With Wendy Steele, CEO and Founder of Impact100

Do you ever feel as if there aren’t enough hours in the day? We’re constantly being pulled in so many different directions with work, family, and social obligations. This becomes even more challenging for working mothers, because we may stay up late to review our children’s homework and then get up early the next morning to cover all their needs before we head to our jobs. As our to-do list continues to grow, sometimes we may feel overwhelmed and guilty because we can’t imagine taking on even one more task. This might be especially true when we’re approached to help out with a volunteer commitment. We truly want to say “yes” and support a worthy cause but it’s simply too much for one person to accomplish. However, what if we were to join a group of like-minded individuals with the same objective and work together to reach that goal? As an African Proverb states, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Perhaps the key to success might be to pool our talents in support of each other. Some of the biggest hurdles in life can be overcome if we work together for the betterment of all. Communities can be built, businesses can be launched and families can thrive based upon our collective efforts.

That’s the premise behind the successful non-profit, “Impact100.” When CEO and Founder, Wendy H. Steele first launched her innovative approach to fundraising, she created a new model for how women can give back to their communities, meet the people who can make things happen, and help other women succeed. Recognized by Forbes in 2021 as one of the Top 50 Most Impactful Women Over 50, Wendy’s efforts to engage and support female entrepreneurs have generated more than 123 million dollars. We’re going to speak with Wendy to learn what led to the creation of Impact100 and hear about the amazing legacy she established for women to help other women in communities around the world.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• Wendy talks about her childhood and how she learned the importance of doing chores for her family at a young age.
• The concept of community involvement and leaving the world in a better place than how you found it.
• How losing Wendy’s mother at a young age instilled the concept of women supporting other women.
• What does Impact100 do?
• Why did Wendy want to create Impact100?
• How much does Impact100 cost, and what if a woman can’t afford the total $1000 amount right away, or at all?
• Can men become involved with Impact100?
• Why is it so important to truly understand the challenges of the nonprofits that you support?
• What are some of the reasons that women want to join Impact100?
• Wendy shares the story of their first grant recipient, the Dental Clinic.

Today’s Takeaway:

Although we may want to help our neighbors and others who might be struggling in our community, sometimes the task feels overwhelming. We think to ourselves, how can my little contribution ever make a difference? Well, as we just heard, when our donation is combined with matching donations from hundreds of other women, together we make a significant amount that can literally transform a non-profit and help them achieve their goals. In this way, dreaming big becomes a reality. For anyone who wants to make a difference in this world and leave a lasting legacy, this is how you do it. The Impact100 growth demonstrates how the spirit of generosity is contagious. When others see the good that can come from a charitable act, they want to become a part of it. Wendy has created a model for ensuring that each new chapter has the ability not only to affect immediate changes in their community but also to lay the foundation for future generations to benefit. Remember that every day is a gift and the gift we get from volunteering and giving to others is a gift that ultimately will end up benefiting and enriching our own lives in ways we never could have imagined. I’m Florine Mark and that’s “Today’s Takeaway.”

Quotes:

• “We were trained from an early age to always leave a place a little bit better than we found it.” — Wendy [3:54]
• “They were really a council of moms, coaching my dad and helping to raise me and my little sister.” — Wendy [6:36]
• “Between the work my dad did and my grandparents, I was surrounded by people who truly demonstrated how we should all look out for each other and what community and family can really be.” — Wendy [6:42]
• “Not only did the community need what these women had, but these women needed to understand what it felt like to be a part of the solution.” — Wendy [10:22]
• “From hopeless to hopeful.” — Wendy [19:32]
• “A lot of men are fascinated by the power of impact. They also want to contribute.” — Wendy [23:20]
• “Identifying those heroes in the communities running nonprofits that are making a positive impact and helping them fund those causes was a life-changing experience.” — Wendy [10:48]
• “When you have women at both ends of the spectrum and every shade of the rainbow in between, we can engage in conversations that lead to better decisions and better outcomes.” — Wendy [13:22]

Brought to You By:

Gardner White Furniture

Mentioned in This Episode:

Impact100

Wendy Steele