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Follow along with the Atlanta Women's Foundation as we work toward our mission to be the catalyst for change that improves the lives of women and girls across metro Atlanta. In our blog, you'll find our latest philanthropic campaign success stories, highlights from community events, insights from our publicly available research reports, and other AWF news.

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Being the Change: A Single Mom’s Determination and Journey to Inspire Others

Sep 18, 2024

This blog was written by ZsaVette "Zsa" Ellis Eze, an AWF donor, volunteer, and Inspire Atlanta Class of 2023 graduate. ...

Learn More About AWF’s 2024 Numbers Luncheon Speaker Molly Shannon: Catalyst For Change

Aug 14, 2024

The Atlanta Women’s Foundation (AWF) is thrilled to have actress Molly Shannon headline our 28th Annual Numbers Too Big To ...

Celebrating 25 Years of Empowering Women and Girls: Reflecting on Our Journey

Jul 31, 2024

As we culminate the 25th anniversary of the Atlanta Women's Foundation, we are reminded of the unwavering commitment and dedication ...

Inspire Atlanta Class of 2024 Graduation

May 21, 2024

Inspire Atlanta Celebrates Unprecedented Success Another Record-Breaking Year! $577,000 Raised to Empower Girls Impacted by Poverty. Inspire Atlanta Class of ...

Molly Shannon Announced as Guest Speaker at Numbers Too Big To Ignore Luncheon

Mar 28, 2024

The Atlanta Women’s Foundation (AWF) announces Molly Shannon as this year’s guest speaker for its Numbers Too Big To Ignore ...

Changing HERstory: All Girls Forward

Mar 6, 2024

Thanks to everyone who joined our Changing HERstory: All Girls Forward webinar. Click on the image below to view the ...

Leading the Way

Feb 12, 2024

AWF Kicks off 2024 with more milestones to celebrate! It's the second half of our 25th year of changing the ...

2023: AWF Year in Review

Dec 26, 2023

As we enter 2024 and hit the midway point of our 25th year as the Atlanta Women’s Foundation, we want ...

2023 Sue Wieland Embracing Possibility Award Honorees

Nov 21, 2023

The Sue Wieland Embracing Possibility Award is a special $20,000 grant given annually to one of the Atlanta Women’s Foundation’s ...

Brooke Shields: Spotlight on This Year’s Luncheon Speaker

Oct 26, 2023

The Atlanta Women's Foundation (AWF) is thrilled to welcome Brooke Shields — an esteemed actress, model, author, and advocate for ...

The Atlanta Women’s Foundation Invests $1.1 Million in the Community

Sep 8, 2023

ATLANTA, Aug. 29, 2023 – Living up to its mission to be a catalyst for change in the lives of ...

The Impact of Poverty on Women’s Mental Health

Jul 24, 2023

Poverty is a pervasive issue that affects millions of people in the United States — it can cast a shadow ...

A Donor’s Guide for Charitable Impact

Jun 27, 2023

Nonprofit organizations and donors are the world's champions in advancing humanitarian and social justice causes. You, our donors, fuel the ...

Atlanta Women’s Foundation ‘Inspire Atlanta’ Celebrates 2023 Grads

May 31, 2023

Record $454,000 Raised to Support Programs for Women and Girls ATLANTA, Ga. – It was a record-breaking year for empowering ...

Inspiring Impact

Apr 19, 2023

Success isn’t just about what you accomplish in your life; it’s about what you inspire others to do. Since the inception of ...

The Six women who make the A-Team ROCK!

Mar 30, 2023

In 1986, a group of visionary women business owners founded The Atlanta Women’s Fund as part of the Community Foundation ...

Dr. Maya Angelou speaks at 1998 Numbers Too Big to Ignore luncheon

On the Quarter and a Quarter Acre and in AWF history

Feb 24, 2023

Maya Angelou speaks at 1998 Numbers Too Big to Ignore luncheon Twenty five years ago, in 1998, at just the ...

2022 A Year in Review

Dec 18, 2022

Before we leap into the New Year, we want to take some moments to reflect on what your support made ...

2022 Sue Wieland Embracing Possibility Award Honorees

Nov 30, 2022

The Sue Wieland Embracing Possibility Award is a special grant of $20,000 given annually to one of our grantee partner ...

Getting Ready for Rita

Oct 21, 2022

AWF is excited to have Rita Moreno Award-Winning Actress, Dancer & Singer speak at our 2022 Numbers Too Big To ...

