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The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta Inc

EIN 58-1344646 · Atlanta, GA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ATLANTA IS #1 FOR INCOME INEQUALITY IN THE NATION. AS SUCH, THE NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE PRESSING AND WE NEED TO MOVE WITH THE URGENCY OF NOW TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS. THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HAS UNEQUIVOCALLY EMBRACED EQUITY AS OUR #1 PRIORITY. OUR 2022 2026 STRATEGIC PLAN, TOGETHERATL, IS A BLUEPRINT FOR HOW THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WILL CHAMPION EQUITY AND LEAD BOLDLY IN COLLABORATION WITH NONPROFIT PARTNERS, CIVIC LEADERS AND DONORS. TOGETHER, WE WILL WORK TO SECURE PROSPERITY FOR ALL THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

Income
$363.2 million
Spending
$194.1 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
78.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
97
Volunteers
45
Highest pay
$663,435, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 78.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 47% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    27 of 27 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $147.5 million spent. PHILANTHROPIC SERVICES - SEE SCHEDULE O FOR COMPLETE DESCRIPTION.THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IS OUR REGION'S STEWARD OF THE LONG-TERM PHILANTHROPIC ASSETS THAT ARE ENTRUSTED TO US FOR THE FUTURE OF GREATER ATLANTA. IN 2024, OUR TOTAL ASSETS WERE $1.512 BILLION.WE DISTRIBUTED OVER $173 MILLION IN GRANTS AND SUPPORT IN 2024. THAT REPRESENTS 11,835 GRANTS AWARDED TO OVER 3,000 NONPROFITS LOCALLY, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY. OF THESE GRANTS, OVER 64% STAYED WITHIN OUR 23-COUNTY METRO ATLANTA REGION. GRANTS WERE MADE TO 26 ISSUE AREAS, THE TOP THREE BEING HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, AND HUMAN SERVICES. OUR ORGANIZATION DISTRIBUTED 11% OF OUR TOTAL ASSETS THROUGH GRANTMAKING IN 2024.OUR GENEROUS DONORS MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE. WE RECEIVED MORE THAN $262 MILLION IN GIFTS IN 2024 AND ESTABLISHED 33 NEW FUNDS. OUR MOST POPULAR GIVING VEHICLE IS THE DONOR-ADVISED FUND. IN 2024, 81% OF OUR TOTAL GRANTS WERE MADE THROUGH DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS.
  2. $24.1 million spent. COMPETITIVE GRANTS - SEE SCHEDULE O FOR COMPLETE DESCRIPTIONTHE FOUNDATION AWARDS GRANTS THROUGH BOTH COMPETITIVE AND NON-COMPETITIVE CHANNELS. THE GREATEST NUMBER OF GRANTS ARE AWARDED THROUGH NON-COMPETITIVE CHANNELS, SUCH AS DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS, WHERE GRANT INVESTMENTS ARE RECOMMENDED BY THE DONOR OR FUND ADVISOR OFTEN WITH THE GUIDANCE OF HIS OR HER PHILANTHROPIC ADVISOR, WHO IS ASSIGNED TO THE DONOR VIA THEIR WORK FOR THE FOUNDATION. THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PROVIDES GRANTS TO HUNDREDS OF NONPROFITS IN THE METRO ATLANTA REGION FOCUSED ON MAKING OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL THAT CALL ATLANTA HOME. IN 2024, THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MANY NONPROFITS AND THE CITY OF ATLANTA, IN CREATING AND PRESERVING OVER 1,000 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY. FURTHER, THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PROVIDED GRANTS TO NONPROFITS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THOMASVILLE HEIGHTS AND FAIR OAKS AS WELL AS IN SUPPORTING NONPROFITS FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING OUR COMMUNITY'S INCOME AND WEALTH GAP LIKE THE GRO FUND AND EASTER SEALS. THESE ARE BUT A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE CONSIDERABLE COMMUNITY IMPACT OF THE GRANTS MADE WITH OUR DONORS.
  3. $6.5 million spent. COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND INITIATIVES - SEE SCHEDULE O FOR COMPLETE DESCRIPTION.THROUGHOUT 2021, THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF COVID-19 MADE ITS WIDESPREAD IMPACT ON THE ATLANTA REGION. CHILDREN CONTINUED WITH HYBRID-AT-BEST SCHOOL OPTIONS, BUSINESSES PERMANENTLY CLOSED, LIVE PERFORMANCES WERE SHUTTERED, AND WORKERS WERE BEING LAID OFF. OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH UNITED WAY OF GREATER ATLANTA CONTINUED, ULTIMATELY RAISING, COLLECTING AND DISPERSING $30 MILLION IN FUNDS FOR THE GREATER ATLANTA COVID-19 RESPONSE AND RECOVERY FUND, WHILE TAKING NO FEES FOR THE WORK. SUPPORTED BY DOLLARS FROM PHILANTHROPY, GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE PARTNERS, THE COVID-19 FUND RECEIVED DONATIONS FROM THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS, FOUNDATIONS AND CORPORATIONS. THE COMMUNITY NEEDS CONTINUED TO EVOLVE AS THE PANDEMIC ISSUED ITS TOIL. WHILE INITIAL GRANTS WERE FOCUSED ON PROVIDING CRUCIAL SERVICES AT A HIGH SCALE TO HIGH-RISK AUDIENCES INCLUDING SENIORS AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN 2021 EVIDENCE SHOWED SPECIFIC POPULATIONS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BLACK, LATINX, UNDOCUMENTED AND IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS. AS THE SITUATION IN OUR COMMUNITY EVOLVED, THE FUND PIVOTED TO ADDRESS RAPIDLY CHANGING NEEDS, SUCH AS SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT AND MENTAL HEALTH. DURING 2020 AND 2021, THE COVID-19 FUND MOBILIZED $28.2 MILLION TO BENEFIT 478 NONPROFITS IN ATLANTA. THIS PROGRAM WAS AMPLIFIED BY OUR 900+ DONOR FAMILIES, WHO GAVE IN EXCESS OF $100 MILLION TO NONPROFITS THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION RECOMMENDED WHO WERE ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE PANDEMIC.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1977.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.