We welcome all new and returning Impact100 Sonoma members to our 2012 Education Forum to be held on Saturday, January 28, from 10:00 am – 12 noon at the Sonoma Community Center, 276 East Napa Street,Sonoma.  The annual January meeting offers the opportunity for members to learn from inspiring women in the nonprofit world. This year we will have the opportunity to meet two extraordinary women who will be talking to us about nonprofits engaged in microfinancing for small women-owned business start-ups:

• Betsy Brill is a former newspaper journalist and editor of San Francisco Business magazine.  She and her husband, Ken Kobré, spent more than a year traveling, studying, and writing about different approaches to microfinance in Egypt, India, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, as well as in four US cities. Their stories appeared in numerous magazines and ran as a five-part series in the old San Francisco Examiner. Betsy has spoken about those programs and the women she met on that journey to organizations including the World Affairs Council, numerous women’s associations, Rotary Clubs, and university groups. In recent years, Betsy helped co-found HandUp Congo, a tiny non-profit working with village women in the Democratic Republic of Congo. One of their first achievements was to connect Congolese women with international microfinance organizations working in that troubled country. “The world is filled with problems,” Betsy says, “but solutions fascinate me. Sharing those solutions – taught by women in other developing countries – is the most rewarding thing I’ve done in my life.”

• Nicole Levine is the Executive Director of Women’s Initiative for Self Employment (W.I.S.E.), for the San Francisco & North Bay Region. Nicole has more than 20 years’ experience in the Bay Area private and nonprofit sectors, with a special focus on economic development. She has a long history with the Women’s Initiative including serving as a volunteer, program assistant and business trainer at different times in her career. Her professional background includes serving as the interim executive director for Urban Solutions and the Oakland Ballet, and executive director for Wardrobe for Opportunity. She also spent four years providing microloans and business assistance at OBDC Small Business Finance. Leveraging her experience in the nonprofit sector, she has worked with HP, Agilent and Chevron to strengthen their community and grant making programs. Nicole earned an MBA from UC Davis and is honored to be on the advisory board of the Bay Area Women’s and Children’s Resource Center, a Tenderloin nonprofit where she has been volunteering since she was a teenager.

In addition, this meeting will provide an update on the upcoming grant application process and the opportunity to sign up to participate in one of the committees that will review Letters of Intent and submitted proposals and participate in site visits of qualifying nonprofits.  This is a critical part of the Impact100 process and is highly informative and stimulating for those who volunteer to serve.  This year, there will be four Impact100 grant categories: Enrichment & Environment, Prevention & Intervention, Social Outreach, and Women & Girls; and two Community Grant categories: Program grants (Innovative and Planning for Strategic Partnering/Collaboration) and Capital grants.  Should members prefer, they can also sign up for other committees that focus on membership, communication, and other Impact100 Sonoma activities.

REGISTER NOW!

This Members-only Education Forum is sponsored through generous donations from Massage Envy Spa, Murphy’s Irish Pub and North Bay Insurance Brokers, Inc.

Tuesday, January 10              4:00 – 6:00 pm

St. Leo’s Church East Wing, 601 W Agua Caliente Rd, Sonoma 

Impact100 Sonoma is offering its third and final workshop to assist SonomaValleynonprofit organizations.  The workshop, Tips on the Impact100 Grant Application Process, is particularly important for those nonprofits that will be applying for funding through Impact100 Sonoma in 2012, as it will focus on all of the how-tos associated with the new Impact100 grant application process.  Attendees will receive tips on how to write an lmpact100 Letter of Inquiry and will be guided through a demonstration on how to use their new electronic grant forms.  There will be plenty of time for Q&A following the presentations.

Download the PowerPoint presentation here.

The download forms below are in two forms, .doc for Microsoft Office users before version 2007 and .docx for Microsoft Office users using 2007 and later.

2012 IMPACT GRANT Full Proposal .docx version

2012 IMPACT GRANT Full Proposal .doc version

2012 Comm Grant Full Prop Application .docx version

2012 Comm Grant Full Prop Application .doc version

2012 Letter of Inquiry Form .docx version

2012 Letter of Inquiry Form .doc version

“One and one can often add up to four,” noted Bob Harrington, director of a consulting firm that specializes in strengthening nonprofit groups. At a recent Sonoma Impact 100 workshop, Harrington observed that when two or more organizations bring together their skills, manpower and shared missions, the result often multiplies far beyond any initial assumptions of what joint collaboration can accomplish.

