The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta today announces more than $1.27 million in grants to 24 nonprofit organizations, including several multi-year grants. These grants will benefit nonprofit work in sectors including the arts, community development and improvement, entrepreneurship, healthcare and youth mental health. Half of the organizations receiving funding have either never received a grant from the Community Foundation and/or have not received funding from the Foundation in the last five years. These grants bring the Foundation’s cumulative giving for the fourth quarter to more than $3.5 million.

In keeping with the Community Foundation’s mission to build a more equitable Atlanta, organizations that are founded, led by or serve Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC) populations were prioritized in grantmaking decisions; over 80% of funding awarded is going to such organizations. 

This round of grants also includes more than $250,000 in funding from some of the Foundation’s Field of Interest Funds that were established by bequest from donors to support organizations addressing specific issues, populations or geographies. Most grants are provided for general operating support, providing each nonprofit the opportunity to decide and dedicate funds where they are most needed.

“These grants are the result of identifying specific needs within the metro Atlanta area and providing financial resources to benefit residents and communities through both broad and hyper-local efforts,” said Frank Fernandez, president and CEO, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. “With our Field of Interest Fund grants, we are executing the wishes of donors who held certain causes and issues close to their hearts. As we enter this season of giving, we are ever grateful for those donors who have left a legacy that will endure in our community.”

Grants in this cycle include:

Youth mental health:

Communities in Schools Atlanta: $100,000

COR: $50,000

Helping Empower Youth: $25,000

Hope Givers: $20,000

HopeBound: $40,000

Odyssey: $50,000

Showcase Group: $40,000

The Nest at Osborn High School: $25,000

Usher’s New Look: $25,000

Arts/community development/entrepreneurism:

Los Niños Primero: $75,000

South Arts: $400,000 as a matching grant to support a Ford Foundation initiative to promote BIPOC arts organizations

The Shine Community: $10,000

Village Micro Fund: $150,000

Grants from Field of Interest Funds:

5 Strong Legacy Scholarship Foundation: $15,000

College AIM: $30,000

Gilgal Inc.: $24,349

Gilliam’s Community Garden: $13,035

Hispanic Alliance GA: $50,000

Innovative Solutions for Disadvantage and Disability: $11,000

Leap Year: $20,000

The Scholarship Academy: $30,000

Ser Familia: $60,000

Step Ahead Scholars: $20,000

“We appreciate the diligent efforts of our Community Committee, co-chaired by Rabbi Peter Berg and M. von Nkosi, who oversee and affirm our grantmaking process,” added Fernandez.

The Community Foundation plans to announce one more round of community grants in mid-December as well as a second round of funding from the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund by year-end, and publicly reported in early January 2022.