Robert W. Woodruff Foundation: Community Development Grant

Robert W Woodruff Foundation Inc

Next predicted deadline: Feb 1, 2024

Later predicted deadlines: Aug 15, 2024

Grant amount: Up to US $10,000,000

Funding uses: General Operating Expense, Project / Program, Capital Project

Location of project: Preferred: Counties in Georgia: Barrow County, Bartow County, Butts County, Carroll County, Cherokee County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Coweta County, DeKalb County, Douglas County, Fayette County, Forsyth County, Fulton County, Gwinnett County, Hall County, Henry County, Morgan County, Newton County, Paulding County, Pickens County, Rockdale County, Spalding County, Walton County Other eligible locations: Georgia (US state)

Location of residency: Georgia (US state)

Overview:

The Foundation accepts grant requests throughout the year. We encourage you to submit before the deadlines listed below.

• February 1 – Requests received by the first business day on or after February 1 will be considered at the April meeting of our Board of Trustees.
• August 15 – Requests received by the first business day on or after August 15 will be considered at the November meeting of our Board of Trustees.

About

The Robert W. Woodruff Foundation is an independent private foundation that seeks to improve the quality of life in Georgia by investing in health, education, economic opportunity and community vitality.

Our Approach

We pursue our mission by responding to community needs, typically making grants to institutions and projects with strong leadership and a broad base of support. The Foundation seeks to help organizations with a proven track record of success stretch further to seize new opportunities or to meet extraordinary needs.

Generally, the Foundation prefers not to be the only funder for a project, but to participate with the community in supporting initiatives led by others. The Foundation will occasionally make leading grants when the need is great and the initiative is compelling.    

Community Development

Mr. Woodruff believed Atlanta should be a first-class city in which to conduct business, and he understood that businesses could only thrive in a community that offers a high quality of life for its residents.

The Foundation’s investments in community development make up a small part of our average grants portfolio (see graph). In general, the Foundation participates in community-led projects focused on improving metro Atlanta. It also supports organizations that work to strengthen the nonprofit sector in Georgia.

Priorities

• Projects that contribute to the vitality of downtown Atlanta
• Initiatives that promote regional cooperation within metro Atlanta
• Large-scale community improvement plans backed by major local support
• Organizations that support the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors in Georgia

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website.

Eligibility:

• The Foundation’s grantmaking is generally limited to organizations located and operating in metro Atlanta.
• We will occasionally consider grants to significant institutions and initiatives in communities throughout Georgia.
• Your organization may be eligible for a grant if it:
• Is a 501(c)(3) public charity.
• Is located or operating in Georgia.
• Aligns with the Foundation’s program interests in Health, Education, Environment, Human Services, Arts & Culture or Community Development.

Preferences:

• Successful grant applicants share these characteristics:
• Strong executive and volunteer leadership
• Track record of sustainable operations
• Broad base of financial support
• Proven program effectiveness

Ineligibility:

• Community Development - What we do not fund:
• Projects that lack broad public and private support
• What We Do Not Fund
  • Organizations that do not have 501(c)(3) status
  • Organizations without a presence in Georgia
  • Human services outside of metro Atlanta
  • Churches or their denominational programs
  • Conferences
  • Debt relief
  • Endowments
  • Festivals, performances or exhibits
  • Films or documentaries
  • Fundraising events
  • Individuals
  • Individual public schools
  • Individual research projects
  • Loans
  • Political campaigns or lobbying activities
  • Professional associations
  • Private schools outside of metro Atlanta
  • Sponsorships or special events
  • Startup organizations or seed funding