Harrington was one of three presenters at the Strategic Partnering/Collaboration Workshop held at St. Leo’s on Dec. 6, when around 80 local nonprofit representatives and Sonoma Impact members met to discuss the benefits and challenges of joint efforts.

Over the years, Sonoma Valley nonprofit organizations have devised numerous, informal ways of working together. Kids from the WillMar Family Grief and Healing Center do art projects at the Sonoma Valley Museum, and the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance uses the kitchen at the Valley of the Moon Teen Center.

Hanna Boys Center’s collaboration with Sonoma Valley Teen Services continues to expand. Coming up in Spring 2012, the two organizations will be among other nonprofits sponsoring a career fair to be held at Hanna. Currently, Hanna boys are among the teens who help staff the No Name Café, a Teen Services enterprise, at Sonoma Valley High School. They also attend the periodic job-training programs sponsored by Sonoma Valley Teen Services.

As Sonoma Impact 100 moves into its third funding season, the whole concept of nonprofits collaborating with one another will take on more importance. In these tough economic times, we encourage all Sonoma Valley nonprofits to actively look for ways to cooperate – from working on joint projects to sharing administrative resources to creating more formal mergers. With an estimated 150 nonprofits in Sonoma Valley, all engaged in fundraising and attracting top board members, collaboration becomes a necessity.

During the upcoming funding cycle, Sonoma Impact 100 urges non-profits to come together on joint projects, as they prepare to apply for the 2012 Impact grant of $100,000. This substantial award is given annually to a project that will make a significant impact in addressing needs in Sonoma Valley. Letters of inquiry, the first step in applying for the grant, are due Feb. 7, 2012.

But in addition to stressing collaboration on the major award, Impact 100 has created a special category in its smaller community grants. Nonprofits who apply jointly for grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, can do so in a new category called “Strategic Partnering/Collaboration.” Other community grant areas of funding are “Capital,” “Innovation,” and “Program.”

In applying for grant funds or coming together for other joint ventures, local nonprofits obviously need to engage in extensive conversations with their counterparts and identify areas where their missions come together. All presenters at the recent collaboration workshop emphasized the need for establishing trust, putting organizational egos aside, and finding ways to lessen competition.

Rose Murphy is a member of Impact 100.

Click here to read the post in the Sonoma Index Tribune, Dec. 15, 2011

The Impact100 Sonoma December Holiday Reception: An inspirational event!

More than 100 women gathered on Friday, December 9th at the Sonoma Community Center on Napa Street to connect with new and old friends, enjoy good food & wine, learn more about Impact100, and to hear from the 2011 Impact100 finalists – but it turned out to be much more than that.

Following welcoming remarks and introductions of the Board, President B.J. Bischoff described the new areas of focus for Impact100 Sonoma in 2012 and how important it is to expand our membership in order to address the needs of our community.  There was a wonderful warmth and energy in the room, but the true impact for those attending were the messages from our 2011 Impact100 finalists:  Barbara Cullen, Executive Director of WillMar Family Grief & Healing Center, Kate Eilertsen, Executive Director of the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (SVMA), and Matt Martin, Executive Director of Social Advocates for Youth (S.A.Y.), who sat as a panel to share information about their organizations.  B.J. posed three questions to the each of the panelists.  Key points from their responses are captured below.

Question #1:  What makes your organization unique?

• WillMar: We recognize that grief is a great leveler.
• SVMA: We are able to reach people who learn in a different way.
• S.A.Y.:  One of 3 unique features is that S.A.Y. is the only provider of mental health care for youth within our schools.

Question #2:  What evidence do you have that your organization is making an impact?

• WillMar:  We have developed strategies to achieve a sense of calm that allows important conversations to take place.
• SVMA:  We serve a broad audience with unique programs such as our program in which every 4^th and 5^th grader in Sonoma works on a project with a real artist.
• S.A.Y.:  We not only impact individuals in need, we also impact the economy of the Sonoma Valley, by reducing costs to county services.

Questions #3: If you received one million dollars, what would you do with it?

• WillMar:  I would expand our efforts through bilingual satellite programs to better reach the four corners of Sonoma Valley.
• SVMA:  I would like to concentrate our efforts on developing more programs for the elderly in our valley.
• S.A.Y.:  I would build a building to increase capacity for the growing number of homeless youth in SonomaValley.

The panelists also had the opportunity to respond to the following questions from the audience:

• You have many common goals, do you work together?
• What has been the impact on your organization from your involvement in the grant process of Impact100?
• How do you involve your large donors in your programs?

