NEWS

Demetria's Message

And just like that...February is coming to a close and we’re well into the first quarter of the year!  

During this Black History Month, I hope that you and yours took time to reflect on the invaluable contributions of African Americans to our communities, despite unjust struggles and unfair experiences. As an organization committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in all we do, I challenge you to continually seek to understand and embrace African Americans' rich history and impact

on the world, not just this month, but every day and all year long.  

With March around the corner and Spring Break plans underway, don't forget to place all of our upcoming events on your calendar! These events are a great way to socially connect with fellow Impact Austin members and learn why IA is important to them. As we push to the end of our fiscal year on June 30, let's share a focus on increasing and diversifying our current membership. Please 'Invite a Friend' to attend an event with you so they can meet other IA members and hear why they should be a part of our mission.

Over the past two months, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to meet so many members at our events. It was truly my pleasure! I hope to see more of you at the events ahead of us.

• Join our virtual Discovery Days on February 24 together with a friend. 
• Urge a friend to support Girls Giving Grants through Amplify Austin on March 1-2. 
• Invite a friend to an upcoming member gathering, such as the dinner on March 27 at Baker Street Pub & Grill. 
• Invite a friend to follow Impact Austin on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter. 
• Forward this newsletter to a friend using the button at the top.

As always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions or thoughts that you want to share. You're welcome to email me or schedule a meeting. See you soon! 

Impact Austin’s blog continues to highlight our 20th anniversary year, now with a series called SOCIAL IMPACTS. These are stories about our Community Partners and the grants that brought us together. Check out our most recent article, Representation Matters for Kids and CASA of Travis County. A new blog series called GROWTH AND CHANGE will start in March.

For TWENTY TUESDAYS through June, our social media will feature photos from Impact Austin’s past. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter!

20th Anniversary Giveaways

We’re celebrating our 20th Anniversary with fun giveaways at this year’s Signature Events! The fabulous prize package for Discovery Days offers gift certificates for wine tasting at Messina Hof Winery, Tiff’s Treats, Qué Bueno Bakery, Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill, and Chuy’s.

To be entered in the raffle, make a gift of $20 or more to the Annual Fund by Feb 23 as tribute to Impact Austin’s 20 years of community commitment. The winner will be announced at the Discovery Days session on Feb 24!

Discovery Days 2023

With a 2023 theme of IMPACT, our first two sessions of Discovery Days 2023 have been full of information to inform Grant Review Committees – as well as anyone else interested in nonprofit funding. Session One was led by members Jerrica Witte and Brenna Cummings. Content included types of outcomes, the elements of nonprofit programs, reasons for collecting data, how nonprofits measure outcomes, and so much more. See the recap and video here. Session Two focused on data equity, frameworks for considering data, fundraising inequities, and power dynamics vis a vis nonprofit funding. Dr. Ashley Hickson led this session; see our video and recap.

Our final session is on February 24 with a don’t-miss discussion of Collaboration for Greater Impact. Karen LaShelle will represent Austin Together and Jenny Everett will speak for Social Venture Partners Austin. Register here. 

Amplify Austin 2023

Austin’s biggest day of giving starts Mar 1 and runs for 24 hours. But early giving is open now! Impact Austin’s campaign supports Girls Giving Grants, inviting members and friends to amplify female philanthropy.

Girls Giving Grants inspires lives of generosity. Since 2006, members have awarded $107,200 to support Austin-area nonprofits serving youth. Each year, members begin their philanthropic journeys learning about community needs, the power of collective giving, best practices in grant review, team-building, leadership, and more.

Zones Social Activities

Our creative Zones team organized an array of fun spring events for members and guests. Invite a friend! Lunch at Mum Foods Smokehouse is Mar 4. Dinner at Baker Street Pub + Grill follows on Mar 27. And a walking tour of the Texas State Cemetery is on Apr 19; this is a really great tour! Details have been emailed to members. Newly added to the array is a virtual Oscars Trivia Night on Mar 9 at 7:30 PM. Details will be emailed to members!

And so it begins - a new grant season that culminates in Community and Education awards at our June 5 Annual Meeting. We’ve received 74 applications for $164,600 in funding. The Grants Committee simplified and clarified some of the financial statement requirements in order to streamline the application process and make it less burdensome for applicants. Committees have their first meetings this week. The Community GRC will meet in person and the Education GRC will gather virtually. Find the details on our blog.

Did you know that your membership payment or a gift to our Annual Fund might qualify for a dollar-to-dollar match? Many employers will match an employee's or household's donation up to a specified maximum. Imagine how your match could be designated: fund an “impactship” for a new member otherwise unable to join, support Girls Giving Grants scholarships, sponsor a signature event, or fund our daily operations. See if your payments and donations qualify!

The Colorado River Alliance

Ten years ago, we helped to build a river. It's a river on wheels, no less, and tens of thousands of people have visited.

Impact Austin's 2013 Environment Grant was awarded to the Colorado River Alliance (CRA). The CRA is the only Texas nonprofit dedicated solely to the protection and conservation of the Texas Colorado River. They offer natural science education and outdoor recreation programs, particularly to at-risk youth.

The Colorado River Alliance partnered with Austin ISD and used the Impact Austin grant to roll out the Mobile River in Spring of 2015. This is a field trip experience that comes to the schools! What kids find are interactive exhibits and games teaching them about water conservation in a 42-foot trailer alongside 3D models of streams, floodplains and ecoregions. Check it out!

We have a team of amazing individuals working hard to keep you up to date with what is happening at Impact Austin.

Visit our blog to find event info, press releases, member profiles and so much more! Plus, don't forget to #JoinImpactAustin on your favorite social media sites!

Please "like" and "share" our posts! You'll help to promote Impact Austin to a wider audience and potential members. We would love to hear from you...what do you want to learn more about? What type of information is useful for you?

Contact us at contact@impactaustin.org.