In 1986, a group of visionary women business owners founded The Atlanta Women’s Fund as part of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. In 1998, that fund had grown in importance and credibility, becoming independent as The Atlanta Women’s Foundation (AWF). As the only public foundation in Georgia dedicated solely to women and girls, the Foundation has invested $20 million into over 350 Atlanta area nonprofit organizations that have successfully moved women and girls from poverty to economic self-sufficiency. In addition to strategic grantmaking, AWF provides leadership and philanthropic training to a diverse group of professional women to empower not only themselves, but their communities as well.
TIMELINE
1986
Founded as the Atlanta Women’s Fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta (CFGA).
1993
Launched our first Women Who Are Homeless Grant Cycle with the support of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW Atlanta).
1997
First Numbers Too Big To Ignore Luncheon, featured speakers Jane Fonda and Gloria Steinem.
1998
Separated from CFGA to become The Atlanta Women’s Foundation.
2000
Established "Angela's Fund" to raise money to help commercially sexually exploited girls in metro Atlanta.
2000
Launched Women on Board.
2005
Launched the Destiny Fund Program, a leadership development program for emerging philanthropists.
2006
Established the Wieland Endowment and the Sue Wieland Embracing Possibility Award.
2009
Provided the seed funding to establish Global Village Project.
2012
Commissioned proprietary research Breaking the Cycle of Generational Poverty in Metro Atlanta.
2015
Implements Collective Impact Approach to grantmaking.
2015
Launched the Promoting Women’s Mental Health & Wellbeing Grant Initiative.
2016
Celebrate 20th anniversary of the Numbers Too Big To Ignore Luncheon, raising $1 million.
2017
Launched the Women’s Pathway to Success Grant Initiative.
2018
Launched the Breaking Barriers, Building Women: Economic Empowerment Program for Women Grant Initiative.
2018
Celebrated 20th anniversary of the founding of AWF.
2018
Launched community impact program for women, Inspire Atlanta.
2019
Commissioned new research Women-Powered Prosperity in Metro Atlanta
2020
Created emergency fund for grantees most affected by the pandemic.
2021
Celebrate 25th Anniversary of the Numbers Too Big To Ignore Luncheon, once again raising $1 million!
2022
Commissioned new research State of Girls in Metro Atlanta.