Author Archives: Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta

By Natallie Keiser, executive director, HouseATL One of the basic expectations we have for our government is that it will help us as a society to care for those who cannot fully care for themselves. The Georgia Housing Voucher Program is a strong example of how a government can effectively do that – if it […]

By Cynthia Padilla Pearson, program officer, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta Historically, philanthropy has been about providing aid—whether it’s food for those experiencing hunger, shelters for the unhoused, or scholarships for students. While these acts of kindness are valuable, they can sometimes miss the mark when it comes to creating lasting change. When philanthropy is […]

By Amir Ali, vice president, Community Facilities and New Markets Tax Credits, Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world for the better,” so said civil rights leader and Spelman College alumna Marian Wright Edelman. The founder and president emerita of the Children’s Defense Fund […]

By Belisa Urbina, CEO and Stephanie Watson, director of strategy and sustainability, Ser Familia One of the major sources of strength in Atlanta is its rich diversity. Over the past 10 years, Latinos have led a strong population growth trajectory. This trend will continue to eclipse all other areas of demographic growth.   In fact, the […]

By Dilnaz Waraich, President, WF Fund  Inspired Generosity: Muslim American Stories in Philanthropy, launched at the Auburn Avenue Research Library on Sept 17 as a multimedia showcase featuring videos, photos, poetry, digital art, and audio stories from the community on acts of kindness. This three-year, traveling showcase will shine a light on the central place of […]

By Josh Dukelow, gift planning officer Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta Nine-figure gifts from MacKenzie Scott or Arthur M. Blank often make headlines, and those donations are certainly newsworthy. But those eye-popping numbers can create a mistaken impression that “philanthropy” is something only ultra-wealthy people can do. In fact, philanthropy is something we can all […]

By the Co-Chairs of the Mental Health Funders Collaborative (MHFC) It’s an increasingly difficult time to be young in America. Mental health challenges among children and teens are skyrocketing, and Georgia is no exception. According to the CDC, in 2021, 42% of young people experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness—a figure that has doubled […]

By Sarah Higgins, executive + artistic director, Art Papers Atlanta’s art community was rattled by the seemingly sudden closing of MINT—a beloved landmark of the city’s nonprofit arts landscape. MINT offered studio and exhibition space for emerging artists. MINT, like most art organizations, began as an artist-run, volunteer-based project and graduated into a nonprofit, 501(c) […]

By Melissa Sprinkle, senior associate, Harrison LLP August is National Make-A-Will Month. Many people wonder what the difference is between a will and revocable (or “living”) trust, and whether they should have one or the other. While they accomplish many of the same goals, there are individual circumstances that may make one structure more appropriate […]

By Kimberly Spear, director of donor engagement, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta Growing up, I remember seeing my parents faithfully tithe 10% of their earnings to the church, volunteer at the local nursing home and send a modest donation to St. Jude Children’s Hospital at the end of every year, but they would never describe […]

Ever wonder why homeownership seems increasingly unattainable in metro Atlanta? Once reason is that over the past five years in Georgia, home sales prices have increased by 57% while wages have only grown by 17%. Natallie Keiser, executive director of HouseATL, discusses other reasons for the homeownership gap and the policy actions that could help […]

By Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta Matthew Todd, program associate, Housing Funds for the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, recently spoke with Jennifer Rentenbach, senior attorney at the Atlanta Legal Aid Society’s Home Defense Program, about the organization’s critical work in housing advocacy, the challenges homeowners experience and the resources available to protect and empower them in […]

By Kaela Hammond and Lauren Thomas Priest, program officers, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta The racial wealth gap in Atlanta is staggering. For every $1 of wealth the average Black family in Atlanta holds, the average white family in Atlanta holds $46. As a result:  Wealth determines many factors in our lives—where we can afford […]

By Quameiha Raymond-Ducheine, storytelling associate As graduation season approaches, 55 newly selected 5 Strong Scholars eagerly await their first semester. The auditorium at Atlanta Metropolitan College is brimming with excitement as scholars gather for their monthly college preparation session. These sessions equip students with the tools needed to excel in higher education.  The primary mission […]

By Anthony Wilson, II, executive director, Equity in Education “For some kids, school is the only thing that they have.” Kellye Britton, a friend and former Equity in Education Fellow, made this point recently, and I had to really let that sink in.  If school is the only thing some kids have, then what happens […]

By Atlanta Habitat for Humanity staff In the bustling urban landscape of Atlanta, homeownership represents more than just a place to live – it signifies stability, investment, and a pathway to building intergenerational wealth. However, behind the city’s gleaming skyline lies a stark reality: Black homeowners are disproportionately displaced from their homes and are less […]

By Kelli Stewart, co-founder, L.E.A.D. Center for Youth If you’re born into poverty in Atlanta, you have a 4% chance of breaking free. My husband CJ is part of that tiny percentage of people who were able to break the cycle of poverty. Now, as the Chief Visionary Officer of our nonprofit organization, L.E.A.D. Center […]

By Nailah Jones, communications associate, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta The “American Dream” passed down from generation to generation has always included the house with the white picket fence. But that dream remains a fantasy for most. And even with a college education that is supposed to be a pathway to a better life, adults […]

By Erica Stephens, executive director, Nana Grants The post-COVID, remote-work narrative has largely focused on why employees want to work from home without looking at systemic inequities and issues driving the desire for remote work: childcare, transportation, financial pressure and undesirable work environments. Several major companies including Dell, Boeing and UPS have announced return-to-work mandates […]

By Community Foundation Staff In 2023, the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta’s GoATL Economic Inclusion Fund, in partnership with other mission-aligned lenders in Georgia, launched GoGeorgia Capital. GoGeorgia Capital gives small business owners access to multiple loan programs to fund their growth. Applicants can access loans for working capital, facility expansion, and more. Making Magnolias is […]