Neil Asks: How Faith Inspires Philanthropy in Atlanta

Each year, the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta convenes “Neil Asks,” an endowed program that carries forward the legacy of L. Neil Williams, Jr.—a civic-minded Atlanta leader whose life exemplified curiosity, service, and thoughtful engagement. The series is rooted in the belief that asking meaningful questions, listening across differences, and sharing diverse perspectives can guide communities toward greater hope, innovation, and understanding.

A Timely Question for a Milestone Year

The guiding question for “Neil Asks” changes annually. In the Community Foundation’s 75th anniversary year, the program intentionally looked back to our past Higher Ground initiative to explore a question resonant for donors and community leaders alike: How does faith inform and inspire philanthropy?

Higher Ground was launched by the Foundation in 2010 and emerged from a rare and powerful partnership among four long-standing Atlanta faith leaders: the Rev. Joanna Adams, imam Plemon El-Amin, the Rev. Joseph Roberts, and Rabbi Alvin Sugarman. Though representing different faith traditions, these leaders shared deep relationships and common legacies as trusted voices for their congregations and for community-wide progress. From 2010 to 2015, Higher Ground amplified their “voices of experience and relevant wisdom” through blog posts, op-eds, media appearances, and public forums addressing critical issues facing metro Atlanta.

Building on that legacy, the 2026 Neil Asks program brought together a contemporary, multi-faith panel of leaders to explore the enduring connection between faith, generosity, and civic responsibility. The panel included Rabbi Peter Berg of The Temple, the Rev. Rebekah Close LeMon of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Dr. Nabile Safdar of ISB Atlanta, and the Rev. Dr. John H. Vaughn of Ebenezer Baptist Church. Together, they examined how faith traditions inspire giving, connect communities to vital resources, and galvanize civic action for the common good.

A Meaningful Setting for a Candid Conversation

The conversation took place at Trinity Presbyterian Church—a fitting setting, as it was home to Neil Williams as both a member and trustee. Former Community Foundation board member Ann Cramer moderated the dialogue, guiding the panel through personal reflections and shared values. Throughout the discussion, panelists explored both the overlaps and nuances in how philanthropy and generosity are defined within their respective traditions, revealing a powerful foundation of shared purpose across beliefs.

Reflecting on his own journey, Rabbi Berg spoke to the rich legacy of faith-based civic leadership that first drew him to Atlanta and to The Temple:

“Our congregants were deeply involved in building this community’s civic society. I was drawn to Atlanta’s history of faith communities standing up and showing up for each other. That’s something unique about Atlanta.”

That history continues today, particularly at the intersection of faith and civil rights. Panelists highlighted criminal justice reform as a contemporary example of faith communities locking arms to create lasting change. Initiatives such as the Ending Mass Incarceration multi-faith movement and local Record Restriction Summits demonstrate how collective action can help remove barriers and open pathways for individuals striving to reach their full potential after involvement with the criminal justice system.

The Power of Community in the Philanthropic Journey

The discussion also underscored the importance of community in the philanthropic journey itself. As Rev. LeMon shared,

“If we felt we had to touch the world’s brokenness alone, we would never try.”

When generosity is practiced together, the panel noted, it fosters deeper connection, shared purpose, and renewed hope—making even the most complex challenges feel possible to address.

This call to engaged, collective generosity reinforced the vital role of community foundations, a theme introduced in opening reflections by Community Foundation board member David Allman:

“My family intentionally gives locally because of the nearness in place and time to the needs around us and the work to draw resources from within the community and deploy them to meet those needs. This keeps our practice and compassion from being outsourced to others. This is why I’m with the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, which has the right platform to play such a pivotal and catalytic role with our families, with our neighborhoods, and with our life-giving institutions.”

The 2026 Neil Asks conversation affirmed a core truth: when faith inspires generosity—and generosity is rooted in community—lasting impact follows.