$1.2 Million Impact

In 1986, a group of visionary women founded The Atlanta Women’s Fund as part of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta with a collective donation of $10,000. In 1998, that fund had grown in importance and credibility, becoming an independent organization, The Atlanta Women’s Foundation (AWF).

Since our founding in 1998, AWF has invested over $17 million in Atlanta area nonprofit organizations that have successfully moved women and girls from poverty to economic self-sufficiency. As we conclude our 20th year, we achieved a milestone, awarding a total of $1.2 million in grants and technical assistance, which is the largest amount granted to date.

This incredible achievement is a collaborative effort between the AWF staff, Board of Directors, and donors, starting with the group of forward thinking women who donated the original $10,000 to establish the Atlanta Women’s Fund. These women, our “founding mothers,” who represented the business and civic community, saw a need and determined to provide a solution – a funder in Georgia focused solely on women and girls. Additionally, we also have to thank Alicia Philipp, President of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. Under her guidance and cheerleading, we were able to move from a fund to an independent 501(c)3 organization known as The Atlanta Women’s Foundation.

The movement started by our “founding mothers” continues today with support from our women’s affinity groups – Women in Law, Women in Finance, and Women in Healthcare; long-time donor and supporter Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW Atlanta); our newest group of activists and donors – the women of Inspire Atlanta; and individual donors, especially our Board Members and former Board Members.

Corporate partnerships also played a critical part in achieving this milestone. Thanks to funding from companies like Kaiser Permanente, The Coca-Cola Company, and The Home Depot, we have been able to launch and sustain three grant programs in the areas of mental health and wellbeing, economic empowerment, and workforce development with a special grant focused specifically on veteran women.

We are grateful to everyone who has been a part of AWF and helped us reach this milestone. This achievement proves the impact we can have when we come together to support our community and remove the barriers women and girls face to lead economically self-sufficient, successful lives.

2018 and 2019 Grantees

We are incredibly proud of the efforts of all of our 2018 and 2019 grantees and the work they are doing to improve the lives of economically vulnerable women and girls in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties. Below is the full list of nonprofit organizations:

Promoting Women and Girls’ Mental Health & Wellbeing Project:

• Center for Black Women’s Wellness – $10,000
• Center for Pan Asian Community Services – $10,000
• CHRIS 180 – $10,000
• Community Advanced Practice Nurses – $20,000
• Diabetes Association of Atlanta, Inc. and Wholistic Stress Control Institute Collaborative Grant – $20,000
• Families First – $25,000
• Good Samaritan Health Center – $25,000
• House of Dawn – $25,000
• International Rescue Committee (Atlanta) – $20,000
• Mercy Care – $10,000
• Odyssey Family Counseling Center – $10,000

Breaking Barriers, Building Women: Economic Empowerment Program:

• 9to5 Georgia – $65,000
• Atlanta Habitat for Humanity – $60,000
• Buckhead Christian Ministry – $75,000
• Clayton State University Foundation – $45,000
• Gwinnett Tech Foundation – $75,000
• H.O.P.E., Inc. – $35,000
• Literacy Action – $70,000
• Nicholas House – $75,000

Women’s Pathway to Success Program:

• Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs – $50,000
• Atlanta Children’s Shelter – $50,000
• Center for Family Resources – $50,000
• Georgia Budget and Policy Institute – $50,000
• Jewish Family & Career Services – $50,000
• Latin American Association – $50,000
• Our House – $50,000
• Quality Care for Children – $50,000
• Refugee Women’s Network – $50,000
• Year Up Greater Atlanta – $50,000

Women Veterans Program:

• Veterans Empowerment Organization (VEO) – $50,000

Sue Wieland Embracing Possibility Award:

• Literacy Action – $10,000

E’Lije’s Fund (donor advised fund):

• VOX Teen Communications – $10,000