Meet AWF’s New Board Members

Sep 29, 2022

Last month we welcomed eight new members to the AWF Board of Directors. The new class of board members are ...

Investing in Women and Girls

Aug 31, 2022

By DiShonda Hughes, Chief Mission Officer for The Atlanta Women’s Foundation When I started at The Atlanta Women’s Foundation 22 ...

Top row: Nancy Halwig and Becky Schmitt. Bottom row: Michele Sims and Mark Wasserman

Board Service and Beyond

Jun 21, 2022

Nancy Halwig Becky Schmitt Michele Sims Mark Wasserman This year we continue our annual tradition of recognizing and thanking the ...

An illustration of a woman's head made up of puzzle pieces against a blue background with the words Mental Health above her head.

Why Mental Health

May 23, 2022

In 2011, The Atlanta Women’s Foundation undertook a proprietary research project entitled Breaking the Cycle of Generational Poverty in Metro ...

Proud to Be in a Position to Give Back

Apr 26, 2022

AWF’s Inspire Atlanta program strives to develop women leaders who will help affect real change for women and girls in ...

Career Opportunities in Technology for Single Mothers

Apr 11, 2022

This month’s guest contributor is Andrianna E. Hamwright, a graduate of AWF grantee Women in Technology’s technology training program for ...

A young woman entrepreneur in a store with wooden display shelves and tables filled with home good items.

Women Achieving Success Through Entrepreneurship

Jan 28, 2022

Since the start of the pandemic, most of the news reported gives us a bleak picture about economics, politics, and ...

2021 Sue Wieland Embracing Possibility Award Honorees

Oct 25, 2021

This summer, we lost beloved former AWF Board Member, Sue Wieland. She served on the board from 2000 to 2006, ...

Poem by 2021 Atlanta Youth Poet Laureate

Oct 21, 2021

This year, we invited the 2021 Atlanta Youth Poet Laureate, Aanika Eragam, to read one of her poems at the ...

An above shot of multiple hands on top of one another and shoes seen below the hands.

A Look at Substance Abuse in Women and the Resources to Support Them

Oct 6, 2021

Thank you to guest contributor Michelle Giordano, M.S. Community Counseling, with the organization Live Another Day, for educating us on ...

A young, female child care employee sitting at a table with a girl toddler coloring in a child care center classroom. In the background is a second employee playing with two toddlers.

We Need to Talk About Child Care

Sep 30, 2021

When you consider the factors essential to a thriving, modern economy, does child care come to mind? If not, it ...

Meet AWF’s New Board Members

Jul 26, 2021

This month we welcomed five new members to the AWF Board of Directors. The new class of board members are ...

Middle aged woman in a headscarf standing next to her tall, adult son in a home kitchen.

Economically Empowering Refugee and Immigrant Women

Jul 20, 2021

Guest contributor Marjan Nadir, Women's Economic Empowerment Manager at Refugee Women’s Network (RWN), shares the story of Sahar, an Egyptian ...

Leading by Example

Jun 21, 2021

Kristin Adams Cari Dawson Jennifer Hightower This year we have three amazing Board Members whose service is coming to an ...

Normalizing seeking support for mental health takes collective action

May 18, 2021

As we are all aware, the pandemic has impacted all aspects of our lives, including on our mental health. That’s ...

Celebrating Eight AWF Volunteers

Apr 23, 2021

Since April is National Volunteer Month, we want to introduce you to eight of our wonderful volunteers and volunteer leaders, ...

A New Way to Support Mothers

Apr 7, 2021

A new addition to AWF’s Women’s Pathway to Success grantee cohort is Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta and we’re incredibly ...

Climb

Mar 16, 2021

Continuing with our Women’s History Month theme “Choose to Challenge,” we’re hearing from AWF Inspire Atlanta alumna Amal Yusuf, who ...

The Courage to Sit at the Head of the Table – AND yet…

Feb 24, 2021

Choosing to challenge any barrier a person faces takes courage. Taking the first step can be the most courageous one ...

Staff Spotlight: April Castro

Feb 23, 2021

This month we are spotlighting the newest member of the AWF staff - April Castro. April joined AWF in December ...

Georgia Women Bear the Brunt of COVID-19 Pandemic

Jan 22, 2021

In recognition of Poverty Awareness Month, this month’s guest contributor is Taifa Smith Butler, president and CEO of the Georgia ...

