2022 Income and Wealth TogetherATL grant portfolio highlights

By Lauren Thomas Priest, program officer

Goals, values and guiding principles

During the first half of 2022, the Community Impact team worked to realize our high-level TogetherATL strategic framework through long- and short-term strategies and plans for each of our areas of focus – systems and place-based philanthropy.

As a starting point, the grants portfolio team determined which values would guide our work. As the core tenant of TogetherATL, we are rooted in equity. Therefore, we:

Include both traditional, evidence-based models and innovative, community-based models
Build deeper relationships and become a richer resource to partners
Become ambassadors for equity and community change work
Elevate community voice and innovative programming

Distilled further into guiding principles for the Income and Wealth grants portfolio, we:

Use asset-based framing and understanding of individuals and communities
Prioritize individual and community agency and informed decision-making
Work to shape and change common narratives around poverty and resources
Provide support for multiple income and wealth-building resources and levers- and, most importantly, cash

The goal of the Income and Wealth grants portfolio is to transform systems to bring about more equitable outcomes for all residents of our region. These systems include career growth, economic inclusion, and access to capital. Our vision is to reduce racial income and wealth gaps and increase opportunities for economic mobility and wealth-building.

Implementation

During the second half of the year, the team implemented the values above through strategic philanthropy. Here are some of the 2022 highlights and accomplishments:

Convened and collaborated with community partners

Embarking on this new body of work, we recognized that many of our partners have been in this space for much longer than the Foundation. We spent several months forming new relationships and rebuilding old ones. The Foundation has, and will continue to, learn tremendously from these groups and partners on the ground.

Development of an Income and Wealth policy agenda

Working with advocates and advocacy partners, the Foundation established priorities around policies that affect economic mobility, income disparities and wealth gaps. The Foundation distributed more than $170,000 to organizations working within these priorities (more to come on our policy priorities).

Distributed and influenced over $2.5 million in Income & Wealth grants

Through open applications, targeted decisions, invitation-only applications, in partnership with Foundation donors, and by leveraged funds from across the Foundation, we gave grants to 48 organizations. The grants varied in purpose, including general operating, programmatic, capacity building, one-year, multi-year, and matching grants. They totaled $1.26 million in discretionary grants, $944,900 in co-investment from Community Foundation donors and partners, and $325,000 in leveraged funds.

Leaned into racial equity and our guiding principles and values, distributing $1.7 million to organizations led by Black, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Multiracial Executive Directors

About 63% of the $2.5 million in leveraged, influenced, and discretionary Income and Wealth grants were awarded to organizations led by Black, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Multiracial Executive Directors. This includes $1.28 million in funds distributed specifically to Black-led organizations- of which more than $800,000 were distributed to organizations led by Black women.

Helped build Income and Wealth sector infrastructure and nonprofit capacity

The Foundation distributed $385,000 in grant funding to intermediary organizations working to strengthen regional efforts, and smaller organizations working to expand their capacity for community impact. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wane, nonprofit leaders have expressed greatly heightened needs for capacity building to counter the effects the pandemic has on their organizations and clients, rebuild their infrastructures, meet changing and evolving needs of their clients, and ensure their long-term sustainability.

Funded innovation, pilots, and out-of-the-box programming

About 50% of discretionary grants made in 2022 went to innovation – including pilot programs, scaling programs beyond the pilot phase, and programs that are distinctive in our region or nationally. This includes $500,000 in grants to a variety of conditional and unconditional cash transfer programs, from savings matches to guaranteed income to tax credit access.

Elevated community voice and innovative programming

Inspiredu: https://saportareport.com/bridging-the-digital-divide-one-family-at-a-time/thought-leadership/community-foundation-for-greater-atlanta/

CollegeAIM: https://saportareport.com/behind-college-aims-push-for-need-based-aid-in-georgia-a-student-perspective/thought-leadership/community-foundation-for-greater-atlanta/

Community Foundation: https://saportareport.com/togetheratl-in-action-affecting-systems-and-community-level-change-to-make-our-region-more-equitable/thought-leadership/community-foundation-for-greater-atlanta/

What’s next?

As we enter 2023, we will build on our 2022 work, adjust our approach based on the lessons we’ve learned, and deepen our relationships with our partners. There will be more opportunities to collaborate and convene to achieve shared goals, more infrastructure and capacity building, more advocacy opportunities, and more intentional measurement and evaluation so that we continue to focus our efforts and resources on strategies that work.

How you can get involved

You are welcome donate to the TogetherATL Income and Wealth work here.

Below is a list of 2022 Income & Wealth grant recipients. Each of these organizations is in need of: operating and programmatic support; group and individual volunteer time; Board members; and helping spreading the word about they work they do. If you are interested in supporting these organizations, please contact your philanthropic officer or the organization directly.

5 Strong Scholarship Foundation

9to5 Georgia

21st Century Leaders

Ada Developers Academy

Agape Youth and Family Center

Atlanta Career Rise

Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency

Atlanta Technical College

Automotive Training Center

Breakthrough Atlanta

Buckhead Christian Ministries

College AIM