10 Transformational Takeaways from Impact 100’s 

Explore Your Giving Legacy Educational Event

By Andi Saylor, Impact 100 Member, Young Philanthropist Program

Women from Impact 100 gathered at Life Learning Center (LLC) in Covington, KY, on May 8, 2024, for this year’s educational event. LLC was a recipient of an Impact 100 grant in 2022, which funded LLC’s Pillars Café transformation project. LLC installed and improved kitchen appliances and increased staff and training. Further, LLC implemented a small catering service for events, including our Impact 100 Educational Event. 

Here are 10 takeaways from the event: 

1. The Life Learning Center, a 2022 grant recipient, has a recidivism rate of less than 8% among its participants who have been incarcerated, compared to 29% recidivism statewide.
   
   Dale Zdolshek, Vice President of Operations at LLC, spoke about the great impact that their programming has on clients coming from the justice system or addiction recovery, or living in poverty. Clients participate in a 12–week Foundations for a Better LifeTM program, which addresses physical, financial, spiritual, emotional and relational topics. The program encourages clients to learn, secure and sustain a better way of living through gainful employment.
   
   
2. Graduates of Life Learning Center programming are eager to come back and help others.
   Jacqueline Wilburn spoke about her experience as a client of LLC. She grew up in foster care and was a ward of the state at the age of 8 years old. When the justice system required her to participate in programming at LLC, she candidly shared she was not interested. However, about halfway through the program, she realized she had found a home and was excited to come back. Now, she is employed at LLC as an Education Coordinator and Peer Support Specialist and encourages clients every day to be their best.
   
   
3. Supporting organizations like the Life Learning Center can be a part of your legacy.
   Laura Menge, Senior Philanthropic Advisor at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and Impact 100 member, spoke about the importance of finding your legacy. While there are many causes to be passionate about, Laura asked event participants to look at photos at their tables and reflect on the causes closest to them. The photos varied and included images such as mountains, old family photos, children in a classroom looking at a computer, community festivals, etc. Each table discussed why we felt called by certain photos.
   
   
4. Taking steps towards your legacy can be big and small.
   Laura spoke about the importance of talking through the causes that are close to you. Discuss with your parents or your children, your spouse or your siblings. These discussions can be casual and can be helpful in understanding your loved ones. Laura also shared ways generous people can become more generous, such as starting a Donor Advised Fund.
   
   
5. Approximately 73% of national giving came from individuals.
   Laura also spoke about the impact individual donors make. Corporations only account for 6% of national giving. This means that anyone can make a difference with their legacy, not just private foundations or corporations.
   
   
6. Locally, our community needs our help. 28% of Cincinnatians are living below the poverty line, as compared to 15% Ohio-wide.
   Rasheda Cromwell, Chief Impact Officer at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, shared the challenges that our community faces. From housing to education and from health to economics, the focus is shifting. As a community, we need to do more to focus on preventive measures rather than determinants of these issues. If we are able to get ahead of the issues, they will become less prevalent. For example, when there is trauma at home, it can impact a child’s education.
   
   
7. Nonprofits are facing a funding “cliff” in the post-pandemic environment.
   While COVID-19 is still impacting people, many parts of our world have moved on. There was a ramp- up of funding at the pandemic’s height that has now dissipated. Nonprofits are now working with less while still having the same, or more, needs to be met.
   
   
8. Impact 100 is making a difference in our community. Our grants aid nonprofits that need it most.
   Reagan Smith, Grant Review Coordinator/Vice President Nonprofit Relations at Impact 100, shared that 2024 brought the most Letters of Intent (LOI) in Impact 100’s history – more than 130. Impact 100’s focus areas include Culture, Education, Environment, Family, and Health & Wellness. Reagan noted that many proposed projects impact more than one focus area.
   
   
9. Impact 100 knows the importance of supporting nonprofits beyond funding.
   Clare Zlatic Blankemeyer, 14-year Member and Impact 100 Past President, spoke about our duty to be strong funders. Impact 100 takes pride in doing our due diligence in reviewing applicants and choosing those likely to be the best stewards of our funding. Grant Review Teams (GRT) work to understand the applicants’ goals, and the Community Investment Review Committee (CIRC) carefully examines the financial health of nonprofits who apply for grants. Over time, Impact 100 has consistently worked to innovate and evolve to best serve our nonprofit partners.
   
   
10. Impact 100 supports women in continual growth as philanthropists.
    Jenny Berg, 20-Year Member and Impact 100 Past President, encourages Impact 100 members to join boards of the nonprofits that align with your legacy, volunteer your time and skills, and make donations – no contribution is too small.  

Sources

https://linknky.com/business/2022/09/29/life-learning-center-awarded-101000-from-impact-100/

https://justice.ky.gov/News/Pages/secondchancemonth.aspx