Foundation awards $1.2 million: May 31, 2011

The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta is announcing $1.2 million in grants and support to strengthen nonprofits in the 23-county region. Forty-five metro Atlanta nonprofits have received funding and support through the Foundation’s multiple grantmaking programs during this most recent set of competitive grants.

• Common Good Funds – $770,000 to 10 organizations
• Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund – $500,000 to 11 organizations
• Grants to Green – Six Assessment Awards to help organizations identify ways to increase the efficiency of their buildings
• Clayton Fund – $20,000 to four organizations
• Fayette Fund – $29,298 to seven organizations
• Neighborhood Fund – $30,000 to six organizations

Click here for full grants listing.

“A key area of our work at The Community Foundation is strengthening the region’s nonprofits,” says Alicia Phillip, president. “We believe the way to improve our communities is by investing in smart solutions and passionate people who are already making significant changes. We do this by providing grants and guidance that allow nonprofits to have greater impact in the communities they serve.”

This marks year three of The Community Foundation’s focus on general operating support and nonprofit effectiveness to meet the needs of local organizations. In addition to grants, The Community Foundation is providing significant financial resources to support nonprofit professional and organizational management through its Nonprofit Scholarships program, which covers the cost of nonprofits to attend classes and trainings, and the Nonprofit Toolbox program, where nonprofits apply for custom-designed packages of management consulting.

This year, The Community Foundation is also providing funding to eligible nonprofits to explore organizational partnerships that promote more effective operations and programs. Funding is allocated addressing three stages of partnerships: partnership assessment, readiness and negotiation, and partnership design and/or implementation. This year, three organizations have received a total of $175,000 to support work in these areas.

Along with its more than 600 donors, The Community Foundation has given $13 million in grants during the first quarter ending March 31, 2011. In addition, the Foundation has received $10.6 million in contributions for the same period. Last year, The Community Foundation saw a continued rise in giving and investment returns. In fact, the organization’s pooled assets realized a 12.1% return as of December 31, 2010. These returns combined with gifts of $139 million and grants of $99 million helped increase the Foundation’s total assets to over $740 million.