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 Serve on a Grant Review Committee

Impact100 Sonoma’s grants work is an essential component of contributing to a just and thriving Sonoma Valley. Serving as a Grant Review Committee (GRC) member draws you into engagement with our nonprofit community. You will review the nonprofit applications, explore them in depth through site visits, and determine which proposals you believe can have the most significant impact and also have the greatest opportunity to successfully utilize the funds.  

If this sounds like meaningful work, and you want to become involved, read through the questions below for more detail about Grant Review Committee participation and what to expect.

If you have read the details and understand the time commitment and calendar for GRC service, please sign up here:   GRC Registration

If you have any questions about your registration, please contact our GRC Registrar at marcy@impact100sonoma.org


"The emotional fulfillment that comes with serving as a leader or lending your talents for a cause you care about can sometimes supersede the fulfillment you gain by just doing well in your job. It can serve as a conduit for personal growth and gratification that goes beyond a salary or hourly wage and help bring in new perspectives for professional creativity and innovation."

Wendy Steele - Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Impact100 Global Read the full article here.

What do Impact100 Sonoma Grant Review Committees do?

Grant Review Committees are established annually for the winter/spring grant review season. Committee members read and review grant applications and participate in a thorough vetting process that leads to recommending finalists to be voted on by the entire Impact100 Sonoma membership.

For more information, please review the Position Description and Calendar: GRC Members found in the resource documents list at the bottom of this webpage. You may also watch the GRC training modules below.

What will the 2025 Impact100 grant review process look like?

Click here for information on our 2025 Impetus Grants and the Encore Grant. Click here for information on our 2025 Application Process.

Is there a calendar for the Grant Review Committees? How much time does it take?

Our grant review season will take place on a timeline from January – April 2025. Most meetings will be held in person, though some site visits may be held via Zoom. Committee members will be expected to devote approximately 25 hours of their time to the process. Key dates for 2025 are in the Grant Review Committee Calendar on the right side of this page.

What qualifications do I need?

The basic qualifications to join a Grant Review Committee include:

  • Register by December 1, 2024 to ensure your spot on a Committee. Only members who have paid their 2025 member contribution will ultimately be confirmed to serve. Click here to make your 2025 membership contribution.
  • Own and be comfortable using a computer, have home internet access and Zoom app familiarity.
  • Have the disire and ability to learn how to use Impact100Sonoma's custom Foundant application software.
  • Be able to devote the time necessary to fulfill the most important committee obligations during February and March (around 25 hours in total).
  • Be prepared to attend at least 3 site visits between February 24 to March 13, 2025 at various locations around Sonoma Valley, allowing approximately 2 hours for each site visit.
  • Volunteer to lead and/or take notes for at least one site visit.
  • Have the ability to actively and objectively participate in discussions and listen to the thoughts and suggestions of others.
  • Find enjoyment working in a group setting with other equally motivated women.
If I have served on a committee previously, do I need to register again this year?

YES! You must register anew every year for a GRC, even if you are leading a committee! This is to ensure you are familiar with any new dates and responsibilities, but most importantly, you must fill out a new confidentiality agreement and conflict of interest form each year.

How can I register for a GRC?
  • Register by filling out the Jotform application at the following link (and reading all the requirements therein): GRC Registration
  • When you have submitted the Jotform successfully, you will see a "Thank You" screen.
  • Read the section below for information about serving on the Financial Review Committee.
What are the next steps after I register?
  • When you’ve completed your registration, you will receive an email acknowledging its receipt. This email will come from Jotform, so please check your spam folder if you do not receive it shortly.
  • If you still have not received acknowledgement, please contact the GRC Registrar, listed below.
  • Your place on a committee will be fully confirmed once your member contribution for 2025 is also received.
  • Make sure all important dates are marked on your calendar.
  • In mid-December, you’ll receive an email asking you to confirm your meeting date availability and containing more information about our in-person training session scheduled for January.
  • Towards the end of January, you will find out to which committee you’ve been assigned.