Together: Our 2020 Word of the Year

Dec 9, 2020

As we close out 2020, AWF’s CEO Kari B. Love shares how AWF and our community of supporters helped to ...

Holiday Volunteering with AWF Grantees

Nov 18, 2020

You can show your holiday spirit this season by helping out one of our grantee organizations. We’ve created a list ...

Finding Your Voice Through Volunteer Leadership

Nov 13, 2020

Education activist Malala Yousafzai said, “When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.” This month’s guest writer ...

2020 Sue Wieland Embracing Possibility Award Honorees

Oct 28, 2020

In 2006, Sue Wieland and her husband John made a $1 million gift to AWF. That generosity continues to be ...

Volunteer Spotlight: Tonya Cook & Melodi Ford

Oct 22, 2020

This month we're highlighting two of our wonderful longtime Numbers Luncheon volunteers - Tonya Cook, MS-HRD, CLC and Melodi Ford. ...

Commemorating the 19th Amendment

Aug 18, 2020

The ratification of the 19th Amendment on August 18, 1920, represented the culmination of over 70 years of the women’s ...

Two-Year Results of Economic Empowerment Program

Jul 22, 2020

Two years ago, thanks to a $1 million gift from The Coca-Cola Company, we launched our third collective impact grant ...

Delia Cochran, Inspire Atlanta Facilitator

Jul 22, 2020

This month we’re spotlighting AWF volunteer Delia Cochran, who served as facilitator for the 2020 class of Inspire Atlanta. Delia ...

Providing COVID-19 Health Care for Vulnerable Women and Children

Jul 20, 2020

This month’s guest contributor is Community Advanced Practice Nurses, Inc.’s (CAPN). CAPN details the impact of COVID-19 and how the ...

Communications Internship Fall 2020

Jul 15, 2020

We are seeking a Communications Intern for fall semester 2020. Under the supervision of the Director of Communications, the Communications ...

A Dynamic Duo!

Jun 23, 2020

Mother-daughter duo Dr. Shelia Payton and Bethani Payton-Thomas are dedicated AWF volunteers. Dr. Payton, a board certified Chiropractic Physician and ...

How COVID-19 is Affecting Domestic Violence Survivors

Jun 15, 2020

The Center for Pan Asian Community Services is an AWF Promoting Women’s Mental Health & Wellbeing grantee and a recipient ...

First Round of COVID-19 Grantee Relief Fund Recipients

May 26, 2020

This month AWF granted $120,000 to six nonprofit organizations for the first round of grants as part of our COVID-19 ...

Finding Inspiration to Fundraise During a Crisis

May 20, 2020

When the COVID-19 pandemic began significantly impacting the U.S. in March and leaders started issuing shelter-in-place orders, AWF’s current class ...

How the CARES Act Impacts Women

Apr 13, 2020

Thank you to Kim Hartsock, CPA and Megan Randolph, CPA from Warren Averett for helping to breakdown and explain the ...

Our work continues: A message from Kari Love

Mar 19, 2020

AWF exists to help women and girls thrive, and together during this unprecedented time, we will continue to do what ...

Women’s History Month 2020 Events

Feb 28, 2020

For Women’s History Month 2020, we’ve put together a list of events happening around Metro Atlanta to celebrate. We’ll be ...

Breaking Barriers

Jan 27, 2020

As we close out January and Poverty Awareness Month, AWF’s Executive Vice President of Mission DiShonda Hughes writes about the ...

Communications Internship Spring 2020

Nov 21, 2019

We are seeking a dynamic Communications Intern for spring semester 2020. Because AWF is a small, nimble organization, the Communications ...

Growing Small Businesses

Oct 28, 2019

This month's guest blogger is Sandra Font, director of the ACE Women’s Business Center (WBC). Sandra writes about the work ...

Latina Leadership Institute

Sep 25, 2019

This month's contributor to our blog is Mónica Cucalón, the Managing Director of Economic Empowerment at the Latin American Association ...

$1.2 Million Impact

Aug 16, 2019

In 1986, a group of visionary women founded The Atlanta Women’s Fund as part of the Community Foundation for Greater ...

Look Inside Inspire Atlanta

Jul 30, 2019

We wanted to share what our 2019 Inspire Atlanta class has been up to since orientation in March. They are ...

With Gratitude.

Jun 13, 2019

As June comes to a close, so does The Atlanta Women’s Foundation’s fiscal year, which means, we also say good-bye ...

