FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The old adage that there’s strength in numbers is the concept behind Impact 100 Baldwin County. The new group was formed to bring together women in order to help other nonprofit organizations fulfill their mission.

“The idea is women pooling their resources to give a gift to a charity,” said Impact 100 Board President Irene Meehan. “The money is to endow a project, not for expenses.”

Interested women must each make a non-refundable annual contribution of $1,000 or more to join the group, which has applied for federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Meehan said all money collected through membership fees will go to a single charity each year through a grant selection process.

Impact 100 is run by volunteers so there is no actual administrative overhead, and any operating costs will be covered through a separate fund-raising effort, she added.

Meehan said, “A woman can be as active or inactive as she wants to be. They can just vote, or get more involved.”

The six-year-old premise is simple, and is based on similar Impact 100 organizations, such as a chapter in the Pensacola area. That group raised $479,000 last year, and a matching grant pushed the total to nearly $1 million.

If 100 women join locally, a grant of at least $100,000 will go to a deserving Baldwin County nonprofit whose application passes evaluation by a committee this summer, then is selected by polling all members in the fall.

If more (or less) women sign up before an April 1 deadline, the amount of the high-impact financial gift will be adjusted accordingly.

“This isn’t like your normal grant,” said Darrelyn Bender, who serves as board vice president. “I’ve never heard of another group — not ever, locally — that’s so willing to help a group move on to the next level. It’s a nice process.”

Organizations may apply for assistance in five categories: Arts and Culture, Education, Environment, Family, and Health and Wellness.

Committees will objectively review applications in each of those areas, make site visits and recommend those to be forwarded to the general membership for final selection during an annual meeting to take place in November. Members who cannot attend may vote electronically or by absentee ballot.

The five nonprofits chosen as finalists will be asked to make presentations at the meeting before members rank them in order, with the tally determining which submission will receive the grant.

The entire amount awarded must be used within two years by the winning organization for the purpose specified on the application, and quarterly progress reports detailing how the money is spent must be submitted to Impact 100.

Meehan noted, “We will hold seminars for the charities so they understand the grant process. Some won’t receive a grant, but they get a lot out of it in education.”

Bender said, “We ask them what they want, and what they have. The training session will help the group who doesn’t even know how to use $100,000. We’ll say, ‘let’s flip it this way. Here’s the way you can use it.’”

Meehan added, “We will help them as much as we possibly can. We’ll make our grant-writing process as simple as possible. We want them all to have the same opportunity.”

Impact 100 will not compete with the United Way, organizers say, because its fund-raising effort runs at full steam during a different time of the year. But, the goals of both groups seem to be the same.

“This will benefit all the residents of Baldwin County because they are projects that will stay up and running,” Meehan said.

Although this is a women’s group, men who want to help are not excluded. Bender said they may make membership-level donations in honor of someone, but they will have no vote. Businesses may also make donations by sponsoring an employee’s membership, or by offering matching funds.

The seed for Impact 100 was planted around a year ago, and many women have already joined the organization.

Bender said, “Irene did all the research. This is her brainchild.” She went on to mention that the pattern being used has been successful in other communities, saying, “We’re not reinventing the wheel.”

In addition to Meehan and Bender, the officers include Nancy Corte, treasurer; Deborah Newberry, membership secretary; and Sandy Steward, recording secretary.

The other board members are Cathy Crosby, Diane Daniell, Jerry Graham, Claudene Nichols and Savin Wilson. Each application committee will be chaired by a member of the panel.

“We’ve got a board full of experience and confidence,” Meehan said. “We’ve got a lot of skill on our board.”

Bender said although the cost of helping others this way may seem high, there is actually more bang for the buck because it is a group effort. She added, “When you look at your budget, and you look at where you spend your money — break it down into 12 months — it’s not that much money.”

Meehan pointed out, “There are a number of ways the charities can benefit, and the women will learn a lot about the charities in the area. We want as many people as possible to know about it.”

She said Impact 100 leaders will give talks in the community to do just that. Everyone is also encouraged to learn more at www.impact100baldwincounty.org.

Membership applications are available online for downloading. They may be requested by mail at Impact 100 Baldwin County, P.O. Drawer 1903, Fairhope, AL. 36533.

“You give back to your community if you’re happy to live there, and who wouldn’t be happy to live here?” Meehan said.

For more information about the organization, call Irene Meehan at (251) 990-2457.