  Serve on the Financial Review Committeetee

What does the Impact100 Sonoma Financial Review Committee do?

The function of the Financial Review Committee (FRC) is to act as the fiduciary for Impact100 to assure members that all the nonprofits who apply for grants have the financial viability and stability to insure they can meet the representations made in their grant application. The FRC reviews the financial statements and other financial data provided by the nonprofit in support of its grant application. It is an entity-focused financial review, not a grant-focused qualitative review, that is the focus of the Grant Review Committees (GRCs).

The FRC's work is intensely focused over a three-week period in January and involves two committee meetings during which we review the financials of every vetted grant applicant. If you have a strong financial background, and are interested in the opportunity to serve on the FRC, please email Barbara Morrison or Sedra Shapiro-Nathan and they will contact you to discuss the necessary qualifications.

  • Barbara Morrison (FRC Co-Chair) - barbara@tmcfinancing.com
  • Sedra Shapiro-Nathan (FRC Co-Chair) - sedrashapiro@gmail.com
  • For further questions regarding serving on or registering for a 2025 Committee, please contact:

    Grant Review Committee Calendar


     KEY GRANT REVIEW EVENTSDATE 

     GRC registration due
     (for confirmed place on committee)

    12/01/24

     2025 Membership payment due 12/31/24

     Grant applications due

     (by 8:00 PM) 

    01/10/25

     Impact100 Sonoma Annual Meeting   

     (announcement of available grant  funds)

    01/25/25

     Mandatory training session for GRC members 

     (plan to attend one training session)

    01/30/25

    4-6PM or

    02/01/25

    10AM-Noon

     GRC meetings #1 window

    02/11 through 02/15/25

     Site visit window

     (nonprofit chooses in-person or Zoom)

    02/24 through 03/14/25

     GRC meetings #2 window

    03/18 through 03/22/25
     Meet the Finalists (10:00 AM-Noon) 04/05/25


     Members vote online

    04/05

    through

    04/18/25

     Grant Awards Celebration (10:00 AM-Noon) 04/26/25

    GRC and FRC Party on the Plaza

     TBD in   June 


    All dates and times subject to change

    Meeting locations TBA



    Grant Review Committee Resources


    In 2024, we answered Member questions about our Grants here:  Member FAQ for Grants 2024

    If you are new to Impact100 grant review, or simply want a refresher on the process, please watch these two brief explanatory videos prior to the first in-person training:

    Grant Review Committee Training Modules

    1. Our Grantmaking
    2. Committee Process & Details

    If you would like to know more about core mission funding and its importance to our Sonoma Valley nonprofits, please watch this informative presentation by Impact100 member and Catalyst Fund Grants Chair, Diana Sanson:


    From The Center for Effective Philanthropy comes this blog post further describing Why Giving for Core Mission Support Matters.

    Grant Review Committee Resource Documents (Members only; you must be logged in to open):

     1. Position Description and Calendar: GRC Members

    2.  Grant Recipient Cumulative History 2009-2024

    3.  Grantmaking History Narrative 2009-2024

    4.  NPO Abbreviation Listing

    5.  Impact100 Sonoma Values and Equity Commitment

    6.  Grant Review Terminology

    7.  Foundant Step-by-Step Directions

    If you have any questions about training or the Grant Review process, in addition to our Registrar, you may contact one of our Grants Chairs:


    OUR VISION

    A just and thriving Sonoma Valley

    OUR MISSION

    Empowering women of Sonoma Valley to invest in a more sustainable nonprofit community through collective giving and responsible stewardship

    Impact100 Sonoma is a member of Philanos

    Impact100 Sonoma ©2024. All rights reserved



    Impact100 Sonoma
    P.O. Box 1958
    Sonoma, CA 95476
    (707) 939-5007
    info@impact100sonoma.org


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