2006-2007 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY WHAT MAKES Philanthropy HAPPEN? WHAT MAKES PHILANTHROPY HAPPEN? At The Community Foun- dation for Greater Atlanta, we believe real philanthropy happens when you encourage people to truly connect to their community and ultimately, connect their passions with a purpose. The time we spend with each donor, our support of community needs, the knowledge we share with others – all of this helps us to better understand the individual parts of our community and helps others unleash their philanthropic power. Philanthropy is not one person’s job, it is not one organization’s responsibility and it is not something that we can do alone. Real philanthropy – powerful philanthropy – happens when we connect with one another, share our resources of time, finances and knowledge, and inspire one another. THAT’S WHAT MAKES PHILANTHROPY HAPPEN. CONTENTS 2 A Message from the Chair and President 4 2006-2007 Highlights 7 How Can One Donor’s Passion Have an Impact on Our Community? 16 How Do Nonprofits Strengthen Their Business? 20 How Can We Approach Big Issues with Simpler Answers? 30 Scholarship Funds 36 Our Grantmaking 39 Recognizing Our Grantees 54 Thanking Our Donors 61 Financial Highlights 63 Board of Directors 34450_Text.r1:Layout 1 12/12/07 12:35 PM Page 1 CONNECTING Passion WITH PURPOSE 34450_Text.r1:Layout 1 12/12/07 12:35 PM Page 2 A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR AND PRESIDENT EARLIER THIS YEAR one of our donor families approached us with several passions: the father had grown up in foster care and was interested in supporting youth in need, several of the children were interested in animal issues and the entire family wanted to support a faith-based organization. What they ended up discovering through The Community Foundation was a unique nonprofit called Noah’s Ark – a facility serving as a home for abused children as well as a rehabilitation center for wildlife and abused animals. We brought 11 intergenerational members of this donor family from the suburbs of Atlanta to rural Henry County to visit Noah’s Ark, and as a result, the family recommended a $25,000 grant. That is how we are connecting passion with purpose. AT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR GREATER ATLANTA WE SEE OUR ROLE AS HELPING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES DISCOVER THEIR PERSONAL PHILANTHROPIC PASSION AND LEARNING HOW TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS TO FULFILL THAT PASSION. As a community foundation, we have always known that our donors make it possible for us to make a difference in our commu- nity. Our donors’ passions combined with our knowledge of the community and dedication to service keep our region growing stronger every year. The Community Foundation had another record year in giving, with 2006 being our second best only to 2005 in our 55-year history. We received more than $100 million in gifts bringing our total asset size to almost $750 million and had the highest growth in gifts toward donor-advised funds since our inception. With the support of our donors we distributed nearly $75 million in grants to more than 2,400 nonprofit organizations. In addition, we saw donors increase their contributions from donor-advised funds to organiza- tions that received a Common Good Funds grant (formerly Competitive Grants Program) from $1,888,320 to $3,050,652 in the past year. PAGE TWO 34450_Text.r1:Layout 1 12/12/07 12:35 PM Page 3 A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR AND PRESIDENT We realize we would not be able to do this incredible work without the generous support of our donors and our partners. As individuals, each of us has a role as we explore how philanthropy can improve the community in which we live. At The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta we see our role as helping individuals and families discover their personal philanthropic passion and learning how to connect with others to fulfill that passion. This year’s annual report focuses on that collab- orative spirit that permeates the philanthropic MICHAEL KAY, CHAIR AND ALICIA PHILIPP, PRESIDENT universe. The stories shared here illustrate what can happen when groups of people join forces to work But most importantly, we hope that each time toward their common passion. In the Belvedere you work with The Community Foundation you see Community of Atlanta, philanthropic partners are we are not individuals striving to reach our own goals helping residents who are passionate about improving or fulfill our own roles. True philanthropy happens their own health take the first steps toward an overall when different people with different values and healthier community. Both youth and adults are voices, all join one another at the same table to talk working together to make sure that those growing up about challenging issues, and work together to achieve in foster care today have the opportunity to become the greater vision that we share for the community. the leaders of tomorrow through the Metropolitan Atlanta Youth Opportunities Initiative. And throughout metro Atlanta, both funders and nonprofits are