member involvement

There are many opportunities and a variety of ways to participate in Impact Grants Chicago but there is no required time commitment. Members choose their level of participation. Some members simply like knowing that 100% of their donation will be put to good use in the Chicago community, others may want to participate in an educational opportunity, while still others may want to be part of the grant review process to choose our finalists. Regardless of your level of involvement, all members participate in the grant award selection in May.

From attending educational events like Lunch and Learn and Impactful Conversations to joining a Grant or Financial Review Committee, Impact Grants Chicago provides a variety of opportunities for members to learn more about local nonprofits and to become knowledgeable philanthropists.

Design your own Impact Grants Chicago experience; your level of involvement is up to you!

 

volunteer

How Can I Get Involved?

As a current member, you are encouraged to choose your level of involvement. Sharing the gift of your time, talents and experience is a valuable and appreciated contribution to Impact Grants Chicago. Volunteer opportunities are updated each year based on needs and initiatives.

Please indicate your interests in volunteering in the Member Portal and you will be contacted directly. Volunteer opportunities are also shared with members throughout the year. Some of the common opportunities include the following:

• • Participate in the Grant Review Process
  • Join a Workgroup
  • Support One and Done Activities
  • Share Professional Expertise

Participate in the Grant Review Process

One of the unique aspects of the Impact Grants Chicago is the opportunity for members to become involved in the actual vetting of the grant applications by serving on a Grant Review or Financial Review Committee. These member committees select the finalists who will present to the entire membership at the Grant Awards Celebration.

Sign-up for the committees takes place online in early January. More information will be provided to members by email in late fall. Anyone planning to be on a Grant Review or Financial Review Committee must Become a Member by December 31.

• • Grant Review Committees (GRCs)
    Seven Grant Review Committees evaluate grant applications from the nonprofits. Some GRCs are completely virtual, but most have a combination of virtual and in-person meetings. The committees meet approximately once a month in January, February, March and May. In mid-April, committee members will virtually attend three Insightful Visits with nonprofits.
    
    You can choose your meeting group based on the time and day of the week that works best for you. No experience or expertise is required; virtual training is provided prior to the first meeting and materials are available to explain each step in the process.
  • Financial Review Committee (FRC)
    The Financial Review Committee works with the Grant Review Committees to make sure the nonprofits moving forward are financially sound. FRC members work independently and then attend one virtual FRC Committee meeting to summarize their findings. In addition, the FRC attends three Insightful Visits in April and the final GRC meeting in May.
    
    More information is in our Review Committee Frequently Asked Questions.

Join a Workgroup

Impact Grants Chicago is a volunteer lead nonprofit. There is much that happens behind the scenes to keep Impact Grants Chicago running efficiently. You can help in a variety of areas while learning more about our Board of Directors and operations. Available workgroups include the following:

• • Outreach involves introducing Impact Grants Chicago to other organizations and prospective members.
  • Membership engages members through small member events and mentoring new members.
  • Events organizes four key member events throughout the year.
  • Grantee Engagement connects with recent Impact Grantees and their Grantee Fellows.

Support One and Done Activities

Becoming a One and Done volunteer is an easy way to meet other members and contribute whenever you have time. We keep a list of volunteers who may want to help at events, complete small projects (e.g., name tags, mailings) or host one of our Pop-Up Neighborhood walks. We will refer to the list of names whenever we need assistance.

Share your Professional Expertise

From time to time, we call upon our members for their professional advice. Current needs are listed in the Member Portal. If you are willing, please update your profile. Doing so will not obligate you as a volunteer, nor does it guarantee that you will be called. We truly appreciate your support.

 

Questions about member involvement? Send us a message.