Honoring Two Decades of Impact: Girls Giving Grants Celebrates 20 Years

Impact Austin
May 4
5 min read

Let's applaud Girls Giving Grants (g3) and their 20^th anniversary milestone!

From their first grant in 2006 to this year’s award, g3 has deployed collective giving and thoughtful grant review to support 20 local nonprofits and the youth they serve. We congratulate Girls Giving Grants for $138,600 in total grantmaking with 22 awards! Cheers to their 2026 Community Partner, the Children's Advocacy Center - Serving Bastrop, Lee and Fayette Counties. Read here for a list of all g3 Community Partners.

The 202-2026 year has included other congratulations to Girls Giving Grants. In October, RecognizeGood’s Executive Director Joel Coffman presented g3 with a Lighthouse Award, including $1,000 for their impact and continued work in the community. That amount became part of g3’s $8,000 2026 grant award.

Shortly after, ATX Good News featured g3 on their social media with the message: “These are the faces of a new generation of informed, impactful philanthropists. For 20 years, Girls Giving Grants has inspired young women in Central Texas to lead with compassion. These teens have donated more than $130,000 to local nonprofits. Good news indeed!”

How did this generous giving circle begin?

Impact Austin founder Rebecca Powers wrote in a 2015 blog, "On December 25, 2003, Claire Powers gave Impact Austin $100 she had earned over several months. She said, 'Mom, I’ve never seen you so happy, and I want to join Impact Austin when I’m an adult.' After many hugs and even more tears, I replied, 'What if you and your friends started your own movement now with the same mission?' The rest is history…."

In 2005, Lisa Lyons joined Impact Austin’s board and directed the first 22 members of Girls Giving Grants, including Rebecca's daughter Claire. Rebecca Powers wrote,

"They named themselves, created their logo and set up a leadership structure and associated processes to ensure their future success. The girls were adamant that no moms be allowed to participate (imagine!). They wanted to create and own all aspects of their organization. Lisa provided guidance and support while allowing the girls much latitude and creativity."

Dina Mavridis picked up g3 leadership and ran the program for 9 years after its initial start-up phase. Dina commented, "As we celebrate 20 years of Girls Giving Grants, I am filled with gratitude to be part of a program that truly makes a difference. I joined g3 as a young leader from Impact Austin, and now, years later, as a mom of three daughters, one who is a member and two more who are future members, I have the privilege of experiencing its impact in an even more meaningful way.

It has been an honor to witness the impact over the years, not only in the lives of the girls who grow into confident, purpose-driven leaders, but also in the families and communities strengthened through this work. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this incredible journey and for the lasting difference you continue to make."

Ami Kane followed as g3’s volunteer leader even before she was an Impact Austin member! Ami wrote, "My time volunteering with g3 will be among my most treasured experiences, forever. In the 8 years I was involved, I watched so many brilliant, compassionate young women find their voices and leadership skills in philanthropy. Their vision for the future kept me inspired, energized, and motivated, as I saw them help enrich the nonprofits they funded and make our community all the better! "

Other current and past members co-chaired the g3 program going forward, including Elizabeth Doyel, Sue Breland, Jennifer Long, Sara Williamson, Karen Davenport, Summer McAfee, Rebecca Birch, and Mae Mendoza.

Sue Breland added this insight: “In moving g3 meetings into the northeast Austin Bertha Sadler Means Young Women’s Leadership Academy, and with the generosity of a local family foundation which provided $10,000 in member scholarships, g3 gained the participation of girls from that area who brought new perspectives on community needs. Coming out of the COVID years, g3 members came roaring back more resilient, compassionate, and ready to engage than ever. As a g3 volunteer, I always received more joy and inspiration than anything I may have imparted. Congratulations to the next class of g3 superstars."

Co-Chair Karen Davenport wrote in 2023, "Being with and learning from the girls is the best part. They bring their enthusiasm, open-ness, and unique points of view with them in all they do. I am encouraged when I see them step into new situations, welcome girls from all over Austin, step up to lead and also step back to let others shine."

Co-Chair Rebecca Birch shared, “The Girls Giving Grants program is an amazing opportunity for young women to learn about their communities and the value of philanthropy. It has been a tremendous honor to work alongside them in this process. Here’s to another 20 years!”

First year member Claire Powers wrote, “I cannot believe it has been 20 years! As a high school girl, helping to create Girls Giving Grants, I would never have imagined it to continue to flourish in this way, 20 years later! Going from participating to advising to now seeing my friend's daughters participate, it's a full circle moment for sure!”

In a 2020 blog interview, Claire offered, “It is critical to get the younger generation involved in philanthropy, as it becomes a catalyst in the lives of these young women. I sincerely believe the trajectory of my life would have been very different, had g3 not been a part of my life.”

Past g3 member-leaders offered their perspectives:

Kelsey Randle Haley, Class of 2011: "g3 allowed me to take a deeper look at how I engage with my community and how I choose to live my life."
Madalyn Marabella, Class of 2016: "g3 helped me view service as a part of life, rather than just an extracurricular activity."
Akshara Anand, President 2018-2019: "Each meeting in my first year taught me something new through the variety of trainings and gave me the opportunity to increase my leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills in my Application Review Committee. Four years later, I can confidently say that g3 has been the most rewarding experience of high school."
Ava Motes, President 2020-2021: "g3 provides a space for girls of various ages, perspectives, and backgrounds to unite in pursuit of a better world."
Lilah O'Brien, President 2021-2022: "Going forward, I'll take the messages I've learned from g3 about leadership, about friendship, and about how to impact the area where I live."
Vera Powell, President 2022-2023: "Each year we are able to fulfill important community needs, all while promoting and teaching philanthropy to our members."
Aurna Mukherjee, President 2023-2024: “Membership in g3 has made me aware of the range of needs in the community, from beds for foster kids to therapy sessions for survivors of trauma. Having this understanding built me into someone that genuinely cares about helping others in the community, which is my understanding of philanthropy.”
Meredith McMahan, President 2024-2025: My four years at g3 have been some of the most rewarding of my life. They’ve taught me to be a leader, informed me about the needs facing my community, and allowed me to encounter perspectives that differ from my own."
Sara Seghal, President 2025-2026: "G3 has taught me the true meaning of leadership, the importance of taking initiative, and the confidence to believe in myself. G3 has also shown me how to give back to my community in ways I never imagined and introduced me to the power of collective giving."