coming to the table to talk about how Michael Kay, Chair improving health for the homeless can help lead them off the streets. In addition, you will read about the collaborative Alicia Philipp, President efforts of a city that wanted to bring the Martin Luther King, Jr. Collection back to the city of his birth, and you’ll discover why the spotlight shined so brightly on The Alliance Theatre as it received both the Managing for Excellence Award and a Tony Award in the same year. You’ll also learn more about how families are working together to develop their own philanthropic spirit to make sure that they continue to connect with their passions through the Center for Family Philanthropy. PAGE THREE 34450_Text.r1:Layout 1 12/12/07 12:35 PM Page 4 2006-2007 HIGHLIGHTS VIBRANT COMMUNITIES, concerned residents, innovative funders, passionate nonprofits, generous donors – if these individuals and groups can make a difference working on their own, imagine the impact they can have when they work together. PASSION AND PURPOSE, Partners AND POTENTIAL In 2006-2007, The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta saw over and over again the influence that these indi- viduals and groups can have on making philanthropy happen. Listing all that we are proud of from the past year would make for a long book, but we are pleased to provide highlights of the accomplishments our nonprofit partners, donors and commu- nity members shared with The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. PAGE FOUR 34450_Text.r1:Layout 1 12/12/07 12:35 PM Page 5 2006-2007 HIGHLIGHTS CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN Foundation partnered with the Southeastern Network of When hundreds of families with medically fragile children African Americans in Philanthropy (SNAAP) to begin lost financial support from the Katie Beckett Waiver convening forums on Emerging Issues in Ethnic Program, the State of Georgia and the Department of Philanthropy. Funded by the Association of Black Human Resources turned to The Community Foundation Foundation Executives and Hispanics in Philanthropy, the forums seek to identify more effective ways to link philan- thropic and nonprofit leaders of color to mainstream philanthropies. THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION From 2005-2007, The Community Foundation has served as the trusted fiscal agent for a $2.4 million planning grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the Atlanta Public Schools. This grant supports the High to tap into the community’s experts in health to establish School Transformation Initiative – a five-year plan focused the Champions for Children with Exceptional Needs on teaching, talent management, on-track to graduate, Initiative. The Community Foundation, the Georgia Health postsecondary success, advisory, mentoring, curriculum, Policy Center and an advisory committee comprising assessment and portfolio restructuring. diverse stakeholders are working to understand existing services for medically fragile children and their families, HEALTHY BELVEDERE identify gaps and develop recommendations to meet those The Community Foundation partnered with the Kaiser gaps with a nonprofit network around the state. Foundation Health Plan and the Belvedere Community in Atlanta, to invest more than $700,000 over five years to THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. COLLECTION improve this community’s health. Building on our 16 years’ In June 2006, The Community Foundation helped secure experience in growing grassroots leadership through The a collection of more than 15,000 writings of Rev. Martin Neighborhood Fund, we launched Healthy Belvedere Luther King, Jr. that were to be auctioned off in New York awarding grants to individuals and organizations that have City. The group spearheading the initiative, including The programs and activities that encourage healthy eating and Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, Mayor Shirley active living habits. Grants will continue to be distributed Franklin and other Atlanta leaders, was successful in over the next three years as this community’s strong bringing the collection home to Atlanta. Read more about involvement helps them take the next steps toward a this collaboration on page 28. healthy community. EMERGING AND ETHNIC PHILANTHROPY In November 2006, the Atlanta Association of Fundraising Professionals received a $10,000 grant from the Alicia Philipp Leadership Fund to establish the Diversity Fellows Program to increase the number of nonprofit fund devel- opment professionals from ethnic communities. The Leadership Fund has received continued support from staff, Board members and others to encourage the development of grassroots leadership. In addition, The Community PAGE FIVE 34450_Text.r1:Layout 1 12/12/07 12:36 PM Page 6 JEAN AND JOHN HATFIELD, DONORS AN EYE OPENING EXPERIENCE John Hatfield discovered that The Community Foundation was a perfect fit for him when he approached them as a charitable donor. With an explicit interest in education, he was invited to help as a member of scholarship review committees for two scholarship funds set up at the Foundation.