Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Commitment
Impact100 Garden State is committed to embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) as fundamental organizational values. We strive to seamlessly weave these values in every aspect of our organization.
We believe our voice is stronger, our decisions more informed, and our impact amplified when we bring together a diverse group of people to participate in realizing our mission of engaging women in philanthropy and in providing transformational funds to organizations that reach the underserved in our communities.
Following the creation of a DEI Exploratory Committee in 2020 to discuss how our membership could better reflect the communities that we serve and how we could more intentionally ensure different viewpoints are represented when we decide where to give our grant dollars, we established a formal DEI Committee in April 2021. The chair of the DEI Committee serves on the Leadership Team to reinforce our organization’s DEI commitment and journey ahead.
Impact100 Garden State pledges to do the hard work of looking inward with genuineness, listening to all who our organization touches, and seeking to become a truly inclusive and equitable organization to give everyone a true sense of belonging. In everything we do, we appreciate individuals and organizations that enrich our thinking and actions through their diverse perspectives and experiences.
We recognize that this process is ongoing. We will communicate regularly about this work on this website and in our newsletters. You can read our most recent DEI report here.
To learn more or to join our DEI Committee, please write to member@impact100gardenstate.org.
Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ("DEI") Commitment
Impact100 Garden State is committed to embracing diversity, equity and inclusion (“DEI”) as fundamental organizational values. We strive to seamlessly weave these values in every aspect of our organization.
We believe our voice is stronger, our decisions more informed, and our impact amplified when we bring together a diversity of people to participate in realizing our mission of engaging women in philanthropy and in providing transformational funds to organizations that reach the underserved in our communities.
Following the creation of a DEI Exploratory Committee in May 2020 to hold discussions on how our membership could be a better reflection of the communities that we serve and on how we could more intentionally provide different viewpoints at the table when deciding where to give our grant dollars, a formal DEI Committee was established in April 2021. This led to representation on the Leadership Team to formalize our organization’s DEI commitment and journey ahead.
Impact100 Garden State pledges to do the hard work of looking inward with genuineness, listening to all who our organization touches, and seeking to become a truly inclusive and equitable organization to give all a true sense of belonging. In everything we do, we appreciate individuals and organizations that enrich our thinking and actions through their diverse perspectives and experiences.
To learn more or to join our DEI Committee, please write to member@impact100gardenstate.org.
DEI Programming & Member Engagement
The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Committee is excited to announce that we will host quarterly events celebrating and honoring the many cultures, heritages, and diverse communities that enrich our membership and the broader community we serve.
Our goal is to create meaningful opportunities for members to learn, connect, and engage through experiences that highlight books, food, history, and cultural traditions from a wide range of groups. While we recognize that we will not be able to cover every heritage or identity each year, we are committed to being intentional, thoughtful, and inclusive in our selections—and to shining a light on many voices and stories over time.
What to Expect
Beginning in February 2026, each quarter may feature one or more of the following, depending on schedules:
- A curated book or reading selection connected to the highlighted community
- A cultural or culinary experience, such as tastings, demonstrations, or storytelling
- An opportunity for reflection and dialogue that strengthen connection across our membership
These gatherings are open to all members, and we warmly welcome your participation, ideas, and curiosity as we embark on this journey together.
We look forward to celebrating the rich diversity that makes Impact100 Garden State stronger, more connected, and more compassionate.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
Our members have found the following resources of interest as we continue to educate ourselves about DEI. Check back for more updates on this page.
OUR DIVERSE IMPACT
We're proud to have been instrumental in addressing the needs of a wide range of underserved populations in our grant-giving. Below are a few examples. Impact100 Garden State has awarded more than $4 million in grants to nonprofits in Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex and Union counties.
Cornerstone Family Programs and Morristown Neighborhood House provide resources to people from age 2 to 102 in the Greater Morris County area. In 2020, Cornerstone Family Programs was awarded a $100,000 grant from Impact100 Garden State for a new Teen Pathways to Brighter Futures program, a holistic approach to providing a pathway out of poverty for low-income minority youth.
In 2020, Zufall Health received a $100,000 grant from Impact100 Garden State for its program “Mobile Meals for Dover Families in Need,” in which a food truck was purchased and outfitted to deliver healthy food and fresh produce for those without easy access to it.
In 2022, Jewish Family Service & Children’s Center of Clifton-Passaic (JFS Clifton) received a $100,000 grant from Impact100 Garden State for its program “The Impact Café: A Pop-Up Business Powered by People with Disabilities.”
In 2015, a $102,500 grant from Impact100 Garden State funded an apprenticeship program, FreePair Paterson, that paired youth in need of employment training with elderly or disabled individuals with limited resources. The goals: to make necessary home improvements with no service charge to these homeowners and renters, while youth received on-the-job training.To learn more, check out our special 10 Years of Impact publication, created for our 10th anniversary year, and our Grantee Spotlights page.