When Mary Tinsley took the helm as board president of Impact100 Northwest Florida this year, she brought with her a personal mantra that perfectly encapsulates the organization’s mission: making a difference in the lives of others.

• “I shared this at the event last night, and I’ve talked about this with my board of directors,” Tinsley said. “When you lead with your heart, some really amazing things happen.”

Now, she’s channeling that philosophy into an ambitious goal: reaching 600 members and awarding six $100,000 grants in 2026 — a record for the Northwest Florida chapter.

Since 2012, Impact100 NWF has given nearly $5.4 million to 51 nonprofits across Okaloosa and Walton counties. If the organization hits its 2026 target, it will cross the $6 million mark in total giving – a milestone Tinsley says would have an exponential impact on the community’s nonprofit sector.

Building on last year’s success

The 2026 goals were shaped in part by last year’s momentum. Local developer Jay Odom sponsored 29 women, helping Impact100 NWF reach 482 members and fund all five grant categories.

• “We definitely evaluated where we are allocating our resources with regards to membership and how we’re engaging with the community,” Tinsley said. “So that we can try to organically reach as many women as we can with our program of work and the opportunity to have a seat at our table.”

The math for 2026 is straightforward: if the 482 members from last year renew and half of them bring a friend, Impact100 NWF will not only hit but exceed its 600-member goal.

Meeting women where they are

To attract new members, Impact100 NWF is hosting 10 enrollment events across both counties this spring — a significant expansion from previous years. The events span morning coffee meetups to evening gatherings, designed to accommodate the diverse schedules of working professionals and retirees alike.

“We have a very diverse member base. We have ladies who are working full-time and women who are retirees,” Tinsley explained. “We want to have as much variety as possible to give members of the community the opportunity to come out and engage with us.”

The 2026 Spring Enrollment Events include:

• February 26, 9-11 a.m. – Coastal Coffee, Santa Rosa Beach
• March 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m. – Jackacuda’s, Destin
• March 25, 5:30-7:30 p.m. – 3rd Planet Brewery, Niceville
• April 2, 9-11 a.m. – Main Brew Coffee, Fort Walton Beach
• April 12, 1-3 p.m. – Eagle’s Nest at Blackwater, Crestview
• April 15, 9-11 a.m. – 2 Birds Coffee, Miramar Beach
• April 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m. – Ruth’s Chris, Destin

Georgia Henderson, a board member who handles communications and marketing, emphasized the flexibility that sets Impact100 apart.

“Once you join, your level of involvement is entirely up to you—and it can really be flexible year to year,” Henderson said. “We love volunteers, but we also understand that some years you might only be able to donate and vote on who receives the grants at the end of the year, and that’s perfectly acceptable too.”

What to expect at an enrollment event

For women who’ve never attended an Impact100 event, Tinsley describes high-energy gatherings focused on personal engagement. Each event features a past grant recipient sharing how their project continues to benefit the community.

• “There’s an opportunity to socialize, network, and build friendships across the two counties,” Tinsley said. “One of the most powerful aspects of Impact membership is that I’ve met women I never would have met otherwise.”

The events also explain Impact100’s collective giving model: each member pays $1,000 in annual dues, with every dollar going directly toward creating $100,000 grants. One hundred women equals one grant.

Women who can’t attend an event can still join online, where they can learn about the giving model and pay by check or credit card.

A call to nonprofits: Submit your Letter of Intent

While Impact100 NWF focuses on growing membership, the organization is also inviting nonprofits to apply for 2026 grants. The Letter of Intent (LOI) — the crucial first step in the application process — is available on the website now and due by March 31.

• “The letter of intent allows us to clearly identify organization eligibility,” Tinsley explained. “We can look at, for example, two years of 501(c)(3) status. We also have the opportunity to look at least at a 30,000-foot view level of what the project is.”

For nonprofits hesitant to apply, both Tinsley and Henderson offered the same advice: just submit the LOI.

“Complete the LOI. If you don’t, you won’t have the option to apply later in the cycle,” Henderson said.

Tinsley added that persistence pays off: “Sometimes it takes multiple years of applying before you get in front of the right group and the right collection of applicants, and yours rises to the top. Don’t give up and keep applying.”

Submitting the LOI doesn’t commit an organization to apply—it simply keeps the door open for this year’s grant cycle.

What makes a winning application

After 14 years of grantmaking, Tinsley has noticed clear patterns in successful applications. The strongest proposals come from organizations with full buy-in from leadership.

