Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and United Way of Greater Atlanta mobilize more than $17 million for those most at risk →

Collaborative leadership and teamwork deliver sixth round of support region-wide

ATLANTA – May 8, 2020 – The Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, a joint effort from Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and United Way of Greater Atlanta, today announces the Fund’s sixth round of grants. To date, the Fund has raised more than $25 million through collective resources. The two organizations have together identified the areas of greatest need and the most vulnerable populations to determine where to deliver funds.

This sixth round of grants total $5.3 million and will be distributed to 245 organizations in response to the region’s needs as a result of COVID-19. A grand total of more than $17.3 million from the Fund has been mobilized to benefit 320 nonprofits thus far. A full listing of today’s grants are detailed below. These, as well as those made in the earlier rounds, are listed on both the Community Foundation’s website and United Way’s website. 

Individuals who wish to contribute to supporting our region’s nonprofits can donate to the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund here. Support funds will be released on a rolling basis throughout the outbreak and recovery phases of the crisis. 

During an open, public application process in April, more than 650 nonprofit organizations requested funding and today 245 are receiving grants. The grant review committee placed strong consideration on racial and gender equity in their decisions. Geographic spread and the ability to reach underserved communities and neighborhoods with vital support were also among the considerations.

Grant awards were also informed by a digital listening tool which captured input from more than 300 organizations. Multiple themes have emerged depicting nonprofit experiences: 

  • Increase in service requests and new clients requesting assistance

  • Loss of revenue, fees for service and donations

  • Loss of volunteer assistance due to shelter-in-place orders

  • Moving work and services to digital platforms such as telehealth, leading to added technology needs and training

  • Supply shortages for staff, clients and distribution (cleaning supplies, food, household paper products, personal protective equipment/PPE)

Grants are given to nonprofits for general operating support, allowing the receiving organization to direct funds to where they are most needed as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding priority areas include childcare, education, emergency financial assistance, food security, health, housing and small business support.

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