Our History

Impact 100 Baldwin County was established in 2008 by a group of women brought together by Irene Meehan, who had read about similar organizations in Cincinnati and Pensacola. That year, 82 members joined and Impact 100 awarded a single grant of $82,000. In 2024, Impact 100 awarded five grants of $103,000 each, bringing the total given to nonprofits serving Baldwin County to $5.9 million!

We fund the grants by pooling the $1,000 donations from each of our members. This model of philanthropy is known as a giving circle, and its goal is to make a significant impact in the community through large grants to area nonprofits. Our goal is to reach 500 members each year, enabling us to give five $100,000 grants – one in each of the five focus groups.

The nonprofits apply for their grants in the following five areas: arts, culture, and recreation; education; environment and preservation; family; health and wellness. Our members volunteer to serve on committees to evaluate the grants and select finalists, and the entire membership votes to determine the recipients.

We are a nonprofit organization comprised of women with a desire to make a difference in the lives of others and to make Baldwin County a better place to live. Membership is open to all women who embrace these goals.