THE Sweetness of Giving
Join our giving circle.
The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta’s Sweetness of Giving initiative is a multi-year campaign that inspires Black Atlantans to direct their philanthropy—individually and collectively—toward the most pressing needs in the Black community.
By pooling resources to invest in solutions that uplift our communities, Sweetness of Giving circle members are building a future rooted in equity, ownership, and collective power.
Do you have questions or want to learn more? Contact Kimberly Spear, Director of Donor Engagement, at kimberly.spear@cfgreateratlanta.org.
Preserve Atlanta's Black Business Legacy With Us
As Baby Boomer owners retire in record numbers—a trend called the “Silver Tsunami”—nearly half of Atlanta’s legacy business owners are nearing transition. This giving circle’s efforts will first focus on the sustainable development of Atlanta's Black business and entrepreneurship ecosystem. Your generosity will support strategies that help legacy Black-owned businesses prepare for transition, access technical assistance, and remain rooted in the communities they serve.
Dive Deeper: To learn more about the Silver Tsunami trend, click here. View our recent Sweetness of Giving webinar, Preparing for the Silver Tsunami, on our YouTube channel.
Giving Circles and Black Philanthropy
The philosophy of Ubuntu—a worldview that functions throughout the continent of Africa—is a deeply communal one. It’s loosely translated as “my humanity is inextricably bound within yours” or, more popularly, “I am, because we are.”
Philanthropy has the power and charge to embody the spirit of Ubuntu not only in its mission but also in its strategies and operations. Giving circles offer a unique and impactful opportunity to fulfill the desire to care for our community and one another.
“There’s something powerful about not just giving individually, but being in a community with others who are equally committed to impact, thoughtfully aligning our resources, networks, and intentions toward initiatives that can truly move the needle.”
How Giving Circles Work
Giving circles operate on the principle of collective giving, where members contribute funds and decide together how to allocate them. This democratic process allows people with differing viewpoints to have discussions and eventually come to an agreement or consensus. The diversity within these groups adds depth to discussions and helps to emerge unknown and more diverse organizations and causes for funding.
Benefits of Giving Circles
- Maximized Contributions: Individuals join giving circles to amplify their impact for good. Nearly 4,000 giving groups representing 370,000 individuals have collectively donated more than $3 billion since 2017.
- Mutual Accountability: Giving circles deliver a bigger bang for your buck due to the increased grantmaking power, peer engagement, and shared decision-making.
- Democracy and Diversity in Action: Giving circles serve as an opportunity for practicing democracy and are more racially diverse than the general population.
Black Americans and Giving Circles
Black giving circles have historically played a unique role in addressing systemic disparities and empowering Black communities through collective action and mutual aid, building on traditions of giving that have been a part of the Black culture for generations. Through giving circles, Black people share ideas, pool resources, solve problems, and ultimately strengthen communities and create positive change, addressing issues such as education, healthcare, financial stability, and other needs. They are Ubuntu manifested.
About the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta inspires and leads the Atlanta region toward equity and shared prosperity for all who call it home. TogetherATL is the Foundation’s strategic ethos, working through a collaborative approach with community stakeholders, donors, institutional funders, nonprofits and others to consistently examine complex challenges the region faces and create solutions that build a thriving region. Learn more about us here.