Purpose in Action: Philanthropy & The Nonprofit Ecosystem
This month, we're celebrating philanthropy and the nonprofit ecosystem by shining a light on clients who help generosity go further. From community foundations and county arts grants to statewide funder networks, these organizations do more than write checks: they connect donors with causes, strengthen the nonprofits doing the work, and build resources for needs that haven't arrived yet.
Here's a quick look at how they're fueling good work in our communities.
Clients Featured: Cobb Community Foundation, Georgia Grantmakers Alliance, Gwinnett Creativity Fund, North Georgia Community Foundation, and United Way of Central Alabama.
Cobb Community Foundation
Location: Marietta, GA
Cobb Community Foundation is a catalyst for a thriving community: mobilizing people, ideas, and resources to improve quality of life in and around Cobb.
The foundation dates to late 1993, when a group of Cobb business leaders saw the need for a vehicle to invest in the community's future. It manages charitable funds for individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits, and it also runs initiatives aimed at Cobb's biggest challenges, including the Cobb Community Connection and the upcoming Cobb Vital Signs project.
Georgia Grantmakers Alliance
GGA started in 2010 as an affinity group within the Southeastern Council of Foundations (now Philanthropy Southeast), and its statewide work still complements that organization's regional focus.
It convenes, educates, and connects grantmakers, and encourages collaboration among funders, nonprofits, and policymakers. Its work is built around public policy: helping funders understand how policy affects their priorities and identifying where they can align with other investors and public dollars.
Gwinnett Creativity Fund
The Gwinnett Creativity Fund's mission is to assist non-profit arts and cultural organizations to grow and evolve, provide programming and arts education opportunities, engage culturally underserved communities, while enhancing Gwinnett's economic and cultural landscape.
The fund launched in March 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, as Gwinnett's first county-wide arts and culture grants program. It now runs two grant cycles: Project Grants for theatre, performing arts, cultural events, film and TV workforce development, and arts education, and a Placemaking Grant.
North Georgia Community Foundation
Location: Gainesville, GA
The North Georgia Community Foundation helps people and non-profits invest generously in the lives of those who call our community home.
A group of citizens founded NGCF in 1985 to encourage philanthropy and strengthen communities. Today it works to strengthen the region by inspiring giving, investing in nonprofits, and mobilizing action. Besides managing donor funds, it supports nonprofits through community impact grants and G.R.O.W., its education program that offers professional development and leadership training for nonprofit staff.
United Way of Central Alabama
Location: Birmingham, AL
United Way of Central Alabama's (UWCA) mission is to increase people's capacity to care for one another and improve their communities.
UWCA began in 1923 as the Birmingham Community Chest. It now serves Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, and Walker counties. Its programs include housing education, free tax preparation, meal delivery for homebound seniors, and housing support for veterans, plus a helpline that connects callers to more than 800 local resources.
