Welcome to the Athens Area Community Foundation
Your home for thoughtful philanthropy!
The Athens Area Community Foundation (AACF) was founded in 2008 by a group of citizens interested in encouraging philanthropy, meeting needs, and identifying opportunities that improve the quality of life and economic well-being of Clarke, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Barrow, Jackson, and Madison counties.
Helping Passionate Donors Leave Permanent Legacies
AACF identifies prospective philanthropists and increases their capacity to give by functioning as the community's philanthropic “savings account.” AACF holds a permanent, yet flexible, collection of long-term Funds contributed by people from all walks of life who want to give something back in a way that matters to them. The principal of these Funds is invested and the income generated annually is granted back into the community to address today’s needs and prepare for tomorrow’s challenges.
We help our donors establish long-term charitable funds, using the most tax-advantaged methods, to benefit their causes and our community for good, for ever
Since 2008, AACF has grown quickly, holding close to $1 million in assets and awarding more than $140,000 in grants through its donor advised, unrestricted, designated, field-of-interest, and agency endowment funds. Our operating costs are funded through our endowed Founders Society Fund, minimal administrative fees, and start-up investments from donors who want to see this “vehicle for giving” available for generations to come. Our board is a cross-section of the community’s leaders, and our staff and volunteers are local advocates who are honored to help make a difference. AACF is one of more than 700 community foundations in the country and is a member of the national Council on Foundations.
Supporting your thriving, just and caring community
Nonprofits, schools, and churches improve quality of life in our communities, but they depend on uncertain funding to do critical work. When the economy gets tight and budgets are reduced, discretionary income decreases and local nonprofits struggle. Having a community whose quality of life is dependent on discretionary income is risky. AACF is a vehicle for donors’ discretionary assets.
The Athens Area Community Foundation, Inc. is a public charity that brings people together who care deeply about Athens, Georgia and surrounding areas and who seek to improve the quality of life and economic well-being of all people in our community through gifts and involvement.
We are committed to connecting donors with what they care about through charitable giving and by serving as a well-informed and effective grant-maker working in partnership with the community and encouraging the entire community to support charitable giving for the benefit of all.
The Foundation fulfills its mission by:
- Supporting implementation of the recommendations of the Partners for a Prosperous Athens;
- Encouraging private giving for the public good;
- Providing a flexible and cost effective vehicle for donors with varied charitable interests and abilities to give;
- Helping to enhance the capacity of service delivery providers in the greater Athens area;
- Serving as a catalyst, convener and partner in reaching and shaping effective responses to problems and opportunities of all our communities.