The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta has reached $955 million in assets, as revealed in the 2016 Annual Report. This marks an approximately $55 million increase over year-end 2015.
 
The Foundation reported that it received $135 million in new gifts from donors in 2016 through a combination of additions to existing funds and 55 new donor funds opened. The Foundation awarded $125 million by way of 7,300 grants to 2,400 nonprofit organizations locally, nationally and internationally. The majority of those grants remained in the Community Foundation’s 23-county metro Atlanta region.
 
The Community Foundation puts its focus among five impact areas: Arts, Community Development, Education, Nonprofit Effectiveness and Well-being. Of the grants made in 2016, the top three categories funded align with our Arts, Education and Well-being impact areas.
 
In 2016 the Foundation tracked baseline data on these impact areas in order to show progress made in the years to come. For example, the Foundation will measure audience participation in arts programs, affordable housing data, student school readiness and attendance, nonprofits with measurable strategic plans and the reduction in residents with chronic health conditions, among other metrics.
 
“Our 2016 annual report shines a light on some of the philanthropists, nonprofits and community initiatives that make our region thrive,” said Alicia Philipp, president of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, who last month commemorated her 40th anniversary leading the organization.

“Through storytelling, we illustrate how our donors use the Community Foundation as their philanthropic GPS – how one person can have a significant impact on others, how families can align around their giving or how a collective philanthropy model can amplify community impact.”
 
Highlights of the annual report stories include:

A Community Foundation donor who brightens the lives of children through custom-created chairs.

Two families who approach philanthropy differently, but with the same end in mind of paying their own success forward.

Two collective giving models that illustrate philanthropy born of friendship and philanthropy born of community engagement.

Examples of how the Community Foundation is improving outcomes in its five impact areas, including an innovative program that helps parents engage in their children’s school communities.

Two stories about how the Community Foundation works with professional advisors to assist their clients, as well as their own, philanthropic goals.