About Us
Impact100 Cleveland brings women together to make a transformational difference in Greater Cleveland through the power of collective giving.
By combining our individual contributions, members fund large-scale grants that support nonprofit organizations addressing our community's most pressing needs. Every member has an equal voice, an equal vote, and the opportunity to be part of something bigger than any one of us could accomplish alone.
As one of the newest chapters in the global Impact100 movement, we are proud to bring this proven model of women's philanthropy to Greater Cleveland.
The Impact100 Model
The Impact100 model was created by Wendy Steele in 2001 in response to a simple but powerful question: What could happen if women pooled their charitable giving and made funding decisions together?
The answer became a movement.
The model is designed to empower women to see themselves as philanthropists and changemakers while creating transformational impact within their local communities. Each Impact100 chapter pools member donations to fund large-scale grants for nonprofit organizations addressing critical community needs.
Simple in concept yet powerful in practice, the Impact100 model has changed the way thousands of women engage in philanthropy.
Part of a Global Movement
Founded in 2001, Impact100 has grown into a worldwide network of more than 70 chapters across four countries.
Together, Impact100 members have collectively awarded hundreds of millions of dollars to local nonprofit organizations, funding projects that create lasting, measurable change in their communities.
While each chapter operates independently and focuses on local needs, all Impact100 chapters share the same belief: when women come together with purpose, extraordinary impact is possible.
Impact100 Cleveland is proud to bring this proven model of collective giving to Greater Cleveland.
How it Works
Each year, every Impact100 Cleveland member contributes $1,000 to our grant pool.
Those contributions are combined to create transformational grants for nonprofit organizations serving Greater Cleveland. As membership grows, so does our impact.
A chapter with 100 members funds a $100,000 grant.
A chapter with 200 members funds $200,000 in grants.
And so on.
Impact100 Cleveland has no paid staff, so 100% of each member's annual contribution goes directly into the grant pool with no deductions for overhead or administrative expenses.
Nonprofit finalists are selected through a competitive grant review process led by volunteer members. Final grant recipients are chosen through a vote of the membership at our Annual Meeting.
Every woman who gives $1,000 or more has one vote.
Focus Areas
We provide nonprofit organizations with grants in increments of at least $100,000 across five broad Focus Areas:
Arts & Culture
Education
Family
Health & Wellness
Environment, Preservation & Recreation
Why Women Join
Impact100 Cleveland is about more than writing a check.
Our members join to:
• Make a meaningful impact close to home
• Learn about nonprofit organizations serving Greater Cleveland
• Connect with other philanthropic women
• Have a direct voice in grantmaking decisions
• Be part of a growing movement creating positive change
Whether you're new to philanthropy or have been giving for years, Impact100 Cleveland offers a simple and powerful way to make a difference.Every woman who gives $1,000 or more has one vote.
Our History
The vision to establish Impact100 Cleveland began in January 2025 when Founding President Brooke Potrzeba was inspired by the success of her hometown's Impact100 chapter in Pensacola, Florida. Witnessing firsthand the power of collective giving, she saw an opportunity to bring this transformational model of philanthropy to Greater Cleveland.
On February 24, 2025, Impact100 Cleveland was officially founded.
From the very beginning, Brooke worked alongside a dedicated group of women to establish the organization's foundation, build a passionate Board of Directors, and create a community where women of all ages, life stages, backgrounds, and experiences could unite around a shared purpose.
Today, Impact100 Cleveland continues to grow as women across Greater Cleveland come together to create transformational impact through collective giving.
Ready to Learn More?
Whether you're interested in becoming a member, attending an event, or simply learning more about collective giving, we'd love to connect.