Georgia Grantmakers Alliance

The Georgia Grantmakers Alliance (GGA) is a nonpartisan group open to all private grantmakers, regardless of SECF membership. GGA was founded in 2010 and is supported by generous grants and registration fees for programs. GGA was founded to:

CONVENE

Bring private grantmakers in Georgia together to strengthen our connections.

LEARN

Explore together statewide issues, connections to public policy, and the implications for grantmaking.

EDUCATE

Share our learning within and beyond the grantmaking community to promote sound public policy.

CONNECT

Expand our reach by connecting with partners who share common interests.

Build Connections With Colleagues

"The Georgia Grantmakers Alliance is the learning community for philanthropy in our state. The meetings provide us with an opportunity to meet with colleagues from the big and small places across Georgia - because our connections need to be deeper than virtual. Being together for a few hours like this allows us to connect in a lasting way."

Atiba Mbiwan
Associate Director, The Zeist Foundation

Expanding Impact Throughout Georgia

"The network and connections made through GGA are enduring and supportive, especially for those of us who work in rural communities. Our Foundation is able to have ‘outsized’ impact from practices and programs we hear about through our colleagues within the Georgia Grantmakers Alliance. In fact, we have brought effective programs to meet the needs of our community as a result of what we have learned."

Alston Watt
Executive Director, Williams Family Foundation of Georgia

Explore Statewide Issues

"The daylong program offered by GGA allows us to address a central theme and drill down deeper for a more thorough investigation. The discussion leads to a more thoughtful response to needs and opportunities and helps us ask more meaningful questions."

John Stephenson
Executive Director, J. Bulow Campbell Foundation

Upcoming Events

Events hosted by the Georgia Grantmakers Alliance are great way to learn about the issues confronting our state and connect with a network of grantmakers who share an interest in Georgia's people and communities.

Title	Date
GGA Statewide Monthly Call: A Roadmap for Advancing Equity, Promoting Economic Development, and Improving Public Health with Low-Carbon Solutions in Georgia (takes place the third Thursday of each month)	June 17 at 3:00pm-4:15pm (ET)

Strategic Blueprint

The GGA Blueprint was developed with deep engagement from our philanthropic community. As many as 120 Georgia grantmakers – all types and sizes, from around the state – contributed to this plan. Through this Blueprint, GGA will work with greater purpose and a clearer strategy to connect and educate grantmakers and leverage philanthropy's impact in Georgia.

STRATEGIC BLUEPRINT

Special Thanks to Our Supporters

For the past ten years, the Georgia Grantmakers Alliance (GGA) has made a measurable and distinctive difference in our state—raising awareness of critical issues, fostering collaboration between funders, and interpreting complex policies that impact our communities.

With grant support from our generous participants and a low-cost administrative structure through SECF, GGA has maintained open-access programming for all grantmakers working in Georgia without requiring annual dues.

We are grateful for financial support of all sizes and want to recognize the following funders for contributing ≥$2,500 in 2020 or the past 5 consecutive years.

If you are interested in increasing philanthropy’s impact in Georgia by making a gift to GGA, you can:

· Send a check to SECF: 100 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 2080, Atlanta, GA 30303, fbo GGA
· Add funds specifically for GGA to your annual SECF membership renewal

If you would like to provide a targeted grant or sponsorship, please contact Lydia Clements at lydia@contactgga.org.

More About the Georgia Grantmakers Alliance

Resources & Program Archive

Public Policy
Response and Recovery Calls
Annual Meeting
Lunch & Learns
Place-based Philanthropy Tours

Public Policy:

2021
February 17 | Policy Update
March 23 | Policy Update
Voices from the Field
March 16 | How HB 272 affects Georgia's youth
March 2 | Interview with Jean Sumner

2020
January 30 | Georgia General Assembly
February 11 | Health, Education and Child & Family Well-Being Budget Proposals
February 26 | 2020 Proposed Legislation to Date
March 24 | Georgia Grantmaker Response to COVID-19
June 16 | Budget Situation Fluid as Session Resumes
June 22 | Latest on the 2020 Legislative Session
July 16 | GGA Post-Session Policy Update

Response and Recovery Calls

View GGA's Call Speaker and Topics Archive

2020
May 14 | GGA Statewide & Atlanta Joint Call
Featuring Raphael Bostic, President & CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Annual Meetings:

2019 Annual Meeting:
Creating Resilience: Preserving Georgia's Natural Environment

GGA's 2019 Annual Meeting featured locally and nationally recognized leaders who are advancing community goals within these intersections. Stories and replicable approaches will be shared that underpin the role of Georgia's natural environment in creating resilience and addressing what many call the next generation's greatest challenge.