• “The successful applications are the very thought-out projects that have full support of not only a grant writer, but the board of directors and the staff,” she said. “When you’ve got the full support of the entire organization and it’s a very thoughtful request, that’s clearly demonstrated to our ladies during site visits.”

The grant process is intentionally rigorous. Tinsley acknowledged that nonprofits often describe it as difficult—but that’s by design.

“Every dollar of our member dues goes back out into the community, and as a board, we’re charged with identifying the best possible candidates for that money to go to,” she said. “We strive to be good stewards of our members’ dollars.”

Transformational vs. operational: What Impact100 funds

Impact100 NWF specifically seeks transformational projects — not operational expenses or portions of capital campaigns. Tinsley pointed to a grant awarded to the Emerald Coast Science Center years ago as a prime example.

• “It’s a sciPad featuring SMALLab that projects interactive activities onto the floor in one of the classrooms,” she explained. “It’s educational, it’s physically engaging, and that was a grant that we paid for years ago that’s still being utilized. Every single time they have a field trip at the science center, the students are there having a great time.”

For smaller or newer nonprofits that might find a $100,000 grant intimidating, Tinsley offered reassurance: with proper planning and organizational support, the process becomes manageable.

“If you’ve got the full support of your board and your staff and you really take the time to plan out the budget of how you’re going to spend those dollars, then it becomes a smooth process as you go through each step of the review,” she said.

Business sponsorships: Not just for big developers

Jay Odom’s sponsorship of 29 women last year created a model that Impact100 NWF hopes other businesses will follow — at whatever scale makes sense for them. 

• “Jay’s company is pretty substantial, but sponsorships can work at any scale,” Tinsley said. “I had a conversation with a girlfriend of mine who owns a local small business, and she wanted to know how she could help. I told her, ‘You have a lot of ladies on your staff—see if they’re interested in becoming members, and you could sponsor them.'”

A small business with four or five female employees could sponsor all of them, helping Impact100 NWF reach its goals while giving employees a meaningful philanthropic opportunity.

Henderson noted that businesses can also support the organization by donating space, time, or food for events—since 100% of member dues go directly to nonprofits, event costs are covered separately.

• “Business sponsors are very much appreciated, whether it’s providing space for events, donating food, or helping hosting socials or recruitment events,” Henderson said. “Sponsoring members is wonderful and the primary part of our mission so that we are able to fund the annual grants, but there are many ways to contribute.”

For business owners interested in sponsorship opportunities, Tinsley said she’s happy to discuss options at any level. Those interested can reach out through the organization’s website or email impactnwf@impactnwf.org.

Why members keep coming back

For Henderson, who has been involved with Impact100 for several years, the draw is simple: seeing grants transform the community.

• “Once you see how thoroughly vetted and how wonderful the organization runs, you can’t help but fall in love and want to be involved,” she said. “You want to continue to help further the mission however you can.”

Tinsley, who is following in the footsteps of past presidents she describes as “absolutely remarkable women,” sees her role as an opportunity to put her values into action.

“The opportunity to lead is never a decision to be taken lightly, but it is an amazing opportunity,” she said. “When I was offered the opportunity to step into this role, it was a very heartfelt decision. I think we’re going to accomplish some great things this year.”

The bigger picture: What six grants would mean

If Impact100 NWF reaches its goal of 600 members and awards six grants, the ripple effects would extend far beyond the $600,000 in direct funding.

“We would cross the $6 million mark in dollars given,” Tinsley said. “And we would have the opportunity to expand what we call the impact of Impact, which is a trickle-down effect where we see just exponentially greater benefit to the economic status of nonprofits in Okaloosa and Walton counties.”

The organization’s table, as Tinsley describes it, is “very welcoming, uplifting and empowering.”

“Our hope is that women will decide to have a seat at our table,” she said. “As a woman in business with a family, living in Okaloosa County, seeing the needs that need to be addressed — and having the chance to do it with this group of women — is an absolutely incredible opportunity.”

Getting involved

For women interested in joining Impact100 NWF, Henderson has one recommendation: visit the website.

• “You can find out a lot there,” she said. “We have a digital booklet that goes through the whole mission and the model. You can see all the upcoming events, register to become a member, learn about the grant process, and access the LOI. All of our previous recipients are listed there as well.”

And for those considering whether to attend an event: “Just bring a friend,” Henderson said. “They’re fun and free to attend — just bring a friend and come learn about Impact100.”

For more information about Impact100 Northwest Florida, to register for an enrollment event, or to become a member, visit here. Nonprofits with questions about the grant process can email grants@impactnwf.org.