Changing Lives Changing Generations

May 15, 2019

With May being Mental Health Awareness Month and Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, we wanted to highlight one of our Promoting ...

Budgeting for Life

Apr 17, 2019

This past summer, AWF launched our latest grant program – Breaking Barriers, Building Women: Economic Empowerment Program, which focuses on ...

Inspiring Women to Lead

Mar 14, 2019

In the U.S., March is Women’s History Month and it is an opportunity to celebrate the inspiring women who have ...

Building Better Futures Through Education

Nov 19, 2018

This month we're hearing from Kerry McArdle, Executive Director of Literacy Action, on the importance of adult education and literacy. ...

Why Women on Board

Sep 24, 2018

High-Functioning Nonprofit Board Members Learn What Works – and Utilize Knowledge & Leadership Skills to Make an Impact by Terri ...

Economic Empowerment

Aug 23, 2018

$100. That is the median net-worth for single African American women. For single Hispanic women, it's $120. When a woman ...

2018 Women in Healthcare

Aug 1, 2018

Women in Healthcare presents the documentary film, ANGST. This film explores teenage anxiety and depression- its causes, effects, and what ...

Upcoming Events

Jun 1, 2018

This year's Women in Law will be "A Conversation with Judy Smith", Crisis Management Expert, lawyer, and the inspiration for ...

The (Mental) Weight of Poverty

May 24, 2018

“One of the most consistently replicated findings in the social sciences has been the negative relationship of socioeconomic status with ...

Asset Building Key to Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

Apr 26, 2018

As April is National Financial Literacy Month, we want to talk asset building, as an aspect of financial literacy, and ...

Activate in April!

Apr 16, 2018

April is National Volunteer Month and we are bringing to you opportunities to get involved and volunteer with several of ...

In His Own Words

Mar 29, 2018

By: Mark Wasserman, Managing Partner, Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP; Co-Chief Executive Officer, Eversheds Sutherland Limited To close out this year’s ...

Inspire Atlanta: Transforming Women’s Lives through Leadership & Philanthropy

Jan 22, 2018

By: Ashley Gravlee, Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, Novelis Inc. The Atlanta Women’s Foundation is launching a new initiative called Inspire ...

Paula Goodman: a passionate advocate for women and girls

Jun 29, 2017

June is a bittersweet time for AWF because we usually have to say good-bye to Board Members who have completed ...

Join The Atlanta Women's Foundation for a Day of Service

Join AWF for a Day of Service

Jun 8, 2017

AWF corporate partner Novelis is hosting a home build for a single mother and her two daughters through AWF grantee ...

A Mother’s Prayer: Treat My Son as an Individual

May 12, 2017

By: Lauretta Farmer May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The primary efforts of Mental Health Awareness Month are to reduce ...

Give Your Community A Hand

Apr 10, 2017

Being involved in your community will not only connect you closer to your neighborhood, but can also help you transform ...

Equality vs. Equity

Mar 28, 2017

As Women’s History Month comes to a close, we wanted to explore the concept of equality versus equity and how ...

Celebrating Women’s History Month in Atlanta

Feb 28, 2017

For Women's History Month, we've pulled together a listing of events happening throughout the metro Atlanta area during the month ...

Promoting Women’s Mental Health & Wellbeing Project Exceeds Expectations in Year One

Jan 12, 2017

Since 2015, The Atlanta Women’s Foundation has invested $500,000 in the Promoting Women’s Mental Health & Wellbeing Project with the ...

20 Years of Celebrating Women & Girls

Oct 5, 2016

As plans are finalized for the 20th The Atlanta Women’s Foundation Numbers Too Big to Ignore Luncheon featuring Gloria Steinem ...

There Aren’t Enough Languages to Say "Thank You"

Jun 23, 2016

As June comes to a close, so does The Atlanta Women’s Foundation’s fiscal year, which means, unfortunately, we also say ...

Breaking Cycles of Generational Poverty: Positioning Teen Moms for Success

May 4, 2016

In recognition of May being Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, we invited current AWF grant recipient Families First to discuss the ...

#PledgeForParity – International Women’s Day 2016

Mar 8, 2016

International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also ...

Increasing Access To Child Care Helps Georgia’s Women and The State’s Economy

Aug 27, 2015

At The Atlanta Women’s Foundation, we know that advocacy is one of the most effective ways to combat the sort ...