Impact Austin Foundation

Impact Austin is a dynamic collective giving organization located in Austin and serving five Central Texas counties. Our membership includes women of all ages, perspectives, as well as professional and volunteer experiences. Each of us is in a different spot on her philanthropic journey.

Impact Austin launched in 2003 with more than 100 enthusiastic members eager to pool resources for a combined larger impact. We are now one of the nation’s largest women’s philanthropy groups. Impact Austin is dedicated to helping women achieve their full philanthropic capacity. Our membership requirements are simply to be female and to donate $1,250 each year. Using a collective giving model, we combine $1,000 from each member’s annual gift to fund the high-impact grants we award in June. We then apply a $250/member investment toward community education, due diligence and Impact Austin operations. While there are many hands-on learning and leadership roles available within Impact Austin, there is no minimum time requirement.

Each winter, grant applications are accepted from nonprofits in five Central Texas counties. Members may choose to serve on one the Grant Review Committees (GRCs) that fuel Impact Austin’s grantmaking process. This is a fantastic high-touch learning opportunity to see first-hand how the grantmaking process works and learn the core elements of due diligence. We award two types of grants: program and catalyst grants. Program grants are awarded in three categories: Community, Education, and Health and Well-Being.

Each GRC presents to the full membership two finalists in each grant category. We gather at June’s Annual Meeting to hear presentations from these finalists and vote for our new grant recipients. Each of our members has an equal voice in selecting these Community Partners.