Early in her comments, Kate Eilertsen suggested that we move away from the term “nonprofit organizations” and adopt the term “public benefit organizations.” As she talked about the ways that art can open up new doors for learners, and Matt shared powerful stories of our youth in need and Barbara described strategies for relieving the burdens from loss, this term certainly seemed more than appropriate.

Yes, this was truly an inspirational event – not only from the glimpse of the passion and dedication from the panelists, but also from the increased awareness of the great need within our community, and for the recognition that a group of 100+ women can truly make a difference – that is the heart and soul of Impact100 Sonoma.

Click here to listen to the Holiday Reception 1st Half

Click here to listen to the Holiday Reception Panel 2nd Half

Thank you to our sponsors:

Planning for Strategic Partnering/Collaboration

 December 6  St. Leo’s Church East Wing

The goal of this workshop was to expand community conversations about the possibilities of strategic partnering and collaboration, examine effective models, and discuss the steps in the partnering process, including both benefits and risks. A panel of experts initiated the discussions:

Bob Harrington		Katrina Thurman	Robert Judd

Celia Canfield

Bob Harrington, Partner, of La Piana Consulting, provided guidelines and insights into planning a successful collaborative program. Katrina Thurman, Executive Director/CEO of West County Services, shared her experiences as a Sonoma County nonprofit leader whose organization merged with another nonprofit and partnered with several others. Robert Judd, Vice President of Programs, Sonoma Community Fund described strategic partnering programs that have been funded.

Celia Canfield, a skilled communications expert served as the moderator.

This workshop was sponsored through a generous donation from Kathleen Leonard of Alain Pinel Realtors and in-kind support from Rabobank.

Sponsored by our friends:

The first of Impact100 Sonoma’s three workshops for Sonoma Valley nonprofits was highly successful.
More than 60 people attended, including 49 from the nonprofit community and 15 Impact members. Following a warm welcome by President, B.J. Bischoff and

B.J. Bischoff opens first Nonprofit Workshop

the announcement that membership has now reached 117, Constance Grizzell, VP of Grants & Greater Impact presented the Grant Calendar 2011-12 , focusing on the second nonprofit workshop that will be held on December 6.

Patti England, Chair of the Impact Grant Program, discussed the five new New Focus Areas and Lorraine Ashton, Chair of the Community Grant Program, explained the new aspects of the Community Grants.

There was ample opportunity for explanations on eligibility requirements and grant guidelines, clarification on misperceptions about the types of programs Impact100 Sonoma is interested in funding,

Guests at Workshop

and for responding to individual questions.

The PowerPoint presentation containing additional details on all of the above can be found here.

Following the workshop, many of the attendees adjourned to Saddles for our monthly First Thursday No-host Happy Hour.

Many thanks go to Constance, Patti, and Lorraine for the organization of the workshop and also to our sponsors for their generous support:

• St. Leo’s Catholic Church
• Victor L. Conforti, Architect, Sonoma
• Rabobank

Sonoma Sun – September 29, 2011 – Sonoma Valley Teen Services – Skills For Life

Sonoma Index Tribune – September 26, 2011 – Sonoma Valley Teen Services

   Impact100 members enjoyed a reception and grant update at

“Thank you for helping us change lives.”

That was the message that greeted us and was constantly reinforced as members and friends of Impact100 Sonoma gathered at the Sonoma Valley Teen Services (SVTS) on Saturday, October 1st to learn about SVTS progress as a result of our $100,000 grant to their Skills for Life program.

“¿Listo?”  [Ready?], asked Jean Hopeman-Chambers (member of both the SVTS Board and Impact100) of a smiling, but slightly nervous young man named Oscar, and he and the rest of the SVTS speakers certainly were.  Following Impact100 updates, we were treated to an energetic report of accomplishments that left us all with jaws agape (and often teary eyes) as we learned of all that has been achieved in only three short months since receiving our gift.

SVTS Board President, Tim Boeve, reminded us that in 2009 more than 50% of our high school students did not go on to college.  “This is important to change, but it is also important to recognize that there will always be a percentage of our young population that will follow a different pathway.”  It is those young people whom SVTS is helping to make positive choices through the Skills for Life Program.

Program Managers, Rebecca Hermosillo and Cristin Lawrence, and SVTS Board member, Osias Encarnacion, gave us updates on the numerous programs that are part of this effective program.  A more detailed progress report is available on the Impact100 website, click here, but here are just a few of the highlights they shared:

Lovin’ Oven program

The primary goal for this time period was to re-establish the Lovin’ Oven presence in the Farmers’ Markets and to grow student and volunteer participation.

