As part of the Savannah College of Art and Design’s (SCAD) ongoing dedication to strengthening its hometown communities, the university is proud to announce it has awarded nearly $2 million dollars in grants to nonprofits in Savannah and Atlanta, Ga.

The SCAD SERVE Community Fund is providing financial support to the City of Savannah, America's Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, Greenbriar Children’s Center, and City of Refuge by way of grants ranging from $100,000 to $1 million for initiatives that focus on critical community needs in the areas of food, shelter, safety, and education.

This philanthropic initiative underscores SCAD’s 45-year legacy of civic engagement and commitment to further empower its hometowns of Atlanta and Savannah, Ga.

"The SCAD SERVE Community Fund shines SCAD love across our hometowns of Savannah and
Atlanta with resources that uplift our fellow citizens and address profound needs by achieving
research-based outcomes,” said SCAD president and founder Paula Wallace. "Through the fund,
SCAD demonstrates a radical new model of community service in global higher education—by
providing not only funding but also vast brainpower and expertise (in disciplines we know well, from
design for sustainability to innovative technology to architecture and beyond) to address our
neighbors' most urgent challenges. These grants and the results they'll achieve teach our Bees how
to focus their creative, inventive genius on making our world better and brighter for all."

America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia received a grant to fund a mobile grocery store to
make healthy food available to people in need. A team of SCAD students will create innovative
designs to transform a tractor trailer into a grocery store on wheels. SCAD SERVE volunteers have
partnered with America's Second Harvest for more than a decade.
City of Refuge, based in Atlanta, received funding for new computers and software for its
Technology Transformation Academy. City of Refuge's mission is to bring light, hope, and
transformation to individuals and families who have suffered from a lack of opportunities. More than
100 employees serve over 1,000 individuals annually on Atlanta’s westside.

The City of Savannah’s grant will be used to enhance public safety measures which will benefit local
residents, students, and visitors. The grant will fund a new thoughtful integration and expansion of
the technological footprint.

Greenbriar Children’s Center in Savannah has worked with SCAD’s talented students on a number
of design projects over the past several years, including an upgrade and redesign of their campus.
Now a SCAD grant will add space to the gymnasium for a new community center to allow Greenbriar
to deliver impactful education services to their clients onsite.

In 2024 SCAD announced the allocation of $10 million to establish the fund. The SCAD SERVE
Community Fund provides financial support to local organizations that primarily serve residents and
workers in Savannah and Atlanta. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and
bona fide local government entities.

The Fund builds on the university’s legacy of care for our neighbors through research, action, and
measurable outcomes, including the revitalization and repurposing of historic buildings, providing
workforce housing, partnering with local organizations on educational initiatives, and more. By
supporting impactful work that aligns with our SCAD mission, vision, and values, the SCAD SERVE
Community Fund aims to cultivate vibrant, inclusive communities where design and innovation
flourish.

“Over the last 20 years, I have witnessed the transformative power of SCAD's community investment
for years," said Penelope McPhee, longtime president of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.
"The new SCAD SERVE Community Fund amplifies this passion for service, equipping Georgia
organizations with vital resources to drive meaningful change in the lives of so many, thanks to
SCAD's considerable aid and knowledge. Bravo, and congratulations to SCAD and this first round of
grantees!"

Nonprofit organizations and local government entities interested in applying for grants from the SCAD SERVE Community Fund for 2026 may find more information at scad.edu/community-fund.