100 Ways to Make a Philanthropic Impact in WA

Influential West Australian business people and their friends have joined forces to increase philanthropy in the state with the launch of Impact100.

The campaign was launched officially at the Good Giving-Good Impact event in Perth last week hosted by Giving West and supported by ArtSupport, the Myer Family Company and Philanthropy Australia.

Impact100 WA aims to gather at least one hundred people to donate $1000 each annually and then to pool their contributions to make large impact grants to WA-based projects that are collectively chosen by the donors at an annual grant dinner.

Inaugural chairman, Simon Bedbrook says Impact100 WA was started in late 2011 by a group of friends who wanted to contribute something significant to their community.

“It began with a discussion about how to make philanthropy easier for those around us and was fueled by an introduction to the work of the Impact100 groups in the US. By March 2012 we were ready to launch and the first grant will be made in December 2012,” he said.

“One of the goals of Impact100 WA is to increase philanthropy in Western Australia and Australia.

“We are doing this in two ways: Our grant strategy includes making one Primary Grant of $100,000 each year. We want to have an extraordinary impact with this Primary Grant being a game changer, empowering the receiving organisation to dream bigger.

“The grant recipients and the WA community, benefit but also, our donors will experience the satisfaction of being involved in engaged philanthropy within WA, knowing that their contribution becomes part of a transformational grant, funding projects within local communities and improving quality of life.

“Successful grant recipients also benefit from raised public profiles, potentially attracting additional funding. Any organisation unsuccessful in attracting an Impact100 WA grant may find new avenues of funding as a result of undergoing the review and selection process.”

Bedbrook says donors can be as hands-on or hands-off as they like and they will all have the opportunity to be involved in the grant decision-making process.

Bedbrook is the Managing Director of an Investment and Retirement planning practice, is a Director of the Paraplegic Benefit Fund and is on the State Chapter of the Family Business Association.

“Impact100 WA is not only about responding to community needs, it is equally about providing educational opportunities to our members. Presentations by applicants and Not for Profit leaders will offer rare insights into the communities around us, thereby encouraging further engagement as donors, volunteers or mentors,” he said.

“Donations are fully tax-deductible and the whole $1000 donation goes directly toward the grants.”