Impact100 Twin Cities, founded just last year by two mid-career professionals looking to create more community connections, just announced its first round of grants to local nonprofits including $100,000 to the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center. The nonprofit, which has served North Minneapolis for 100 years, plans to use the grant to scale its Women’s Wealth and Equity Building Initiative, a program designed to transform families led by single Black mothers, helping them manage finances, pay off debt and increase income.

“There is a fundamental belief [within Impact100] that a dollar in the hand of a woman raise all women in our community,” said Morgan Kennedy, co-founder of the Twin Cities chapter of Impact100, a national organization that empowers women to see themselves as activists by collectively making grants within their communities.

Along with co-founder Bri Springer, Kennedy’s goal was to assemble 100 women who would each chip in $1,000 for philanthropy. She exceeded that goal with 160 members and $160,000 in grand funds. The group will also distribute $20,000 each to Cancer Legal Care, Dress for Success Twin Cities and Wildflyer Coffee.

In all, Impact100 Twin Cities received 37 grant applications from local nonprofits small and large. The organization selected four finalists who shared their program proposals at an event earlier this month. Impact100 members voted on how to distribute the funds.

“The use of money as power and voting for their voice was really meaningful,” Kennedy said.

Overall, Kennedy, whose community efforts landed her on the TCB 100 list for 2024, said the experience of standing up an organization and fulfilling its first round of grant making reaffirmed what women can do, together.

“They’ve got full time jobs, they’re caretaking, and giving to the community. We’re really trying to build something together to create a better community.”

And like any busy person, Kennedy is looking for efficiencies. So Impact100 Twin Cities has decided to partner with the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota for year two. “We’re thinking about how we align and do great work collectively. We want to find our best role, and create deeper conversations.”