On a warm early fall afternoon, more than 200 women gathered in the Diablo Country Club clubhouse to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Impact100 East Bay, a non-profit organization focused on uniting women in Alameda and Contra Costa counties through collective philanthropy. Impact100 originated in September 2001 when founder Wendy Steele in Cincinnati, Ohio launched the collective giving concept with the idea of recruiting at least 100 women who each contribute $1,000. By pooling the contributions, a “transformational grant” of $100,000 or more would be funneled to a local nonprofit. Today, 80 Impact100 chapters operate nationwide. Danville businesswoman Nancy Clark founded Impact100 East Bay, which awarded its first grant in 2017 and two grants five years later. “It seems small at first,” Alexis Bonn, the chapter’s communications manager, said of the initial $1,000 contribution women make to become a member. “But when you put it all together, it really adds up.” On that Sunday, the chapter awarded grants totaling more than $400,000. The contribution is the only money Impact100 requires from its members for the year, but each member contributes annually to meet the growing need in our communities as federal funds for state and local organizations are being cut. Impact100 East Bay received about 110 “ideas” – or requests – for funds, which the group studied before whittling to 15, and then the Impact100 East Bay board voted on the final four.
As this process was presented at Diablo, the power of an Impact100 chapter became clear. More than a benefactor, it gives its members the empowering understanding of what their collective contributions can do to help. To have a big “impact.”
The East Bay chapter is blessed, as Nancy Clark put it, “with many women who have made a good amount of money.” Indeed, among the members were current and former corporate executives, business managers as well as concerned citizens who want to help. More than a few contribute more than the $1,000 annually. For example, a “philanthropic angel” underwrote a recruiting program in 2026 and will continue it in ‘27 in which she contributes an additional $50,000 so that the East Bay chapter can bring in women unfamiliar with the organization. Twenty-five will be recruited by this angel to – her words – “test drive a membership.” The remaining $25,000 will be used by the chapter with the intent of increasing diversity and developing contacts among more non-profit organizations in the two counties.
“We’ll want to enhance the grant process and increase our understanding of the non-profit community,” said Membership Co-Chair Robin Keefe. “It can also help younger women early in their careers who may not have the money now. But it’s all about increasing diversity. It’s building empathy and empowerment for members to see what the grants can do.” Here are the final four non-profit recipients and their grants: Dream Youth Clinic ($101,000) provides no-cost primary, reproductive, and behavioral healthcare, workforce development, and basic needs and academic support to high-needs youth in Oakland. Its
client population is primarily youth who have been trafficked, are homeless, or are involved in the child welfare system.
Students Rising Above ($101,000) aims to increase college access and success for low-income, first-generation students and has traditionally delivered individual counseling and coaching outside school settings across the nine Bay Area counties.
Hijas del Campo ($85,000) provides healthcare, food security, housing, and education supports to agricultural field workers and their families in eastern Contra Costa County, expanding a 2025 pilot program that contracted with and trained five part-time community health workers. Roots Community Health ($75,000) delivers health services to Black and African-descent populations in Alameda and Santa Clara Counties, including primary medical care, behavioral health services, and social determinants of health supports. In Santa Clara, it also offers doula services connected to an early childhood development program. This project will expand perinatal health services to the low-income population in Alameda County by hiring two doulas expected to serve 70 people. As we age, we often find it difficult to grow friendships and come together regularly in groups; to share and laugh and plan. That was the lasting image in a room of 200 women and the groups it supports. Impact100 East Bay is not only an effective way to help those in need, but it’s just as effective as establishing connections with many others. In short, it’s a great way to make friends.
By Ted Johnson, Resident since 1991; Photos provided by Duy Dang