Donor Advised Grants Program (NEW!)

AACF is implementing a new system designed to get nonprofit initiatives before a larger group of philanthropists- the Donor Advisors of AACF’s Funds.

Since 2008, donors have opened 8 funds at the Community Foundation and, through those funds, have granted $56,585.95 to a diverse group of organizations and causes.

These Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) are not established with discretionary income (the out-of-pocket giving nonprofits attract and depend on every day), instead these DAFs are established by donors with discretionary assets. They know they want to use these assets for charitable purposes, but they also want time to think through, be strategic about, where grants should go and, perhaps, have time to involve children, grandchildren, and future generations in the grant-making process.

The community foundation model makes harnessing these kinds of resources possible by helping individuals, families, businesses, and even nonprofits set up their own permanently endowed funds through which the fund’s donors remain involved in selecting grantees. (For example- North Georgia Community Foundation in Gainesville is 25 years old, has $30 million among its 300 Donor Advised Funds, and it is able to make $4 million in grants annually!)

As you can imagine, grants made from each DAF are highly personalized to the interests of the donor advisor. But, when donors are stakeholders in a community foundation, informing them about local needs and opportunities is made easier. AACF’s new initiative to share nonprofit proposals with donor advisors is part our effort to bring donors and grantees together around a common purpose, ultimately strengthening our community.

This fall AACF will be working hard to indentify and connect with prospective philanthropists in Athens and surrounding counties through Donor Advised Fund development. Your nonprofit is a key stakeholder in the process. We will be in touch with you as we create a system to share your needs with current Donor Advisors and develop our strategy to “grow the pie” by reaching out to potential Donor Advised Fund holders.

We value our partnership with you and believe your work is the heart of developing a community of “raging” philanthropists.

Steve Jones and Lillian Kincey Community Impact Fund – Discretionary Grants Program

The Athens Area Community Foundation discretionary grantmaking program is funded through the Steve Jones and Lillian Kincey Community Impact Fund. AACF’s discretionary grants in 2009 and 2010 addressed education; youth development; financial literacy; workforce development & job creation; health care; disability services; early learning; elder care; housing; community building; violence prevention; transportation; arts & cultural activities; increased access to community resources; and increased nonprofit collaboration in the Athens area. A gift to the Steve Jones and Lillian Kincey Community Impact Fund helps ensure that these kinds of grants are permanently available to the community. (learn more)

AACF is not currently taking applications for its Discretionary Grants Program.
We will announce future Requests for Proposals soon.