More than half of nonprofits serving women and girls in metro Atlanta are considered for grants by the Atlanta Women’s Foundation, but only select organizations receive invitations to apply.
To align with their strategic focus on mental health, education, and economic empowerment, you must demonstrate a clear plan backed by 501(c)(3) status and solid financials.
Programs that support folks with disabilities or provide essential dental services can also stand out if they show measurable impact on women’s health and long-term stability. Understanding their multi-step, selective process is key to positioning your program for funding between $20,000 and $50,000—and it’s not as straightforward as you might think.
Key Takeaways
- Only invited nonprofits serving women and girls in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties may apply.
- At least 75% of program clients must reside in the specified five-county area.
- Mission must align with AWF’s focus areas: mental health, education, life skills, and economic empowerment.
- Required documents include the All Girls Forward RFP, budget sheets, proof of 501(c)(3) status, and client residency data.
- Funding emphasizes strategic, measurable impact and compliance with AWF’s reporting and distribution schedule.
Eligibility Criteria for Atlanta Women’s Foundation Grants
If your nonprofit is aiming for an Atlanta Women’s Foundation (AWF) grant, you’ll need to guarantee your organization serves women and girls in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties, with at least 75% of your program clients residing in this five-county area.
Eligibility requirements include aligning your mission with AWF’s focus areas, such as mental health, education, life skills, and economic empowerment. Many local charities meeting these needs also integrate nutritional support and even short-term cash help to stabilize families and strengthen long-term outcomes—an approach that aligns well with AWF’s holistic vision.
AWF only invites selected nonprofits to apply, without accepting unsolicited proposals. Funding conditions specify grant amounts typically range from $20,000 to $50,000, with some grants exceeding six figures.
Meeting these criteria is essential to qualify for funding.
Grant Application Process and Steps
Once your nonprofit meets the eligibility criteria, the next step is steering through the Atlanta Women’s Foundation’s structured grant application process.
AWF doesn’t accept unsolicited applications; instead, it invites selected nonprofits to apply according to a set application timeline. You’ll download and complete forms like the All Girls Forward Request For Proposals and budget sheets.
Funding distribution ranges typically from $20,000 to $50,000, sometimes exceeding six figures. AWF guarantees consistent metrics using a collective impact model, emphasizing strategic, measurable use of funds.
- Submit only if at least 75% of your clients reside in the five-county service area
- Await AWF’s invitation before applying
- Prepare detailed budget and program impact documentation
- Comply with AWF’s funding distribution schedule and reporting requirements
Key Grant Initiatives and Focus Areas
You’ll focus on grant initiatives that tackle mental health, education, and life skills for economically vulnerable women and girls in key metro Atlanta counties.
Programs like All Girls Forward and Breaking Barriers, Building Women provide targeted support including wraparound services such as childcare, career coaching, and financial literacy to break the cycle of poverty. These efforts increasingly intersect with the needs of former service members and the availability of community-based scholarships, both of which can expand access to education, stability, and long-term opportunity for the families they support.
With over $32 million awarded since 1998 and about $1 million distributed annually, these grants strategically empower women and girls toward economic self-sufficiency and wellbeing.
Key Grant Initiatives
While Atlanta’s most pressing challenges for women and girls demand creative, targeted solutions, the Atlanta Women’s Foundation’s key grant initiatives channel resources where they’re needed most, delivering measurable impact across generations and life stages.
You’ll find their grant success rooted in community engagement and strategic funding. Their main initiatives include:
- All Girls Forward: Empowers girls via education, job skills, and health services for those at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines.
- Breaking Barriers, Building Women: Advances economic mobility with education, housing, job training, and financial empowerment, benefiting over 1,600 women.
- Two-Generation Initiative: Supports wraparound services addressing both parents’ and children’s needs in poverty.
- Women’s Pathway to Success: Provides workforce training, microenterprise aid, and childcare for women overcoming employment barriers.
