Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge and recommend the following people and organizations:
Barry Silverberg, director of the Center for Community-Based and Nonprofit Organizations at Austin Community College. This center is a place for local nonprofit organizations to find resources, share ideas and strengthen connections. It offers numerous classes and tools, many free of charge, and many venues for nonprofit organizations to connect and collaborate.
Impact 100, Inc. (Cincinnati)
Impact 100 Pensacola Bay Area
Impact San Antonio
Impact Oklahoma
Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis
Impact 100 Owensboro
Girls Giving Grants
This cooperative-giving organization is the youth initiative of Impact Austin. Combining individual donations of $100, young women learn the power of collective and cooperative giving and the best practices in grant making. Young women enrolled in grades 8 through 12 as of September 1 may participate. We are so proud of these young philanthropists — your daughters, granddaughters, sisters, nieces and neighbors — who are learning to be generous and informed givers. They are changing the face of giving.
Collective giving resources
The Giving Circles Network
This website is helpful if you want to learn about forming grassroots philanthropic initiatives in your community.
The Giving Circles Knowledge Center
If you’re interested in learning more about giving circles or starting one yourself, this website is a helpful resource.
The Washington Women's Foundation
In many ways the Washington Women’s Foundation is the "grandmother" of Impact-like organizations. Its handbook, Something Ventured: An Innovative Model in Philanthropy, is a good resource if you're considering starting a women’s giving circle.
General online resources
Guidestar has financial reports and Form 990s for many charities. It’s a good place to begin your research.
The Better Business Bureau has a national website that provides reports on national charities. These reports rate the charities against the BBB’s charity standards.
Charity Navigator claims to be America’s premier independent charity evaluator. It evaluates more than 2,900 national charities and includes reports on their financial health. Sections on methodology and tips are valuable.
IRS — Charitable Organizations is the IRS online version of Publication 78, a cumulative list of organizations that are eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions. This simply lets you confirm that an organization has been designated "tax exempt" by the IRS.
The Foundation Center has information for both grant seekers and grant makers. In the world of grants, The Foundation Center is considered the ultimate source.
Texas online resources
The Attorney General of Texas has oversight authority for more than 50,000 active charitable organizations and countless trust entities in Texas.
Non Profit Resources: Grants, Funding and Organization Information is the website for the University Center Library, The Woodlands, Texas.
The Governor’s Website includes information provided by the Grant’s Team, Office of the Governor with links to resources by interest area.
The Better Business Bureau provides a search page for Austin’s local Better Business Bureau.
The Foundation Center Cooperating Collection Hogg Foundation Library contains a wealth of resources relating to grants and foundations.
Merchandise
Impact Austin shirts, hats, tote bags and mugs are available with the Impact Austin or Girls Giving Grants logos. We sell all items at cost.
Cafe Press
Impact Austin is honored to be named the Outstanding Philanthropic Organization of the Year for 2007 by the Austin Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
