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At its annual Community Investment Celebration at Atlanta City Hall on Aug. 7, the Atlanta Women’s Foundation announced a historic $1.7 million grant cycle to 19 nonprofits dedicated to women and girls in the metro area. 

It’s the most the nonprofit has invested in a single grant period since its founding 26 years ago. As a funder, Atlanta Women’s Foundation raises money to give to community organizations and nonprofits. The foundation also provides leadership education and nonprofit training. 

“We believe that investing in women and girls is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen our communities,” Atlanta Women’s Foundation CEO Kari Love said. “When women thrive, families thrive, and when girls are empowered, communities grow stronger.”

This year’s grant cycle was split into four main initiatives. The Two Generation Initiative, funded by the  Liz Blake Giving Fund, takes a “whole family approach” to supporting mothers and children through healthcare, early-childhood education, and stability services. 

Four nonprofits received $45,000 each from the Two Generation Initiative: Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter, Our House, Inc., Families First and Quality Care for Children. 

“All of these programs are rooted in equity and driven by community, because that’s what it takes to shift outcomes at scale, to help us recognize the nonprofits moving this work forward,” Atlanta Women’s Foundation Board Chair Fiona Bell said

The Children’s Day Shelter and Our House, Inc. received funds for mothers and families experiencing homelessness. The shelter will provide early education and family services for mothers, while Our House will provide education and parental coaching for families.

Families First received grant money for maternal mental health services, and Quality Care for Children got funds for emergency childcare scholarships. 

The second program, All Girls Forward, is AWF’s girls empowerment program. Board Chair Bell said it was created in response to findings from the 2023 State of Girls report. 

“It’s a five-year effort investing in programs that build confidence, wellness and leadership among girls experiencing economic uncertainty,” Bell said. 

Nine organizations received $50,000 each for their respective girls’ empowerment efforts: 

  • Agape Youth and Family Center, for year-round leadership and girls’ wellness programming.
  • Cool Girls, Inc. for academic support, mentorship and life skills to empower elementary and middle school girls. 
  • Girls, Inc. of Greater Atlanta for mental health and enrichment programing to help girls thrive academically. 
  • Girls on the Run Georgia for physical activity-based resilience and confidence work. 
  • Global Village Project for trauma-informed, accelerated education programs for refugee girls. 
  • Los Ninos Primero for a mentorship and leadership development program for Latina girls. 
  • Ser Familia for mental health counseling and more for Latina girls. 
  • Vox ATL for teen-led media. 
  • Wellspring Living for trauma-informed residential care and life skills training to sex trafficking survivors. 

The third program, Breaking Barriers, Building Women, is focused on economic empowerment. Five nonprofits received $100,000 each for their work: Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, Clayton State University Foundation, Per Scholas, Nicholas House and Hope, Inc. 

The local Habitat for Humanity will use funds for affordable home ownership and women’s financial education, while Nicholas House will provide housing and workforce development for homeless women. 

Per Scholas will focus on tech training and career coaching with women who want to enter Information Technology fields, and Clayton State University Foundation will provide scholarships and childcare for student mothers. Hope, Inc. will use the funds to provide rent, childcare and financial training to single-parent students.

The Sue Wieland Embracing Possibility Grant honors Wieland’s legacy of supporting women and families through trauma-informed care, housing, education, and holistic family services. Five organizations received $100,000 each. 

The grantee organizations are Agape Youth and Family Center’s career readiness program, Atlanta Children’s Day Center’s homeless family trauma-informed services, Families First behavioral health and parenting programs, Nicholas House’s wrap-around support, and Our House, Inc. housing, workforce development, healthcare, and advocacy programs. 

Atlanta Women’s Foundation also presented the inaugural $5,000 Yashoda Reddy Education Award, dedicated to investment in education for nontraditional college students navigating economic insecurity. The 2025 recipient was Madison Johnson, a Clayton State University psychology student and single mother. 

“If we want Atlanta to be the city I say I want it to be, which is the best city in the nation to raise a child, we must continue to strive to be the most inclusive, equitable and supportive city for women and girls,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. 

Dickens attended the luncheon to show his ongoing support for the Atlanta Women’s Foundation and the area’s efforts to uplift women and girls. 

“Studies show that too often women face significant barriers,” Dickens said. “That’s why we are happy to shine a light on organizations like the Atlanta Women’s Foundation that are intentional in their support of the community groups, really changing outcomes for women.”