EP #118: The Impact of Community with Wendy Steele
This is not a new concept. We know that giving and the resulting good feelings can spread rather quickly. What you may not know is that just being asked to be generous and trigger something life-changing in people. They may respond with a “no" (even politely) but just that thought can change their perspective. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to be generous. It’s good for all parties.
Wendy Steele is the Founder and Chief Executive at Impact 100. She’s also a TEDx Speaker and winner of the Jefferson Award for Public Service. We don’t have official credentials but those accomplishments make her an impactmaker. This conversation will inspire you to “bake” giving into your and your family’s life and also show you how you can inspire others to live the same way.
What You'll Learn In Today's Episode:
How Wendy got in to impact work
How Wendy’s parents instilled giving values in her
How Impact 100 works
The importance of community in giving
How sustainability is helped by community involvement
What it’s like to be a member of a giving community
The importance of financial decision-making in giving
The importance of a unique perspective in grant reviewing
The need for a collaborative process in grant-making
How your whole world can change when you see the possibility
How Bob found Wendy
How the body produces oxytocin and wants to produce more
The contrast between oxytocin and cortisol
How to help yourself by helping others
Why distressing is good for all
How a handshake is as powerful as $100 million
How people are coming together from across the world
What Wendy’s role is at Impact 100
Why Wendy wrote a book
Ideas Worth Sharing:
“We can make an impact at a very young age.” - Wendy Steele
“Statistically, we are more likely to grow up to be generous or philanthropic adults if we saw it modeled by as a child.” - Wendy Steele
“It was very much informal or baked into how we lived our lives.” - Wendy Steele speaking on generosity in her life growing up
“When you live in a community, you are best able to assess not only what the needs are but who out there is solving those problems.” - Wendy Steele
“Every woman is a little bit on her own journey.” - Wendy Steele
“If you can do it, maybe I can too.” - Wendy Steele
“They share a common thread.” - Wendy Steele
“The most pressing problems aren’t going to solve themselves.” - Wendy Steele
“You go from a feeling of despair and helplessness to a feeling of hope, optimism, encouragement.” - Wendy Steele
“When you start to see possibility, your whole world tends to open up .” - Wendy Steele
“When we give back, our baby is wired to do that.” - Wendy Steele
“My body produces a blast of oxytocin.” - Wendy Steele
“If you watch it, you get oxytocin.” - Wendy Steele
“If you are under extreme stress, it’s very difficult to be generous.” - Wendy Steele
“You will hope them but you will help yourself too.” - Wendy Steele
“More than $105mil, $1,000 at a time.” - Wendy Steele speaking on Impact 100’s impact
“More women gave and more women came together during the pandemic.” - Wendy Steele
“Your whole life is really just a series of little micro decisions.” - Ryan Lindner
“They’re making friends across chapters…continents.” - Wendy Steele
“All of these things - they really add up.” - Wendy Steele
“Some of those people end up being the closest friends.” Wendy Steele speaking about people giving together
“Every increment of 100 members, we give away another grant of $100,000.” - Wendy Steele
“It can change the life of the person you are asking, even if they say no.” - Wendy Steele
“You have some unique perspective that can help.” - Bob DePasquale
“When we’re the third party, it gives us more incentive to do it.” - Bob DePasquale speaking on experiencing generosity
Resources In Today's Episode:
Impact 100 - Website - Twitter - LinkedIn - Facebook - Instagram
Bob’s Book - Personal Finance in a Public World
This week’s E-Impact Blog Entry
Episodes Referenced:
EP #63: Maximizing Your Philanthropic Impact with Sylvia Brown