Program | Presentations 1 | Presentations 2 | Resources | Speaker Bios | Attendee Roster

2018 Annual Meeting:
Building Blocks of Early Childhood

This year’s meeting provides an in-depth look at early childhood. Research shows that the earlier our children receive the educational, emotional and social support they need, the more likely they are to succeed later on in life. However, far too many children in our state, especially those born into already challenging circumstances, don’t receive the help they need, effectively starting life at a disadvantage. For philanthropy to effectively address this issue, grantmakers must understand why early support is so necessary and also learn about promising trends and best practices that we can help bring to our own communities, in partnership with a variety of sectors, including health care, state government and local school districts. We hope you walk away from this meeting not only with a greater understanding of this issue, but also the connections – with fellow grantmakers and others – that will allow you to support Georgia’s children in an effective and meaningful way.

Program | Presentations | Resources | Speaker Bios | Attendee Roster

2017 Annual Meeting:
State of Mind: Child Mental Health in Georgia – 0–25

For decades, society treated mental health as a separate – and often lesser – priority, set off entirely from the rest of the health care landscape. Today, the tide is finally turning, and mental health is viewed as a crucial aspect of the development of our children and young adults.

However, much work remains to be done – stigmas still remain and treatment options are still limited. Grantmakers in Georgia have a role to play in ensuring all of our infants, children and adolescents have access to quality mental health care. At this year’s Annual Meeting, the Georgia Grantmakers Alliance will explore this issue in depth.

Program | Presentations | Resources | Speaker Bios | Attendee Roster

2016 Annual Meeting:
Food for Thought: The Role of Philanthropy in Georgia’s Food System

Health...hunger...education...social justice...clean water...healthy soil...climate change...farmer prosperity...economic development – all of these issues converge in Georgia’s food system. Through our speakers and discussions among grantmakers, we will learn how your interest areas are redirected in the state’s food system and how private philanthropy can strengthen it to promote greater sustainability, improved health outcomes, local economic development, community building and wellness.

Program | Presentations | Speaker Bios | Attendee Roster

2015 Annual Meeting:
A Focus on PK-12 Education Policy

In 2015, the Georgia Grantmakers Alliance held its Annual Meeting at Middle Georgia State University in Macon. The theme of the meeting was “The Challenge Continues: Georgia Grantmakers’ Role in Shaping PK-12 Education Policy.” Through speakers and discussions among grantmakers, GGA members explored the complex issues surrounding education in Georgia, the broad range of perspectives on how to best ensure all of Georgia’s children are prepared for success, and how grantmakers can best support and promote quality education in their state.

Program | Presentations | Speaker Bios | Attendee Roster

2014 Biannual Summer Meeting:
Strong Families for a Stronger Georgia: A Two-Generation Approach to Helping Children & Parents

The Georgia Grantmakers Alliance held its 9th gathering on Thursday, August 28th at Middle Georgia State College in Macon, GA. At GGA’s Winter Meeting in March, Dr. Jack Shonkoff presented the latest scientific research on child brain development noting, in part, that no effort to fundamentally improve the lives of children can be complete without also helping parents. The Summer Meeting in Macon examined a wide variety of programs and policies designed to simultaneously serve two generations.

Program | Presentations | Speaker Bios | Attendee Roster

2014 Biannual Winter Meeting:
Improving Prospects for Georgia’s Children & Families

The Georgia Grantmakers Alliance held its 8th gathering on Thursday, March 13th at Atlanta Botanical Garden. GGA’s Winter 2014 meeting explored how we might improve the lives of struggling families, with a particular focus on child welfare. National expert Jack P. Shonkoff, M.D., Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, presented the latest science on childhood neglect and child development. Dr. Page Walley, Managing Director of Casey Family Programs and former Commissioner of Alabama’s Department of Human Resources, talked about successful philanthropic investments in child welfare. A panel of Georgia-based frontline practitioners shared stories from the field and thoughts on how state policy impacts children and families. Leading Georgia legislators provided an inside look at the 2014 session of the General Assembly.

