Meeting Our Donors in the Archives

Since fall 2025, the Community Foundation’s Philanthropy team has welcomed several new team members. Because strong relationships sit at the heart of our work, this season of growth created the perfect opportunity to host a meet‑and‑greet to connect our philanthropic advisors with the generous donors who make our mission possible.

Rather than hosting a simple coffee-and-pastries gathering in our Downtown offices, we chose to reimagine this event as a meaningful nonprofit site visit—drawing inspiration from the Community Foundation’s 75th anniversary year.

Our goal was twofold: to foster authentic connection and to root that experience in learning and shared history.

Why the Atlanta History Center Was the Perfect Setting

In countless ways, the history of the Community Foundation is intertwined with the history of Atlanta itself. With that in mind, we turned to an ideal partner: the Atlanta History Center (AHC), which is commemorating its own centennial anniversary alongside the nation’s upcoming 250th.

Thanks to the generosity of the museum’s leadership and development team, AHC opened its doors to our donors for a networking breakfast and a private viewing of Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents That Forged a Nation. This traveling exhibition from the National Archives brings founding‑era documents to eight American cities, including Atlanta from March 27-April 12, 2026.

Donors had the rare opportunity to view original artifacts that shaped the United States, including:

• Articles of Association (1774) – Signed by all 53 delegates, the Articles urged colonists to boycott British goods and marked the Continental Congress’s first unified act of resistance.

• George Washington’s, Alexander Hamilton’s, and Aaron Burr’s Oaths of Allegiance (1778) – Official oaths signed by officers of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.

• Secret Printing of the Constitution in Draft Form (1787) – A rare draft of the U.S. Constitution featuring handwritten notes made by delegates during the Constitutional Convention.

Creating Connection Through Shared Learning

While we kept the coffee-and-pastries element of the original event concept, the morning became something far more meaningful—connecting donors not only with staff and board members, but also with one another through shared discovery.

“I like the opportunity to view a special exhibit or event at a nonprofit as part of a learning and social gathering,” said one donor.

One of the key benefits of partnering with the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta is our deep knowledge of—and long‑standing relationships with—the nonprofits creating positive change across our region. Nonprofit site visits like this one allow both our team and our donors to stay closely connected to local missions making a tangible difference.

As our 75th anniversary continues and our donor engagement calendar unfolds, we look forward to hosting more experiences that spark learning, foster connection, and honor the shared values that guide our philanthropic community.