What happens at Meet the Finalists?

Meet the Finalists is the annual event where we officially announce our 5 grant finalists for the year. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet and mingle with representatives of the finalist organizations, to learn more about the important work they are doing in Harris County. A light lunch will be served.

What happens at the Awards Celebration?

The Awards Celebration is the annual event where members get to hear presentations from the grant finalists and cast their votes. At the end of the evening, grants are announced and awarded. The evening includes a cocktail reception, followed by a seated dinner.

When do I cast my ballot?

Voting will be open November 2, 2022 from 8am-8:30pm. Each member will cast her ballot through a secure, third-party voting platform. More detailed information will be shared in advance of the vote.

Why do I need to sign a conflict of interest form before I can vote?

Because it is an expectation that a member will not personally benefit from a grant allocation, a member may not vote for a grant recipient that will financially benefit herself or her immediate family. Therefore, every Impact100 member is required to sign a “Conflict of Interest” form prior to voting at the Annual Awards Celebration, in accordance with the Impact100 Houston bylaws,

What if I cannot attend the Annual Award Celebration in-person?

You do not need to attend the Awards Celebration in person to cast your vote. We are offering a live webcast of the evening’s program so that members who cannot attend will have the opportunity to hear directly from the finalist organizations. Additional information about each of the finalists will be shared with members in advance of November 2, and voting will be live throughout the day from 8am-8:30pm.

This is a big decision. Will I have an opportunity to learn about the five finalists?

We are several ways to learn more about the 2022 grant finalists.

Watch your email for important voting information, which includes executive summaries, letters from the organization, and financial information.

Join us at the Meet the Finalists event on October 11 for an opportunity to speak with representatives of the finalist organizations.

On November 2nd, watch the 5 finalist organizations make a presentation during the Annual Awards Celebration. The event and presentations will be webcast live so that members who cannot attend in-person have the opportunity to hear directly from the finalist organizations.

How were the finalists determined?

Each year, Impact100 Houston members are invited to volunteer their time and brainpower to make our grant review process possible.

Over the course of several months, Impact100 Houston focus area committees review all eligible grant applications in the areas of Family, Environment, Education, Health & Wellness, and Arts & Culture.

Each focus area committee selects up to 3 local nonprofit organizations for closer examination by the Community Investment Review Committee (CIRC). After careful review of each organization’s finances, CIRC gives its stamp of approval to organizations to move to the semi-finalist round.

We then conduct site visits to learn more about the semi-finalists and their initiatives, and following site visits the 5 focus area committees meet and select one finalist from their focus area.

Can I bring a friend to the event?

Yes! We welcome you to bring a friend who may be interested in supporting our mission or learning more about our organization. Tickets must be purchased by October 28th – they will not be available at the door.

Do membership dues cover the cost for me to attend the Annual Awards Celebration?

Tickets must be purchased in order to attend the Annual Awards Celebration.

Impact100 Houston is unique because 100% of your $1,000 contribution goes to the grant pool. We are 100% volunteer run and have no paid staff members. The ticket cost goes directly to covering the expenses to host the event, including food and beverage, room rental, AV, complimentary tickets for representatives of our finalist organizations, and more. Due to generous sponsorships, we have been able to get the cost down to $95 per person.

Where can I view the live webcast of the Awards Celebration?

A link to view the live webcast will be available on November 2.