Program | Presentations | Speaker Bios | Attendee Roster

2013 Biannual Summer Meeting:
Challenges in Georgia's Education System

The Georgia Grantmakers Alliance held its seventh gathering on August 15th in Macon, GA. Seventy grantmakers from around the state came together for thought-provoking discussions and presentations. Expert panelists and presenters provided an overview of the challenges facing post-secondary education - both nationally and statewide - related to access, affordability, completion, delivery and quality, as well as information on strategic innovations that are being proposed to address these challenges.

Program | Presentations | Speaker Bios | Attendee Roster

2013 Biannual Winter Meeting:
The Georgia Coast: Why it Matters to Us All

The Georgia Grantmakers Alliance held its sixth gathering on Friday, February 22 in Jekyll Island. The Georgia coast provided a compelling place to learn. It’s home to a number of Georgia’s fastest growing counties. Despite pockets of great wealth, the coastal region is no stranger to poverty, educational challenges, limited healthcare, and stagnant economic development. Over 60 grantmakers from around the state gathered to explore the full reach of the state together through the lens of the Georgia coast and filled the day with thought-provoking discussion.

Program | Presentations | Speaker Bios | Attendee Roster

2012 Biannual Summer Meeting:
Education Innovation in Georgia: Tinkering or Transforming?

The Georgia Grantmakers Alliance held its fifth gathering on Thursday, August 16th in Macon, Georgia. The meeting agenda explored how private philanthropy can best leverage its assets to support effective education innovation and ensure a quality education for all children in the state. Participants had the opportunity to hear from and chat with an impressive cadre of field experts. With more than 70 attendees, the day was filled with informative presentations, powerful discussion, and insightful questions.

Program | Presentations | Resources | Speaker Bios | Attendee Roster

2012 Biannual Winter Meeting:
What's Going on Under the Gold Dome? How is it Affecting Students in Georgia?

The Georgia Grantmakers Alliance held its fourth gathering on March 1st at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The meeting agenda included a briefing on the Georgia state budget, an overview of the "do’s and don’ts” of advocacy, and tangible examples of how Georgia funders have engaged in the public policy process. With more than 95 attendees, the day was filled with informative presentations, powerful discussion, and insightful questions.

Program | Presentations | Speaker Bios | Attendee Roster

2011 Biannual Summer Meeting:
The Changing Faces & Health Disparities in Georgia Communities

The Georgia Grantmakers Alliance held its third gathering on August 25th at Macon State College in Macon, Georgia. The meeting agenda included an overview of the changing demographics in Georgia and the impact on our state, a review of the GGA Grantmaking Survey results, a discussion on health disparities, and a panel on successful collaborations in healthcare. With more than 95 attendees, the day was filled with informative presentations, powerful discussion, and insightful questions.

Program | Presentations | Speaker Bios | Attendee Roster

2011 Biannual Winter Meeting:
What's Going on Under the Gold Dome? How is it Affecting Students in Georgia?

The Georgia Grantmakers Alliance held its second gathering on February 23rd at the Loudermilk Center in Atlanta. The meeting agenda included a legislative overview, an update on efforts to reform Georgia’s tax code and a discussion on how foundations are working to shape education policy. With more than 104 attendees, the day was filled with informative presentations, powerful discussion, and insightful questions.

Program | Presentations | Speaker Bios | Attendee Roster

2010 Annual Meeting:
Statewide Partnerships for a Better Georgia

The inaugural Georgia Grantmakers Alliance meeting was held on August 31st at the Professional Sciences Conference Center at Macon State College in Macon, GA. The meeting agenda included discussions over Georgia policies and efforts to resolve Georgia’s budget crisis. With more than 110 attendees, the day was filled with informative presentations, powerful discussion, and insightful questions.