• Students decided to focus on the higher revenue generation Saturday market and to apply for the Friday market.
• Student participation has grown by 11 new core members and 21 part-time.
• The SVTS is now a fully qualified Food Safety Certification provider.
• Adult volunteers include Anea Kamahele, who is leading an effort to increase the food product offerings and the initiation of a ‘pop-up’ restaurant event to feature teen culinary students.

Esther, a founder of the program:  “I was given a life opportunity and now I can help others to have similar opportunities.”

No Name Café program

With the goals of connecting more teens in more significant ways and improving the sustainability of the No Name Café in theSonomaValleyHigh School, the reports are very positive:

• Sales are up 73%
• Whole Foods is making quarterly donations so that prices can better fit a student budget, yet still provide a profit.
• Students can now receive class credit or complete service learning requirements by working at the No Name Café.
• Student participation in the skills training program has grown from 15 teens to 40.

Oscar, who works at the café: “I spend every day in the No Name – they brighten my day!”

The Shop

There have been two highly successful DJ events at The Shop – 80 teens in attendance at the first, raising $350 in revenue and 100 teens at the second.  All logistics, planning, and implementation are by the students. The DJ was a student, Jose, who has career aspirations for a broadcast media and entertainment career.

Life Skill Classes to begin this Fall

• Employee 101
• Resume & Interviewing
• Food Handling Certification
• Trial run of Barista training

The closing summary remarks from SVTS: “We had an idea – a very good idea – and then you guys came along and gave us a vote of confidence and the opportunity to really make an impact.”

Rebecca Hermosillo speaks to members

Georganne Papac, Cristin Lawrence, Osias Encarnacion, Esther OrosRebecca Hermosillo speaks to members

Over 90 of Impact’s members and friends joined us for this special event which included delicious refreshments and a tour of Penney and Joan’s wonderful gardens that span more than an acre and feature multiple distinct areas, each with its own theme, pottery, art and special highlights.  It was a beautiful setting for Impact’s Summer Garden Party and the weather couldn’t have been better.

Ann Reder, Chair of Membership, thanked everyone for coming to the event, encouraged their involvement in Impact100 Sonoma, and briefly spoke of Impact’s mission to:

• Increase participation among women in local philanthropy
• Raise awareness of the unmet needs of non-profits in theSonomaValley
• Inspire members to become more involved with these charities
• Make a substantial and lasting impact on the long-term sustainability of our non-profit community

Impact’s President and Co-Founder, Christine Dohrmann, spoke of our successes this last year, including reaching a membership of 157 women, awarding the $100,000 grant to the Sonoma Valley Teen Services (SVTS), and launching our new Greater Impact Community Grant Program, which funded another $57,000 in smaller amounts to local non-profits.  Christine also announced the launch of Impact100 Sonoma’s newly designed website, giving thanks to Alexsis de Raadt St. James, the Althea Foundation, Rick Howington of TechAdvocates Solutions and Alton Irby for underwriting and implementing the new design.

Sonoma Valley Teen Services Program Directors, Rebecca Hermosillo and Kristin Lawrence, shared highlights of recent activities, spoke about the youth served by all the programs offered through SVTS, and thanked Impact members for their generous support and commitment to Sonoma Valley youth. In particular, they noted that it was not just the funding for which SVTS was grateful, it was also the validation from the community that such a grant represented.

Jean Hopeman-Chambers, Board Member for the Sonoma Valley Teen Services program, also thanked Impact’s members for their vote of confidence in awarding the $100,000 Impact Grant to the Sonoma Valley Teen Services and becoming “dream makers” to hundreds of Sonoma Valley youth in need.

The brief program concluded with remarks from Incoming President, B.J. Bischoff, who officially kicked off the 2011 year of Impact100 Sonoma, provided an overview of new opportunities for involvement, and encouraged everyone attending to help us reach our goal of 200 members and an even greater impact in our community.

Our thanks to Charles Creek Vineyards and the Sonoma Valley Teen Services’s Lovin Oven program for providing wine and Lollicakes, respectively. 

