Now in its 65^th year, with assets of over $920 million and a collective history of grant-giving exceeding $1.5 billion, the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta is not looking at retirement as many would at that age, it’s ramping up. The Foundation’s bold strategic plan continues to gain momentum, bringing to life its mantra of connecting passion with purpose in the 23-county region. This week, the Foundation announces two examples of that progress by naming a new vice president for philanthropy and launching a new website.

Mendal Bouknight will join the Community Foundation on August 1 as vice president, philanthropy. He joins the Foundation after serving as president of the Piedmont Healthcare Foundation for 12 years, where he led a team that raised over $120 million during his tenure and funded significant projects including the Piedmont Heart Institute, a new hospital in Newnan, the addition of the Piedmont Spine Center, expansions to the Piedmont Atlanta emergency department and women’s services and the launch and growth of the Chapman Cancer Wellness Center across Piedmont’s healthcare system.

Prior to Piedmont, he held positions of increasing responsibility and scope leading development offices for Clemson University and the Woodruff Health Sciences Center at Emory. In this new role, Bouknight will lead the cultivation and acquisition of new donors, ensure quality service to existing donors and continue to nurture relationships with professional advisors who often refer donors to the Foundation.

“Mendal has a deep understanding of the region, how Atlantans view philanthropy and of our role as the GPS for our donors philanthropic journey,” said Alicia Philipp, president, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. “Mendal had announced his retirement from Piedmont, but we were fortunate enough to help him understand that his role in advancing philanthropy is not yet complete. He’s joining our team of in-house experts as we continue to deliver on the promises we uphold as the region’s endowment.” 

To that end, the Foundation has made further investments this year by building bench strength in philanthropy, community, and marketing and communications, as well as upgrading online tools for donors and nonprofits. One of the most significant of those upgrades launched this week, a new and dynamic responsive design website at cfgreateratlanta.org, created in partnership with BKV. The new site brings the Foundation’s underlying spirit of joy to life and provides a hub for both donors and nonprofits to engage with the Foundation. 

“We realize that in order to keep our momentum going, our external face in the region needs to reflect the joy that each of us feels as we carry out our mission every day,” added Philipp. “Our donors and the nonprofits we serve consistently applaud our ability to be true partners in their success, and this new look is indicative of how those partnerships come to life.”

Earlier this year, the Foundation launched an online portal that streamlines the grantmaking process, which will be followed this fall by the Foundation announcing investment options to support nonprofits in their philanthropic goals. “We’re on pace for an amazing year at the Foundation,” continued Philipp, “the momentum we have seen in the first half of the year further enhances our belief that Atlanta prospers through philanthropy.”