By Ayana Gabriel, vice president, community impact, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta recently announced more than $1.2 million in grants and investments awarded to fund efforts in community development, education and nonprofit technical assistance, following last week’s announcement for $1.06 million in grants for the arts. These $2.26 million in combined grants support partnerships across the region to bolster organizations and programs that make our region more equitable, our neighborhoods more vibrant and our families more economically prosperous.
As the region continues to rebound from the pandemic, these grants signal new work ahead for the Foundation, as we seek to work closer with communities, working block by block, neighborhood by neighborhood, toward equity and shared prosperity for all who call the region home.
Grants/Investments for community development and economic prosperity
Through the Foundation’s impact investment vehicle, the GoATL Fund, the Foundation has closed on a $1 million investment to The Conservation Fund (TCF) to capitalize its Working Farms Fund (WFF), an innovative means of preserving farmland under threat of development. The investment will fund the acquisition and preservation of farms located throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area, ultimately aiding families in getting fresh food in their neighborhoods and working to stop food deserts from occurring due to gentrification and development. Cooperative, family and nonprofit farms will operate on a lease-to-purchase arrangement, while TCF leverages conservation easements to make the land more affordable and preserved as farmland in perpetuity.
Building on the Foundation’s successful partnership with the United Way of Greater Atlanta on the Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, which awarded $28 million in grants to 478 organizations, the Foundation has awarded a $100,000 grant to United Way. This grant will support free tax preparation sites during the 2022 tax-filing period and enable greater outreach and advocacy for expanded child tax credit awareness. Through this partnership, the Community Foundation and United Way aim to educate and enroll low-income families to ensure they are aware of, and receiving, eligible benefits including the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.
Grants for education
Today the Foundation announces a grant of $50,000 awarded to the Fulton Education Foundation for general operating support to the region’s fourth largest school district.
As it prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary and announce a new five-year strategic plan focused on equity and shared prosperity, the Foundation also announced a $100,000 grant to the National Center for Civil & Human Rights, providing four days of free admission, November 4 – 7, to the Center’s exhibits for all. Because the Center lifts up the struggle of people across time and the globe to make the world a better, more equitable place, the Foundation wants all Atlantans to understand what is possible when individuals come together around a shared purpose greater than themselves. To access more information on the Foundation’s gift, its 2022-2026 strategic plan, or to make plans to visit the Center, visit cfgreateratlanta.org.
Grant for nonprofit technical support
The Foundation has awarded $25,500 to the Georgia Center for Nonprofits (GCN) for technical assistance to nonprofits across Georgia to help organizations apply for the first allotment in an estimated $4.7 billion in aid that will flow into Georgia through the American Rescue Plan. GCN is assisting nonprofits applying for this aid by the October 31 deadline by creating webinars, hosting Q&A sessions, providing application templates and providing live, one-on-one assistance.
Separately, the Foundation’s Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund recently completed its first of two 2021 grant cycles, awarding $1.06 million to 29 arts organizations. Grant recipients are listed on the Foundation’s blog. The Arts Fund also opened its second grant cycle with a deadline to apply of Friday, November 19, with more grants to be awarded by year-end. Eligibility requirements and the grant application can be found on the Arts Fund website.
