Hunterdon County women are proving that philanthropy doesn’t have to be done alone. Founded in 2023, Impact100 Hunterdon has already awarded its first $100,000 transformational grant — and its leaders say this is just the beginning.
The organization follows a simple model: Each member contributes $1,000 annually, and those funds are pooled to award large grants to local nonprofits. What makes it unique, members say, is how collective giving multiplies the power of individual contributions.
“Imagine being one of 100 women who each give $1,000 to create a $100,000 grant,” says Jerri May-Grimes, founding president of Impact100 Hunterdon. “When we come together, our impact grows exponentially. Collective giving connects you to something bigger than yourself.”
Building Momentum in Year One
The chapter launched after a conversation in 2022 between community leaders and the Binnacle House board, which became the founding sponsor. By spring 2023, nine women around a conference table were asking themselves if they could really make it happen.
They did. In their first year, Impact100 Hunterdon welcomed 117 founding members, built committees, launched a website, hosted awareness events and ultimately awarded their inaugural grant to Freedom House to expand its sober-living program.
“I am moved by the gratitude of the clients I met in the program,” May-Grimes says. “In partnership with Freedom House, we addressed a global pressing need right here in our own community.”
For Leadership Council and Grants Chair Colleen Duerr, the early success is a testament to teamwork. “It takes a herculean effort to found a chapter and do it well,” she says. “The team came together so effectively and I’m proud to be part of that.”
Why Collective Giving Works
Members emphasize that the Impact100 model is about more than writing a check.
“A $1,000 gift is impactful, but a $100,000 grant gives an organization the ability to initiate, grow or improve a program on a level that $1,000 simply can’t,” Duerr says. “It’s also an opportunity to work with a funder that is a vocal and active advocate for their work.”
Vice President and founding member Jeannie Colalillo agrees. “Women have always given their time, but Impact100 asks for a significant cash contribution,” she says. “Individually we can’t give at the levels of a MacKenzie Scott or Melinda Gates, but collectively, we can make a difference.”
Redefining Philanthropy
Several members say Impact100 has shifted how they view giving.
“The term ‘philanthropy’ is not something I associated with myself,” Colalillo says. “Impact100 has encouraged me to think about giving in a more intentional way.”
For Membership Chair Michelle Heide, the experience has been both personal and practical. “As a business owner, I’m constantly being asked to sponsor things,” she says. “By participating in this chapter, my resources are pooled with 99 other women and we can collectively make a huge impact.”
Looking Ahead
Impact100 Hunterdon’s short-term goal is to grow its membership to 200 women and eventually award multiple six-figure grants each year across its five focus areas: Arts and Culture, Education, Environment, Family, and Health & Wellness.
Long term, members hope the chapter reshapes philanthropy across Hunterdon County.
“Hunterdon is a wonderful community but we can do better in generosity,” Duerr says. “We can change that.”
Gratitude and Growth
As part of Impact100’s spirit of gratitude, members say they are most thankful for the bonds formed along the way.
“I’m thankful for the incredible women I have met in this journey,” Duerr says.
“I’m thankful for the women who share the passion and purpose of making meaningful change,” May-Grimes says.
And for Heide, the mission is simple: “I’m thankful for meeting amazing women in our community and learning about the important work our nonprofits are doing.”
Getting Involved
Impact100 Hunterdon welcomes new members. The membership drive for this year’s giving cycle concludes Nov. 30, 2025. Women interested can visit www.impact100hunterdon.org, attend an event or connect directly with current members.
As Colalillo puts it: “Reach out. I’ll go on a walk with anyone interested in learning more.”
“Impact100 is a collective force for good; uniting and empowering women to give together, creating transformational impact, locally and globally.”
“When we come together, our impact grows exponentially. Collective giving connects you to something bigger than yourself.” - Jerri May-Grimes, founding president of Impact100 Hunterdon