In 2008, the Arts Fund and The Community Foundation suspended our competitive grantmaking programs to dedicate time to learn how we can have a greater impact on communities in the 23-county region. Click here to learn more about this process. As a result of our planning, research and learning, we have created our Philanthropic Framework to reflect how we intend to continue to connect donors, nonprofits, community leaders and others to address community needs through philanthropy.

A key goal of our Philanthropic Framework is strengthening the region’s nonprofits and includes new approaches to our competitive grantmaking. Given the current economic crisis and our desire to serve as investors in the nonprofit community, the Arts Fund and The Community Foundation will focus on four main areas throughout several of our grantmaking programs: general operating support, capacity building, advocacy and innovation.

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Starting in 2009, the Arts Fund will provide selected small and midsized arts organizations (with annual operating budgets less than $2 million) with strategic grants to support general operating expenses. Funded organizations will be able to use grant dollars as they see fit to make their organization stronger.

The Arts Fund is a resource in Atlanta devoted to helping nonprofit arts organizations adapt to a changing environment and become stronger. By strategically providing general operating support, the Arts Fund allows them to do what they do best - provide innovative and exciting creative work that contributes to the quality of life in the metropolitan Atlanta community.

The Arts Fund is overseen by an Advisory Board appointed by the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. The Advisory Board makes recommendations regarding policies, programs and grants of the Arts Fund. The Board of Directors of The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta reviews these recommendations and makes the final approval of grants.