Face to Face — a nonprofit offering health, legal and social services in Germantown — won a $31,000 grant in June from Impact100 Philadelphia. Face to Face hopes to use that money to expand its dining services.

Impact100 is a collective giving organization funded exclusively by people who identify as women. The group selected Face to Face as one of six Philadelphia-based agencies to receive a grant out of a pool of 175 applicants across the city.

Applying for the grant

Impact100 Philadelphia’s grants seek to raise the profile of smaller nonprofits doing important work in their communities. Originally founded in 2008, the organization’s model is membership based. Women make a donation to become members via a one-year commitment and can then vote on nonprofit grantees.

The application process for Face to Face’s grant began in fall 2024. Impact100 members reviewed the proposals along with financial records. Next, finalists were selected to have an onsite visit.

According to Mary Kay Meeks-Hank, executive director of Face to Face, this process was comprehensive.

“They send a large panel to come and meet with the organization,” Meeks-Hank explained. “They are really well-informed before they get here. They are thoughtful. They are thorough. They have really probing questions that let you know they are not just giving money, but they are really partners with you in the process.”

Organizations are asked to discuss several aspects of their work: mission and history; vision and goals; programs and people served; diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts; and why now is a pivotal moment for the organization to receive a grant.

Kim Kirn, executive director of Impact100, said Face to Face’s “Why now?” stood out to the organization.

“The need is urgent and their response is holistic,” Kirn said. “They’re one of the few nonprofits in Philadelphia offering wraparound services all in one place, and they're the only one doing so in Northwest Philadelphia. At a time when nonprofits are grappling with shrinking federal funding and continued uncertainty, the organization has experienced a significant surge in demand.” 

In the 2024-25 grantmaking year, Impact100 awarded $257,450 in unrestricted funds to six nonprofits: Women in Transition received $100,000, while Face to Face, Collective Climb, One House at a Time, Students Run Philly Style, and Kensington Soccer Club each received  roughly $31,000.

Community impact

Face to Face provides many services for low-income Philadelphians, and houses a legal, health, and social services centers. This grant will directly go toward its community dining room, expanding the number of days Face to Face can serve fresh meals. 

The organization intends to hire part-time staff to manage food services seven days a week.

“We do a yearly survey where we ask our guests how we’re doing and if there is more that they would like us to do,” Meeks-Hank said. “Then we follow that yearly quantitative survey with qualitative, bimonthly meetings that are like community advisory board meetings, where our guests meet in the dining room and share concerns and things they’re happy about. 

“One thing that came up a couple of months ago was that, yes, they can find food at other places, but the food is not accompanied by the kind of care and experience they get here.”

Meeks-Hank said Face to Face prioritizes this kind of feedback when determining its services.

“The experts in the lives of our guests are the guests themselves,” Meeks-Hank said. “They know what they need and when they feel heard and respected, they tell you what they need.… They’re not asking for pockets of money. They’re saying ‘We like to come here and have a meal. When we come here and have a meal, we feel welcome and respected. People treat us like human beings.’”

Maggie Dougherty can be reached at Margaret@chestnuthilllocal.com.