2024 Outsized Impact Award Finalists

The Outsized Impact Award recognizes someone from an Exponent Philanthropy member organization whose giving has achieved greater-than-expected results. Learn about our inspiring 2024 finalists and submit your vote before October 14 »

Amy Nossaman
Grants Program Manager, Legacy Foundation (Ottumwa, IA)

With over 25 years in the grants and philanthropy sector, Amy Nossaman brings extensive experience and a deep commitment to community improvement. Her roles have spanned grant writer, NSF Project Director, Community Foundation board member, evaluator, and currently, Grants Program Manager at the Legacy Foundation.

Transformative Leadership

At the Legacy Foundation, Amy has redefined philanthropy by implementing trust-based practices. She ensures that grantees are treated as true partners in community betterment, particularly in underserved rural areas. Her empathetic and insightful approach has led to lasting impact across the region.

Empowering Youth for Change

Amy founded the Legacy Youth Alliance, a youth philanthropy program aimed at empowering high school students. Under her leadership, the group has addressed critical issues like mental health, resulting in the City of Ottumwa designating September 19th as Ottumwa Youth Mental Health Day—a significant milestone in her efforts to foster community-wide change.

Supporting Educators

Amy also launched the Classroom Champions Teacher Mini Grant Program, which helps teachers cover out-of-pocket classroom expenses. This initiative has made a real difference in creating enriched learning environments for students by relieving financial pressures on educators.

Streamlining Grant Processes

Recognizing the need for efficiency, Amy spearheaded the development of a common grant application system in collaboration with other local funders. This innovation has reduced administrative burdens on nonprofits and fostered greater collaboration among funders in the region.

Hands-On Leadership

Amy’s leadership style is highly responsive and deeply personal. She volunteers alongside community members, building authentic relationships and gaining a grassroots understanding of the challenges they face. Her hands-on approach ensures that community voices shape the solutions she implements.

Building Stronger Communities

Amy excels at bringing stakeholders together. Through collaboration, she has helped create a stronger, more unified community in Ottumwa. Her work at the Legacy Foundation has set a new standard for the region, proving that with vision and compassion, lasting change is possible—even in the most challenging environments.

Alece H.M. Montez
Co-Executive Director, AJL Foundation (Denver, CO)

Alece H.M. Montez has spent nearly 25 years fostering community connectedness across local government, education, and philanthropy. With a passion for uplifting marginalized and underserved communities, her leadership has created more connected, resourced, and hopeful spaces.

Championing Community-Driven Philanthropy

As Co-Executive Director at the AJL Foundation, Alece co-leads through a shared leadership model, grounded in inclusivity and equity. Her focus on community-driven grantmaking, impact investing, and policy advocacy has deepened the foundation’s relationships with the communities it serves, fostering a sense of belonging and inclusivity internally.

Empowering Communities

Alece’s behind-the-scenes work has empowered marginalized communities. One of her standout achievements is her involvement with the Sand Dunes Mushroom Cooperative, Colorado’s first employee cooperative for undocumented workers. She also serves on the Impact Advisory Committee for the CHAI Tenant Equity Vehicle Program, exploring ways to give renters a financial stake in state-funded affordable housing.

A Love-Centered Approach

Guided by a love-centered philosophy, Alece’s philanthropy is shaped by her lived experiences as a Hispanic woman, childhood cancer survivor, and teen mom. Her mantra, “nothing about us without us,” ensures that community voices drive decision-making processes. She is a tireless advocate for youth and families, especially those facing oppression and marginalization.

Building Bridges and Breaking Barriers

Alece’s approach blends a practical understanding of challenges with a hopeful vision for the future. She strives to bridge gaps between diverse groups and is fearless in advocating for those left out of economic and social progress. Her leadership style prioritizes building relationships and empowering others, ensuring that every community she encounters is left better resourced and connected.

Liz Sak
Executive Director, Cricket Island Foundation (New York, NY)

Liz Sak is the Executive Director of the Cricket Island Foundation (CIF) in New York, NY, where she is a visionary leader in catalytic philanthropy and grantee-centered grantmaking. With a background in youth-focused nonprofits and as a mother of two, Liz has a deep understanding of the challenges young people and the organizations that serve them face.

Leadership Transitions: A Bold Approach

Under Liz’s leadership, CIF launched the Leadership Transition Fund in 2020—an innovative initiative that helps nonprofits navigate leadership changes. Recognizing that leadership transitions are often viewed as risks, Liz reframed them as opportunities for growth. The fund provides a holistic support system, including grantmaking, technical assistance, and peer support, ensuring that organizations can transition smoothly and sustainably.

A Comprehensive Support System

The Leadership Transition Fund goes beyond financial support, offering nonprofits tools for planning, flexibility, and patience during leadership changes. Liz’s vision is to have funders actively support organizations through these critical phases, helping them lay the foundation for long-term success.

Thought Leadership and Sector Impact

In a recent CIF report, “Supporting Nonprofit Leadership Transitions: A Foundation’s Journey,” Liz shares insights for other funders, advocating for equitable leadership practices. The report emphasizes community-centered leadership, particularly the importance of promoting leaders from within the communities nonprofits serve.

Participatory Grantmaking

Liz also implemented a participatory grantmaking model for the Leadership Transition Fund, engaging an advisory board of grantees in decision-making. This power-sharing approach empowers grantees and demonstrates how even lean funders can embrace equitable practices, setting a standard for the sector.

Advancing Equity in Leadership

Liz’s efforts have extended beyond CIF. She spearheaded Leading Forward, a community of funders dedicated to supporting leadership transitions, particularly for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) leaders. Her work has helped shift the sector toward a more proactive and supportive approach to leadership transitions, amplifying CIF’s impact and driving meaningful change.