Joanne Sowell
President
The Impact100 model is readily available to all communities who wish to implement it. The model is designed to empower women to see themselves as philanthropists and overcome the barriers women have historically faced in this arena. The model is designed for transformational grant-making within local communities, with a minimum grant size of $100,000.
At Least 100 Women
Come Together
Each Woman
Donates $1,000
$100,000
is donated to a
Local Charity
Our guiding theme for grants is “Transformation and Innovation.” Each grant we award will continue to emphasize visionary projects that bring about meaningful change. Whether it’s fostering artistic expression, improving educational outcomes, protecting our environment, strengthening families, or enhancing community health, our funding will drive impactful and creative solutions.
Arts & Culture
Education
Environment, Preservation & Recreation
Family
Health & Wellness
Joanne is an attorney, community activist and philanthropist in Nashville, and is passionate about making Tennessee a welcoming and inclusive place to live. Besides practicing law, she has worked at social service agencies, owned a social enterprise and been an active volunteer on political campaigns and in numerous community projects.
Contact Joanne:
president@nashville.impact100council.org
Prerna brings a unique blend of expertise in program leadership, strategic planning, and community engagement to the Impact100 Nashville Board. She strives to align diverse stakeholder needs to achieve impactful outcomes. Her commitment to community-driven initiatives is evident through her success in designing programs that boost participation, generate meaningful results, and inspire collaboration.
Prerna is passionate about empowering women and supporting collective giving to create lasting change. As a member of the Impact100 Nashville Board, she looks forward to leveraging her skills to strengthen relationships within the community and further the organization’s mission.
Contact Prerna:
communityliaison@nashville.impact100council.org
Michele co-founded Impact100 Nashville in 2015. She was President from 2018 to 2021, doubling our membership to over 200 members. She continues to be dedicated to Impact100 Nashville because she loves combining philanthropic and financial power to create social change in our community. She is CEO & Founder of CultureMax and Forbes author of the book “Cultural Excellence: The Leaders Guide to Strengthening the Heart of Your Organization” coming September 2025. and lives in Mt. Juliet with her husband Doug. She loves paddle boarding, yoga, and being with her children and grandchildren.
Contact Michele:
info@nashville.impact100council.org
As a new Nashvillian, joining Impact100 in 2022 was one of the first things Nancy did to become part of the community. She is inspired by the difference that our grants make in the lives of our fellow Middle Tennesseans, especially women, children and young adults. After years as a technology leader, executive coach and board member of Women in Technology and other not-for-profits, Nancy is excited to advance Impact100’s mission by engaging our members and inspiring others to join our collective giving efforts. Nancy happily resides in East Nashville with her husband and near her daughter’s family. She also is an Advisor to the Nebo Company, a leadership coaching and development company.
Contact Nancy:
membership@nashville.impact100council.org
Jill moved to the Nashville area in 1993 and is a Director at a Fortune 100 Healthcare company. She’s also a Certified Project Manager and is excited to utilize those skills while serving on the Impact100 Nashville board to further the objectives of the organization. Jill was drawn into Impact100 Nashville because it offers a unique, welcoming environment and is a perfect combination for women wanting philanthropy, networking and comradery on their own terms.
Contact Jill:
sponsorship@nashville.impact100council.org
Kristen Phillips, a Nashvillian since 2009, works in healthcare administration and has been a member of Impact Nashville since 2020. She immediately fell in love with the work of the grants committee for both the ability to support the amazing work by nonprofits in the Nashville community she loves, as well as the opportunity to meet and work with the supportive and driven women of Impact100 Nashville.
Contact Kristen:
grants@nashville.impact100council.org
Melissa is a technology leader who specializes in Data Analytics. She manages a team of developers and analysts at a local healthcare company. Melissa became involved in Impact100 Nashville to be a part of the solution for middle Tennesseans in need. She’s been with Impact100 Nashville for four years and served on the grants committee for three of those years.
Contact Melissa:
dataanalytics@nashville.impact100council.org
Katherine is a seasoned creative professional with 25+ years building brands and designing products in the entertainment, healthtech, and fintech industries. She was thrilled to join Impact100 Nashville in 2022 after hearing its model of gathering 100 women donating $1,000 each to give incremental grants of $100,000 each year to local non-profits. Katherine looks forward to growing the Impact100 brand and awareness.
Contact Katherine:
marketing@nashville.impact100council.org
Brooke Trusley has lived in Nashville for over 20 years. She has been an Impact100 member for three years. She serves on Nashville Ballet’s Board of Directors, has co-chaired the Alexis de Tocqueville Society of United Way for 2023 and 2024 alongside her husband, Josh Trusley, co-chaired Nashville Ballet’s Ballet Ball alongside Joanne Sowell in 2022 and is involved at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens as well as the Adventure Science Center. Brooke lives in West Meade with her husband of 21 years and their identical twin daughters.
Contact Brooke:
finance@nashville.impact100council.org
Tara is an Attorney, specializing in advocating for disabled individuals. Tara also serves in other capacities making a difference; as a member of the Orphan, Foster, Adoption Ministry team at Brentwood United Methodist Church, serving as a volunteer Attorney for the Legal Aid Society, and as a Member Relations Committee member for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. Tara has served on the Advisory Board/Committee and Grants Committee during her tenure and looks forward to the collaborative continuation of working together with other women making a positive and transformative IMPACT in our community.
secretary@nashville.impact100c