Program | Presentations | Speaker Bios | Attendee Roster

Lunch & Learns:

2019
May 2 | Climate Change in Georgia: Risks and Opportunities - (click here for the audio recording)
March 14 | Georgia's Teacher Workforce Pipeline
February 19 | Insight into the 2019 Georgia General Assembly
January 18 | Family First Prevention Services Act

2018
October 24 | Challenges and Opportunities for GA Healthcare Consumers
July 31 | Site Visit: Philanthropy & Entrepreneurship in Central Georgia
April 16 | Update on State of Mind: Child Mental Health in Georgia
March 21 | What's Next in Education?
March 8 | Census 2020
Feb 15 | Youth Mentoring Across Georgia

2017
October 12 | From Research to Results: Navigating State & Federal Public Policy
August 22 | GADFCS’s Vision for a State of Hope
June 28 | Site Visit: The Role of Private Philanthropy in Economic Development
May 3 | Georgia’s Opioid Crisis
April 24 | Improving College Graduation Rates
March 27 | Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2017

Place-based Philanthropy Tour:

2020
March 6 - Jekyll Island/Brunswick | The Georgia Coast: An Interdependence of People, Place, and Policy | Presentation

2019
July 30 - Athens | Creating Wellbeing: The Intersection of Data & Cross-Sector Partnerships

GGA Leadership

The current rosters of leadership that represent the Georgia Grantmakers Alliance.

Steering Committee

Shell Berry (Co-Chair)
Community Foundation for the Central
Savannah River Area

Tené Traylor (Co-Chair)
The Kendeda Fund

Pat Lummus (Immediate Past Chair)
Sartain Lanier Family Foundation

Mark Crosswell (Treasurer)
Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta

Sonia Vick (Communications)
Williams Family Foundation of Georgia

Lydia Clements
Director, Georgia Grantmakers Alliance

Janine Lee (ex officio)
Southeastern Council of Foundations

Kweku Forstall
Annie E. Casey Foundation Atlanta Civic Site

Lisa Medellin
Healthcare Georgia Foundation

Gilbert Miller
Bradley-Turner Foundation and Beloco Foundation

Tripp Penn
Callaway Foundations, Inc.

Lizzy Smith
Woodruff and Whitehead Foundations

Yvonne Whitaker
NCR Foundation

Paul White
Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation

Public Policy Committee

Erik Johnson (Chair)
Woodruff and Whitehead Foundations

Braye Boardman
Community Foundation for the Central
Savannah River Area

Lydia Clements
Director, Georgia Grantmakers Alliance

Danielle Gray
The Zeist Foundation

Bonnie Hardage
Jesse Parker Williams Foundation

Tripp Penn
Callaway Foundation Inc.

Clare Ritchie
Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta

Christine Reeves Strigaro
The Sapelo Foundation

Yvonne Whitaker
NCR Foundation

Kenita Williams
Southern Education Foundation

Program Committee

Pat Lummus (Co-Chair)
Sartain Lanier Family Foundation

Lizzy Smith (Co-chair)
Woodruff and Whitehead Foundations

Lydia Clements
Director, Georgia Grantmakers Alliance

Kweku Forstall
Annie E. Casey Foundation Atlanta Civic Site

Sydney Hulebak
Dot and Lam Hardman Family Foundation

Lynn Pattillo
Pittuloch Foundation

Gilda (Gigi) Pedraza
Latino Community Fund Georgian

Shaunae Motley
United Way of Southwest Georgia

Daniel Shoy, Jr.
East Lake Foundation

Get Involved

GGA is volunteer-led and volunteer-powered – and proudly so. GGA is open to all private grantmakers in the state, regardless of SECF membership, and is supported by grants and fees for programs. We partner with SECF to provide our back office support and with Voices for Georgia's Children to help us with policy analysis.

But we rely on YOU to craft our agenda and make our programs happen. You can help strengthen GGA in the following ways:

1. Add a donation for GGA to your SECF dues. If you are an SECF member, you can add an additional amount to your annual dues payment and designate that portion for GGA.

2. Send a check. You don't have to be an SECF member to support GGA. Make your gift as a check payable to the Southeastern Council of Foundations, write "GGA" on the memo line and mail it to the address below. To send an alternate form of payment, please contact Dena Chadwick at dena@secf.org.

Georgia Grantmakers Alliance
c/o Southeastern Council of Foundations
100 Peachtree St. NW, Suite 2080
Atlanta, GA 30303
Attn: Dena Chadwick, Executive Vice President

3. Volunteer. We need your ideas, energy and connections to build great programs. Even if you don't have time to lead a meeting, let us know what you want to learn more about or provide a connection to important experts in your interest area.

4. Host a meeting or site visit. We are always looking for good sites for our meetings, preferably with the capacity for streaming video so we can reach all over the state. If you have access to these types of facilities, let us know!

For general questions, contact Dena Chadwick, SECF’s Executive Vice President, at dena@secf.org or at (404) 524-0911.

Georgia Grantmakers Alliance