INSPIRE
ATLANTA
Success isn't just about what you accomplish in your life; it's about what you inspire others to do. Inspire Atlanta is a community impact program and fundraising campaign that supports the Atlanta Women's Foundation and offers leadership development opportunities to professional women.
Please contact Shandy Arwood, sarwood@atlantawomen.org, to inquire about nominating someone for Inspire Atlanta.
Each year, the Atlanta community nominates prominent women leaders for the program, and AWF extends an invitation for them to apply. Previous Inspire participants then select the top candidates to join Inspire Atlanta in the coming year.
Through Inspire Atlanta, women will:
- Develop their talents in a way that enables them to be a catalyst for change for women and girls.
- Explore their core values and chart their unique leadership path.
- Deepen their understanding about critical issues facing women and girls in our local community.
- Build and cultivate a network of fellow female leaders and doers.
- Champion a fundraising campaign in support of the Atlanta Women's Foundation.
Ideal Applicants
Ideal Inspire Atlanta applicants are those who have
- Passion for elevating women and girls, especially those affected by poverty.
- Desire to develop personally and use their talents to serve metro Atlanta and create large-scale change.
- Positions of leadership or are on leadership tracks within their workplaces.
- Previous volunteer work with nonprofits (fundraising experience a plus).
- Willingness to commit time and energy to complete the program.
- Support from their employers.
Please note: Inspire Atlanta is a community impact program for professional and civic-minded women in Atlanta, not a nonprofit training program. Nonprofit 501(c)3 employees will not be accepted due to a potential conflict of interest with the fundraising requirements.
Inspire Atlanta Program Objectives
The Inspire Atlanta Program develops women personally, professionally, and philanthropically.
PERSONAL -
"ME"
Understand my core foundation that serves as my compass for setting the course of my life and the impact I will have on my community.
PROFESSIONAL -
"MY CAREER"
Create a professional advantage and generate differential value by inspiring my network to influence lasting community change.
PHILANTHROPIC -
"MY COMMUNITY"
Develop my leadership action plan to drive the change I want to see in my community.
2025 Inspire Atlanta Program
Each year, the Atlanta community nominates prominent women leaders for the program, and AWF extends an invitation for them to apply. Previous Inspire participants then select the top candidates to join Inspire Atlanta in the coming year.
WHAT DOES INSPIRE ATLANTA MEAN FOR ME?
Campaign Kick-Off: January 23, 2025, 3pm - 7pm
Orientation: January 24, 2025, 9:30am - 2:30pm
CONSTRUCTING MY JOURNEY:
SETTING UP FOR SUCCESS
Fundraising Campaign Workshop: January 31, 2025, 9:30am - 3:30pm
WALKING IN THE SHOES OF THOSE YOU'RE SUPPORTING
Poverty Simulation: February 8, 2025, 9:30am - 1:30pm
MISSION POSSIBLE: MY EFFORTS IN ACTION
Research/Advocacy Training & AWF Grantee Tour: February 28, 2025, 9:30am - 1:30pm
HARNESSING HOW YOU
COMMUNICATE IMPACT
Enneagram Workshop/The Balanced Leader: March 14, 2025, 9:30am - 1:30pm
HBDI Workshop: March 28, 2025, 9:30am - 1:30pm
EMBRACE YOUR BRAND/
FUNDRAISING RALLY
Embrace Your Brand/Fundraising Rally: April 4, 2025, 9:30am - 1:30pm
WOMEN ON BOARD WORKSHOP
Nonprofit Board Training: April 25, 2025, 9:30am - 1:30pm
INSPIRE ATLANTA CELEBRATION & MOVING FORWARD
Celebration Event: May 8, 2025, 5pm - 8pm
We're pleased to offer additional expanded education sessions throughout the program.
Questions?
Please contact Shandy Arwood, Director of Community Engagement, at sarwood@atlantawomen.org.
Highlights from Inspire Atlanta Graduates
"The Inspire Atlanta Program pushes you outside of your comfort zone. It has really taught me how to be a leader within my organization and also a leader in the community. It makes you want to do more and to help others."
Brooke Burke, Inspire Atlanta '24
Learning Execution & Delivery Manager, Novelis
Top Fundraiser, $49,000 raised!
"Being with this amazing group of women leaders has elevated my desire and ambition to do more for my community, be more for the city of Atlanta, and not be afraid to stretch myself and go even further than I could have imagined.”
Jessy Polyne Halaby, Inspire Atlanta '24
Owner, Nouveaux Possibilities, LLC
Third Place Fundraiser
"I set a goal that I felt was pretty ambitious, but I didn’t think I could get much higher than that. Through the encouragement of the staff, the resources provided, and the confidence that I built in myself, I really started to ask everyone to support this amazing mission and truly show up for women and girls in Atlanta.”
Jazmyn Williams, Inspire Atlanta '24
Director of Brand Marketing, The Honey Pot Company
2024 "Spirit of Inspire Award Winner"
"It's hard to put into words the effect that the Inspire Atlanta program will have on you personally. It's an experience that I will remember and treasure for the rest of my life. With that being said, it is simple to put into words the impact you'll have on the community as a part of it - $450k in support of women and girls simple."
Stephanie Herring, Inspire Atlanta '23
Vice President, Software Engineering, Assurant
Top Fundraiser, Over $50,000 raised!
“My entire Inspire Atlanta journey was transformational. I've finally embraced that we are an eternal work in progress, and opening ourselves up to embrace life's experiences and the connections we make with others along the way will shape who we are meant to be. In addition, engaging in AWF's mission and participating in the poverty simulation put an additional lens to my role as a corporate philanthropist."
Mandy Burnette, Inspire Atlanta '22
Director, Corporate Giving, Smurfit Westrock