The Atlanta Women's Foundation, Inc.

The Atlanta Women’s Foundation’s goal is to support organizations that improve the lives of economically vulnerable women and girls in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties.

Less than 2% of foundation funding in the United States goes to women and girls. Social problems affect women and girls in unique ways—biologically, psychologically, and economically—so programs designed to deal with these problems must acknowledge, honor, and reflect these factors. AWF examines everything it does through a gender lens. We are always asking, “Was this program designed with women and girls in mind?” AWF sees what works (and what doesn’t) and then identifies and funds the organizations and programs with the greatest impact.

When you invest AWF, you invest in stronger, more stable families and communities. Invest in women and girls, and you invest a society that works—for everyone.

The absence of economic self-sufficiency is at the heart of critical issues faced by women and girls in our community. Access to resources plays a major role in determining the choices women and girls make. AWF supports organizations that lift women and girls up and out of poverty by increasing their access to services and opportunities for advancement.

AWF primarily accomplishes this through our strategic grantmaking, with grant recipients having to meet specific criteria, be reviewed by the Board Grant Committee, and approved by the Board of Directors. As a funder and a convener, AWF plays an essential role in creating the space for collaboration and in supporting our grantee partners as they work together to achieve better results. In order to achieve the greatest impact with the funds AWF invests in the community, we have incorporated a Collective Impact Model into our grantmaking. This collective impact model involves a structured process that leads to a common agenda, shared measurement system, and continuous communication among the cohort of grantees that provide the services. The goal of the collective impact approach is to create large-scale community change.

We are also an educator, conducting research and developing community advocates in support of women and girls. Created in 2000, the program was designed to increase the number of women on nonprofit boards in metro Atlanta by providing effective board governance training to Atlanta women and connecting participants to nonprofit organizations. Created in 2018, Inspire Atlanta is a comprehensive initiative that provides a unique experience to a diverse group of professional women leaders who are looking to ignite their passion for creating positive change for women in Atlanta. Inspire Atlanta focuses on three main areas – philanthropic, personal, and professional development.

AWF is staffed by a diverse, experienced, talented, and tenured staff made up of 6 full time, 1 part-time, and 2 contractors committed to the mission.

Our Board of Directors is made up of 20 diverse, philanthropic community and corporate leaders, 90% of whom are women. The Board of Directors are dedicated to supporting AWF staff in fundraising, grant, and leadership initiatives. Board of Director alumni continue to be engaged with the organization through events and gift support. Inspire Atlanta program alumnae also continue to support AWF after their graduation.

There is broad renewed community support from individuals, corporations, and foundations year over year.

Our grantee partners and history of funding over 350 organizations in metro Atlanta allows AWF to partner with nonprofits making the greatest impact. Supporting our grantee partners means financial support to AWF is amplified at least 10 times, and usually more.

For grantmaking, AWF has invested $19 million in over 350 organizations that have successfully moved women and girls from poverty to economic self-sufficiency. Current grant projects include The Women's Pathway To Success Program (Year 4 funds will be distributed in June 2021), The Building Women, Breaking Barriers: Economic Empowerment Program (Year 3 funds were distributed in January 2021) and The Rebuilding Women's Initiative to support mental health and survivors of domestic violence affected by the pandemic. Funds are currently being raised.

Some recent highlights for women and girls living at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines include: Over 14,000 women have access to workforce development and childcare scholarships, and over 3,700 women had access to higher education and asset building. From 2017-2021, 224 new businesses and 389 new jobs were created.

In April of 2020, AWF created a COVID-19 relief fund for our grantees. Organizations received funding to help provide access to critical services such as mental and physical healthcare, food and shelter, rental and utility assistance, along with mortgage relief. Over 3,000 women had access to these services. Through our evaluation process we learned how much progress had been made as well as how much more assistance was needed. AWF is currently raising funds to distribute additional dollars in the summer of 2021 to organizations providing mental health care and assistance for domestic abuse survivors affected by the pandemic.

For leadership programs, over 5,000 women have been trained in board leadership through Women on Board. 144 women have received personal, professional, and philanthropic development through Inspire Atlanta, with over 95% of participants reporting an increase in fundraising knowledge and an understanding of the issues facing women and girls in our community.

We will continue to invest in our grantmaking and leadership programs driven by research and the needs of women and girls in metro Atlanta.