OVERVIEW: This funder primarily supports K-12 education in the Atlanta Metro area, but also funds youth, health, economic opportunity, and human services causes in the 13 Georgia counties surrounding the city.
IP TAKE: Whitehead prioritizes local education more than anything else. It is both transparent and approachable with a wealth of information available on its website. Generally, however, this is a foundation that prefers not to be the lead funder on a project, but rather join in on an existing community effort. There are around $2 billion in assets here for local groups, so grant seekers should take the time to send a brief email to the foundation to see if there are opportunities for programs.
Because of family and Coca-Cola connections, the Whitehead Foundation shares an office and staff with the Lettie Pate Evans Foundation, the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation and the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation. However, each of these foundations is governed by its own board and charter. Grant requests sent to the Whitehead Foundation may also automatically be considered by these other funders, so grant seekers do not need to send separate inquiries to each funder individually.
PROFILE: The Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation is an independent, private foundation that primarily serves the needs of Metro Atlanta. It seeks to “help people in need in metro Atlanta, particularly children, by investing in education, health and economic opportunity.” Whitehead was one of the original bottlers of Coca-Cola, and established the Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company, later called The Coca-Cola Bottling Company. With his partner John T. Lupton, Whitehead laid the groundwork for a national bottling system
Before Whitehead died in 1906, he gave generously to churches, orphanages, and human services organizations in Atlanta. His oldest son, Joseph B. Whitehead, Jr., established this foundation in his father’s name in 1937. Today, this funder supports early childhood education, K-12 education, children and youth, human services, and health.
Grants for K-12 Education and Youth Development
The Whitehead Foundation supports Atlanta’s young people through two separate focus areas.
- The bulk of grants support K-12 Education and academic enrichment. Funding mostly supports Atlanta Public Schools and prioritizes teacher quality and graduation rates.
- Education grant recipients include The Global Village Project, Raising Expectations, Teach for America Metro Atlanta, Georgia Family Connection Partnership, and Communities in Schools of Georgia.
- Children and Youth grantmaking can overlap with the foundation’s education funding, as well as its Human Services Youth development encompasses personal development, academic support, and recreation for Atlanta kids in need.
- Youth grantees include Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates, Voices for Georgia’s Children, Georgia Family Connection Partnership, Families First, and The Center for Children and Young Adults.
Grants for Early Childhood Education
Early Childhood Education support is largely funneled through Smart Start at the United Way of Greater Atlanta, and in 2022, the foundation partnered with the United Way a $4.5 million investment.
Grants for Community Development and Human Services
Human Services funding supports well-established local organizations that serve vulnerable populations, like the elderly and disabled and those experiencing housing instability. Grantees include Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency, Link Counseling Center, Goshen Valley Foundation, Atlanta Community Food Bank, First Step Staffing, and Mary Hall Freedom House.
Grants for Public Health and Access
The funder’s Health focus prioritizes access to healthcare for low-income populations in Metro Atlanta. Previous grantees include Good Samaritan Health Center, Visiting Nurse Health System, Saint Joseph’s Mercy Foundation, Auditory Verbal Center, and George West Mental Health Foundation.
Important Grant Details
According to the foundation’s recent financial reports, grant amounts typically range between $25,000 and $20 million. The foundation awards between $70-90 million annually across around 40 grants. The foundation reports over $1.8 billion in assets.
- This foundation supports the Metro Atlanta region, including the following Georgia counties: Butts, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding and Rockdale.
- Application deadlines are February 1 and August 15 each year, however, grant proposals are accepted on a rolling basis.
- Grant seekers can view a list of previous grantees on the funder’s website by year.
- Grantseekers should send an informal email to fdns@woodruff.org to determine eligibility.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
LINKS:
