Pictured: Left to right: Jane Watts, founding president of Impact100 SRQ, Wendy Steele, founder of Impact100 and Pam Kandziora, president of Impact100 SRQ. Photo by Barbie Heit.

On Wednesday evening, April 16, Impact100 SRQ hosted its 7th Annual Big Reveal at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium. The energy in the room was electric as the nonprofit proudly announced it will award $864,000 in grants for its 2025 Giving Year—funds that will directly benefit nonprofits serving Sarasota and Manatee Counties.

With 864 passionate members gathered in celebration, Impact100 SRQ President Pam Kandziora welcomed attendees and emphasized the heart of the organization: collective giving. “This is a celebration of our membership and of the nonprofits in the community,” she said. "These grants not only provide critical funding but also amplify the visibility of the incredible work being done."

The evening also welcomed a special guest: Wendy Steele, founder of the Impact100 movement. Originally launched in 2001 with a simple yet powerful idea—1,000 women giving $1,000 each—Impact100 has since grown into a global force with 78 chapters in four countries and more than $160 million in grant funding distributed. “This growth has exceeded my wildest expectations,” Steele said. “When a chapter comes into a community, it becomes an economic driver—funding the arts, environment, education, job creation—all because women care deeply about where they live and choose to link arms with other women who have a shared desire to lift people up.”

Among those proudly in attendance was Jane Watts, Founding President of Impact100 SRQ, who launched the local chapter in January 2017 with 228 women driven by a shared mission to make meaningful change. Since then, the chapter has experienced unprecedented growth, becoming the fastest-growing Impact100 chapter in the world, making the most impactful changes. Watts attributes the success to the very giving nature of the community. “People want to do more. They love where they live, they want to belong and they want to contribute on a deeper level,” she said. 

The 2025 Giving Year is officially underway, and Impact100 SRQ looks forward to funding bold, high-impact initiatives that will shape the future of Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Beginning April 17, 2025, nonprofits interested in applying for a grant can learn more and submit their Eligible to Apply Form by visiting Impact100SRQ.org.

Pictured: Left to right: Jane Watts, founding president of Impact100 SRQ, Wendy Steele, founder of Impact100 and Pam Kandziora, president of Impact100 SRQ. Photo by Barbie Heit.