a record-breaking year for Impact 100. We had our largest grant pool—$215,000—and a record number of members—276. We were able to award two $100,000 grants to our 2018 Change-Makers – Trinity Haven and Brookside Employment and Education Academy. These are transformational projects: In 2019, Trinity Haven will open the first transitional home for LGTBQ+ youth in Indiana; the Brookside Employment and Education Academy just had its grand opening for an after-school program for middle school students in one of the roughest areas of the city. Until the end of the year, we are fundraising for our 2019 grant pool. We want to do even more than we did this year. It keeps me awake at night thinking about how we can reach our goals.
What can you imagine in 5 years if your organization is successful?
If I could just “make it so,” in five years, Impact 100 would be raising $500,000/year and making five $100,000 grants to change-makers. But I would want to be sure that we still gave our members the key roles of vetting and choosing our grantees. I never want to lose that personal connection.
Contact Terry
Do you have questions for Terry or ideas for collaboration? You can contact her using our Member Directory.
About Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis
Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis is a 501(c)(3) charitable women’s giving circle 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 & preservation, education, environment & animal welfare, family, and health & 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, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter @Impact100Indy.
About IPA's Member Spotlight Series
Follow IPA's Member Spotlight Series to connect with your peers in philanthropy and find opportunities for collaboration. Blogs are written by members who share their personality, purpose, and passion for philanthropy. If you would like to be featured, contact Lissa Silotto.