Our Special Thanks To Our Generous Summer Garden Party Sponsors

Bill and Gerry Brinton founded Charles Creek Vineyard in 2002 with the goal of creating outstanding wines at an exceptional value. Specializing in high quality Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon from great vineyard sources in the Sonoma and Napa Valleys, Charles Creek produces wines that are food friendly, fruit driven, and easily paired with the courses of a meal.

www.charlescreek.com

Renowned residential landscape designer Penney Magrane founded Magrane Associates Landscape Design in 1986.  Penney’s design work infuses her profound horticultural knowledge with an exquisite attention to detail, timeless classic design and cutting edge sophistication.  More than 20 years since its inception, Magrane Associates continues its dedication to providing clients with thoughtful, personalized service and creating life-changing gardens and landscapes that provide happiness, longevity and enjoyment for years to come.

www.magrane.com

Founder and president of Meyers Financial, Lillian Meyers, has 26 years of experience in the investment and financial planning field, along with specialized training in matters of taxation and divorce, provides her with the knowledge, flexibility, and insight to avoid common pitfalls and create solutions that work.  She is the first woman Certified Financial Planner professional and the only CDFA in Sonoma Valley.

www.meyersfinancial.com

A big thank you to Impact100 Sonoma members Gerry Brinton, Penney Magrane, Joan Howley, and Lillian Meyers for sponsoring this wonderful event.

Sonoma Valley Teen Services was formed last year when Operation Youth and the Valley of the Moon Teen Center merged. Their Skills for Life program was democratically selected as the grant recipient during Impact100′s annual meeting on Saturday.

The program will helps teens develop business skills and find apprenticeships to guide their career paths.

“We’re delighted,” said Tim Boeve, president of the Teen Services board. “It’s a huge, huge shot in the arm for us.”

The program has already proven effective. Teen Services runs the No Name Café at Sonoma Valley High School, where students train to become baristas and gain an understanding of the food service industry, from making drinks to handling cash. Over at the Teen Center, four students successfully launched the Lovin Oven, making baked goods and prepared foods they now sell at the Tuesday night farmers market. Demand is now so high, Lovin Oven recently brought in more teens to help with the baking, employing even more students in a time when there are few job prospects.

“It’s something we already know works,” Boeve said. “It’s already proven to be successful.”

Boeve said the funds would be used to help both Lovin Oven and the No Name Café.

In the application, Boeve explained how these two lines of business could eventually turn into revenue streams for Teen Services to use to continue funding the program when the grant funds have dried up. In addition, Teen Services plans to expand the Skills for Life program to offer apprenticeships in industries such as automobile mechanics, sound system installation and other areas teens have expressed an interest in exploring.

“It’s a simple idea, giving them the experience to succeed,” Boeve said. “We want to link up that interest and drive with those who have expertise to teach.”

Grant money will be used to raise to full-time status Teen Services’ two part-time employees, Rebecca Hermosillo – the executive director of the Teen Center – and Cristin Lawrence, who oversees the programs established by Operation Youth.

“This is exactly what the organization needed,” Boeve said. “We didn’t have the staff power to develop this program until now.”

Impact100 was formed in 2009 when 100 women came together and each promised to give $1,000 to form a $100,000 grant to be given to a Valley nonprofit. After thoroughly vetting each of the proposals, a handful of finalists are selected to make a presentation during the annual meeting, after which each woman gets to vote for the project she’d like to see get the funds.

The funds are given every quarter and reviewed by Impact 100 to ensure they are spent appropriately.

“We need to be good stewards with the member’s money,” said B.J. Bischoff, communication chair for Impact100.

Last year, the Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley received the grant to launch its College Bound program to help provide members with comprehensive support to get into college.

“The Boys & Girls Club presented Saturday. They had four of the kids in the College Bound program speak about what impact meant to them,” said Bischoff. “That made all of the women feel wonderful.”

This year, the organization attracted 157 members, meaning Impact100 was able to give away $57,000 Greater Impact Community Grants ranging from $3,500 to $15,000, which were also selected by a democratic vote. The recipients were:

• Friends in Sonoma Helping (FISH) received $15,000 to improve its clothing room.
• The Sebastiani Theatre Foundation got $3,500 to replace a fire door.
• The Sonoma Ecology Center received $7,000 to bring electricity to the Sonoma Garden Park.
• The Sonoma Valley Community Health Center got $9,000 for equipment for new exam rooms.
• The Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance got $7,500 for the Girls Empowerment Fund.
• The Women’s Initiative for Self-Employment received $15,000 for micro-enterprise training.

Impact100 is launching its membership drive for the new fiscal year. Any woman who joins by Dec. 31 will be invited to vote for next year’s grant recipient. To learn more, visit www.impact100sonoma.org or call 939-5007.

Click Here to Link to Article