Impact 100

Across the country and across the globe women are taking their rightful place at the table where decisions are made. Nowhere is their presence more powerfully felt than in philanthropy, where women’s values and visions are reshaping our world. Registration is now open for Impact 100 2026. Please contact Mary Conly Hammons, Donor Relations Associate, at maryconly@gnof.org or 504.620.5275 to register. 

What is Impact 100?

The Greater New Orleans Foundation’s women’s giving circle, Impact 100 is a group of over 100 local women who commit to giving $1,100 each and together making a single transformative grant to a local nonprofit. Impact 100 also give out smaller gifts to the other three finalists they select each year. 2025 will be Impact 100’s 13th year of grantmaking. Since its inaugural year, Impact 100 has granted more than $1.725 million to nonprofits across our region through the collective power of women coming together to support our community. Recipient nonprofits use their grants to deepen their impact and grow their networks.

Why Impact 100?

Because, as Margaret Mead said, it really only takes a small group of committed individuals to change the world. In recent years, as women have stepped into their power—including their earning power—women’s giving circles have become influential change agents in communities across the country.

The nonprofits doing great work in our community need the support of philanthropists to sustain themselves and to continue making positive impact in our region. We believe it’s time for a women’s giving circle to transform some of the pressing issues facing the New Orleans region. By pooling our resources and focusing our efforts, we can be the change agents few of us can afford to be alone. Together, we can demonstrate the power of collaborative giving.

“We are so proud to have the support of people in the community for the work we are doing for the most vulnerable in our community. The Impact 100 grant is a great example of people coming together to make a BIG investment in our community!” – Hotel Hope, 2021 Impact 100 Winner”

Women Making an Impact

Since its inaugural year 13 years ago, Impact 100 has granted out more than $1.725 million to nonprofits across our region.

Impact 100 awarded local nonprofit People’s Housing+, Inc. with this year’s $100,000 transformative grant on Monday, November 17.  

People’s Housing+ (PH+) resulted from the strategic merger, funded and facilitated by the Greater New Orleans Foundation, of three New Orleans-based community development organizations, established to achieve greater scale and impact with an unabashed focus on advancing racial equity in community development. PH+ advocates for permanent housing affordability, housing subsidies, and strategies to combat displacement.  

They will use the Impact 100 award to create the People’s Housing+ Cares Emergency Loan Fund, available to their network of homeowners in the form of a 0% interest loan, with patient repayment terms. This can cover insurance increases or a deductible after a storm, medical bills, car repair or any other unexpected financial hardship. With an average loan size of $2,500, PH+ can serve 40 families at a time. When loans are repaid, those funds are available to help the next family, which means the $100,0000 Impact 100 grant will be evergreen and serve families in perpetuity.

“Impact 100 has been such an easy way to give back to the community. I have learned about many worthy nonprofit groups and have met some wonderful members. Combining my monetary contribution with over one hundred other women does indeed make a difference.” – Impact 100 Member

Before voting on the winner of this year’s grant, Impact 100 members heard pitches from four local nonprofits about how they would use the $100,000 grant.  All participating nonprofits received pitch training and a profile video created by our nonprofit partner, New Orleans Video Access Center (NOVAC). While there is only one winner of the $100,000 grant, the three runners-up, Grow Dat Youth Farm, Sankofa Community Development Corporation, and Start the Adventure in Reading (STAIR) each received a $23,333 grant.   

Thank you to our 170 Impact 100 members for their inspiring generosity and diligence in voting for the winner and runners-up nonprofits. Thank you to Impact 100’s incredible presenting sponsor, Villere & Co., for their generous financial support. Their partnership ensures that the Impact 100 experience is meaningful and fulfilling for the membership.  

Questions? Please contact Mary Conly Hammons, Donor Relations Associate, at maryconly@gnof.org or 504.620.5275.