WHAT IS A COMMUNITY FOUNDATION?We are part of a movement of community foundations across the country. As a community foundation we are a 501(c) 3 charitable corporation. The principal cause of all community foundations is the general welfare of community in which they are incorporated. Their clients are local donors. As a community foundation we accomplish our mission through donor-advised funds, raising money for community impact grants, providing philanthropic education, convening the community around important concerns, and offering nonprofit technical assistance. We take a 360 degree point-of-view to better serve all segments of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and allied communities of metropolitan Atlanta throughout the lifespan.

There are over 650 community foundations across the country. The vast majority of community foundations serve an entire urban or other political unit or geographic area. About 30 years ago, the first community foundation focused on the LGBTQA community came on the scene. There are now at least 12 community foundations in existence serving the special needs, issues, and concerns of the LGBTQA community.

HY DOES ATLANTA NEED A QUEER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION?

The community foundation model is the ideal one for accomplishing a unique and needed mission: 1) empower local LGBTQA donors, 2) help LGBTQA-serving nonprofit organizations get results, 3) use local funds to meet local needs (we don’t send money to New York, Washington, or LA) , and 4) build a stronger and more inclusive LGBTQA community. Like community foundations everywhere, we share a commitment to local philanthropy, helping nonprofit organizations get better results, donor rights, and philanthropic best practices.

In January, we sent a survey to more than 80 local opinion leaders including the publisher and editor of Southern Voice. The purpose of this survey was to solicit informed views regarding local philanthropy. Forty-two responded anonymously by the close of the survey in February. We reported these findings to the 80 individuals in the survey and followed up with invitations to discuss plans for the Foundation. This survey showed near unanimity on the need for a new organization to provide capacity-building services to other nonprofit organizations and to address unmet community needs. Large majorities also support the idea of an organization for pooling donations and promoting philanthropy and standards of nonprofit excellence. You can see a summary of the survey findings by visiting this page elsewhere on our site: Community Needs & Impact 

Do we duplicate the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta?

No. Our focus is exclusively on the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and allied community in metropolitan Atlanta. Because this is our exclusive focus we bring, as the President of the CFGA put it, “greater depth.” We are able to bring to the LGBTQA community and its issues greater attention, knowledge, and credibility than an organization without our exclusive focus. Every LGBTQA-serving community foundation co-exists with a larger and older community foundation like the CFGA. There should be no problem with us co-existing with the CFGA (as we do) and collaborating with them as we are able.  

WHY IS “GAY & LESBIAN” IN YOUR TITLE AND NOT OTHER GROUPS?  

We seek to be representative of a stronger, more inclusive LGBTQA community: we include lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and allied communities. We serve and are governed by that diversity. As we fill our board of directors and community impact advisory board we intentional seek Blacks, women, transgenders, Hispanics, whites, males, straight allies; those who are seniors, youth, middle age, intown residents, commuters, parents, and immigrants. Like the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, the Gay & Lesbian Center of LA, and the Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, we have an “out” name and embrace all aspects of the community as reflected in our mission statement: empower donors, helps nonprofit organizations get results, and meet local needs to build a stronger and more inclusive LGBTQA community in metro Atlanta.

ISN’T THIS UNNECESSARY COMPETITION WITH EXISTING NONPROFITS?

Not at all. That would be like saying that the CFGA and the United Way complete with the Red Cross or the Boy Scouts. We don’t compete with any other organization because our mission is different from that of every other nonprofit serving the LGBTQA community. Our job is to increase local philanthropy. Our cause is the entire community. We do not provide direct service to any segment of the population and we care about every member – including allies – regardless of gender, age, race, political affiliation or class. All grant awards will be made to direct service organizations which are currently serving our community and those who may emerge in the future. We will be financially supporting other LGBTQA organizations.

DON’T EXISTING NONPROFITS HAVE TO STRUGGLE ALREADY TO RAISE MONEY?

Yes! We think our organizations are over-worked and under-resourced. That’s why we are here to help? We believe there is more money in Atlanta for good causes and well-run organizations. According to Horizons Foundation (in San Francisco) only 5% of LGBT persons in their study were donors to LGBT-specific organizations. Of these donors, only 40% gave to local LGBT organizations. We don’t have any real data on LGBTQA philanthropy in metro Atlanta (another reason for our work) but it these figures are reflective of our community that means there is a HUGE reservoir of untapped resources. That leaves a lot of work to do! We are here to help any qualified local nonprofit serving the LGBTQA community get better results. We do this by providing technical assistance and best practices. We offer a unique set of tools to pursue our one-of-a-kind mission: donor-advised funds, community impact grants, philanthropic education initiatives, and technical assistance projects. And, while other foundations support LGBTQA causes, such support is often incidental, rather than integral, to their work. 100% of the dollars raised by the Foundation stay in our community to empower donors, help nonprofit organizations get better results, and meet local needs. This is our formula for building a stronger and more inclusive community.

Community foundations like The ATLANTA Gay & Lesbian Community FOUNDATION serve communities where LGBTQA nonprofits are thriving: New York, San Francisco, and Philadelphia. Many of these cities have a LGBTQ center as well.

IS THIS SOME KIND OF SUPER-NONPROFIT?  

NO. Just like individuals in the community, the Foundations needs direct-service nonprofit organizations. We are a new thing but we don’t exist to tell other nonprofits what to do.

WHAT IS THE FOUNDATION’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Center?

 We are the legal successor to the center. However, in terms of mission focus, governance, and management, we are an entirely new organization.

 The widespread recognition of local unmet needs (as demonstrated by our survey), the absence of capacity-building services targeted to improving local LGBTQ  nonprofits or empowering LGBTQ donors served to prompt the reorganization in January 2008. We now have a new mission, a new transitional board of directors, and new management. Originally incorporated on October 11, 1976 under the laws of the State of Georgia and operating as a 501 c 3 organization since December 21, 1979, the Center helped thousands of Atlantans by hosting support groups, a helpline, and HIV testing among other services. Like many nonprofits, the center made its share of mistakes. As of January 12, 2008, that organization exists no more. Today, under a new name, bylaws, and mission statement, The ATLANTA Gay & Lesbian Community FOUNDATION empowers donors, helps nonprofit organizations get better results, and meets local needs in order to build a stronger and more inclusive community.

Our strategy of using the remaining community asset of the center (the 501 c 3 status) saved the Foundation several thousands of dollars in legal fees and a possible year-long wait for a new 501 c 3 status from the IRS. Rather than let this corporate vehicle continue to atrophy, we revitalized it to meet a new mission.

 HOW DO I GET MORE INVOLVED?

Its easy to get invovled. Please see our OPPORTUNITES

Download the Word Version of FAQ 

 Still have questions? Please contact us

Introduction & Overview

Community Impact Fund

Create a Donor-Advised Fund

 Why we exist

Community Calendar

Directory of Organizations

Contact us now 

Opportunities

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 Go to our short online survey: click here

For findings from the January 2008 survey of community needs and organizational effectiveness, click here