Dear Impact100 DC Community,

It is with great sadness that I share the news that Bonnie Harkness, who served on Impact100 DC’s Board beginning in our founding year, has passed away.

Bonnie’s contributions to Impact100 DC were many and varied. As the inaugural Chair of the Family Focus Area Committee, she guided members through the newly established grant evaluation process that is central to our work. More recently, in 2023 and 2024, she served as our Grantee Liaison, helping to build strong, lasting partnerships with our grantee organizations — both during their grant period and beyond. In our all-volunteer organization, Bonnie was someone who always stepped in to do whatever was most needed.

Who Bonnie was — warm, generous, and committed — shone through in everything she did. One Board member shared, “Bonnie was my first FAC chair and she made us all feel so welcome and at ease. She helped me understand the magic of Impact100 DC, and I’m so grateful to her for that.” Another remembered, “Bonnie was such a bright light and meaningful contributor to all of our Impact100 DC endeavors. She was on the panel that interviewed me as a potential Board member. Her huge, encouraging smile from that day is clearly imprinted in my memory.”

Many of you likely remember Bonnie’s smile from one gathering or another — she served as a greeter at nearly every event. In an organization that strives to create an open and welcoming community, Bonnie was one of our strongest ambassadors.

I had the privilege of knowing Bonnie for more than 30 years, and I can say with certainty that she brought the same leadership, dedication, and grace to every organization she touched. We were so fortunate that she found her way to Impact100 DC.



We will miss her terribly. Our deepest sympathy goes to her family, especially her three wonderful and beloved children.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, May 1, at 4:00 PM at Joseph Gawler’s Sons, LLC, 5130 Wisconsin Avenue, NW. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Impact100 DC — a tribute that beautifully reflects Bonnie’s enduring commitment to our work and for which we are immensely grateful.

Ann Vaughn

President

We hope that you will take the time to read our 2024 Annual Report. Every spring, we release a look-back at our program and membership highlights from the year before, and we're excited to share this annual update with you. Please feel free to pass it on to prospective members as well! A number of people contributed to this report but huge special thanks to Board member Latina Fauconier for pulling it all together once again!

The yearly cycle at Impact100 DC builds up to two key events: Meet the Finalists and our Annual Grants Awards Celebration. Invitations to both these events will follow; in the meantime please make sure they are on your calendars.

Meet the Finalists - June 11, 7:00 to 8:00 PM. Tune in to this important zoom event to hear recorded messages from our five finalists. This is an important way to learn more about how our finalists propose to make an impact with our funds. We’ll also give you instructions on electronic voting, which will open immediately after the zoom. 

Annual Grant Awards Celebration, June 18, 6:00 to 8:00 PM. This is a not to be missed event for all Impact100 DC members and friends where we announce our grantees and celebrate the 2025 grantmaking year. It takes place at Akin Law Firm’s gorgeous Capitol Hill rooftop. It’s the perfect opportunity to meet other members as well as past and present grantees. We encourage you to bring along a prospective member as well!

We’re well past the halfway mark in our 2025 grants cycle and the momentum is building! From a highly competitive pool, our Focus Area Committees (FAC) have selected 15 semi-finalists. The Finance Committee has completed its thorough review, and site visits with FAC and Finance Committee members will take place over the next few weeks.

A heartfelt thank you to the 90+ members who reviewed applications and are preparing for site visits. Your thoughtful input is the heart of this process. 

Join us in May for events featuring our past Impact100 DC grantees. These events highlight the ongoing work, creativity, and leadership of the organizations we’ve supported—and the broader movement of collective giving.

Come celebrate with them, learn more about their missions, and show your continued support.

May 8: Access Youth 2025 Annual Soiree

📍 6:30–10:00 p.m.

Join 2021 grantee Access Youth for LET’S GLOW! – an evening celebrating 16 years of empowering DC students. The event will honor giving circle champion Amy Peck Abraham and feature inspiring stories, great food, and dancing.

Impact in Action: After our 2021 grant, Access Youth saw powerful outcomes: 15% higher school attendance; 12% higher school promotion rates; 18% fewer unexcused absences; 98% of students avoided suspension; and 82% had no repeat infractions.

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May 9 & 10: ArtStream Performances

📍 May 9 at 7:30 p.m. | May 10 at 2:30 p.m.

📍 BlackRock Center for the Arts

Enjoy performances from 2023 grantee ArtStream, featuring two original shows by adults with disabilities. These uplifting productions celebrate inclusion, creativity, and community.

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May 14: Stronger Together Community Event

📍 6:00–8:30 p.m.

Gather with fellow giving circle members, funders, and nonprofit leaders at Stronger Together: Supporting Community-Based Nonprofits in a Time of Crisis. This conversation explores how today’s challenges are impacting local nonprofits and how we can help. Panelists include Impact100 DC grantees Jamila Larson, Playtime Project, and Jorge E. Figueredo, Edu-Futuro. Come learn, connect, and celebrate the impact of collective giving.

Thank you to our sponsors!



Impact100 DC

PO Box 40121

Washington, DC 20016

Contact:

impact100dc.org

President@Impact100dc.org

Membership@Impact100dc.org

Phone: 202-379-4773