Focus Areas and Impact
Because the Atlanta Women’s Foundation targets the root causes of poverty for women and girls, its grantmaking concentrates on mental health, education, and life skills to create sustainable empowerment in metro Atlanta. You’ll find their investments emphasize community partnerships and rigorous program evaluation to maximize impact. Initiatives like Breaking Barriers, Building Women have empowered 1,600+ women through education, job training, and financial literacy, while All Girls Forward supports girls living near poverty. Their grant awards range from $20,000 to $50,000, supporting nonprofits delivering essential wraparound services that holistically address poverty.
| Focus Areas | Impact Metrics | Program Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health & Wellbeing | $2.5M invested; 1,600+ women empowered | Breaking Barriers, Building Women |
| Education & Leadership | 8,000 individuals served | All Girls Forward |
| Life Skills & Financial Literacy | $1M awarded annually; grants $20K-$50K | Wraparound services & evaluation |
Required Documentation and Application Forms
The grant application process for the Atlanta Women’s Foundation requires submitting specific documentation that demonstrates your alignment with their mission and funding priorities.
Start by gathering a comprehensive documentation checklist, including your 501(c)(3) status proof, data confirming at least 75% of your clients live in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, or Gwinnett, and a narrative showing how your program supports mental health, education, or life skills for women and girls.
Download and complete the official application templates—Request For Proposals and Program Budget Form—from their website. These forms guarantee your financial planning is transparent and directly tied to measurable outcomes.
Organize all materials to clearly reflect your organization’s capacity, need, and impact.
- Documentation Checklist: Gather 501(c)(3) proof, client residency data, mission alignment narrative, and evidence of financial stability.
- Application Templates: Use the official Request For Proposals and Program Budget Form for consistency and completeness.
- Financial Transparency: Submit both a Program Budget Form and General Operating Budget Form to detail projected expenses and sustainability.
- Proof of Impact: Prepare to document how your program will measure success and demonstrate alignment with AWF’s strategic priorities.
Collective Impact Model and Grantmaking Approach
To maximize the impact of your grant funds, you should understand that the Atlanta Women’s Foundation (AWF) employs a collective impact model, positioning itself as the backbone organization that drives shared vision, strategy, and consistent measurement among nonprofit partners.
You’ll benefit from collaborative strategies and community engagement through annual convenings, peer sharing, and technical support.
AWF guides project outcomes, guarantees aligned data collection, and fosters partnerships that amplify your organization’s reach.
This approach strengthens your program’s effectiveness, addresses systemic barriers, and creates lasting change for women and girls in metro Atlanta.
Funding Priorities and Community Impact
When you apply for funding through the Atlanta Women’s Foundation, you’ll find that priority goes to programs addressing mental health, education, and life skills, especially those offering wraparound services like childcare and career coaching that directly combat poverty’s effects.
Their funding strategies emphasize community engagement and impactful grantmaking to create long-term change.
- Grants range mostly $20,000 to $50,000, with some exceeding six figures for transformative projects
- More than $32 million invested across five counties since 1998
- Programs like Breaking Barriers, Building Women help women secure full-time jobs above 250% poverty level
- Collective impact model guarantees efficient fund use and amplifies community equity and opportunity
Contact Information and Support Resources
Although you might expect direct grant submissions, the Atlanta Women’s Foundation only invites selected nonprofit organizations to apply, so unsolicited proposals aren’t accepted. For questions about grant initiatives, contact the foundation at (404) 577-5000 or [email protected]—these direct contact methods are your gateway to clarity and community engagement. Visit their office at 3715 Northside Parkway, Building 400, Suite 725, Atlanta, GA 30327 to connect in person. Essential documents, like the All Girls Forward Request For Proposals, are available online for invited applicants. Stay informed by subscribing to their newsletter for updates on programs, funding, and events that strengthen Atlanta’s women and girls.
| Resource | How to Access | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Phone & Email | (404) 577-5000 / [email protected] | Grant inquiries, general support |
| Office Address | 3715 Northside Parkway, Suite 725 | In-person community engagement |
| Website Documents | atlantawomen.org | Download RFP, budget forms, updates |
| Newsletter | Website sign-up | Program news, event invites, opportunities |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Eligible for Women’s Government Grants?
You’re eligible for women’s government grants if your women’s organizations meet strict grant qualifications, serve economically vulnerable women and girls, and align with strategic priorities like education, healthcare, and workforce readiness.
Can I Get Free Grant Money?
You can get free grant money by targeting the right funding sources and using strategic grant application tips like aligning your mission with funders’ priorities and demonstrating measurable impact. Remember, over $32 million has been invested to empower women since 1998.
How Much Grant Money Can I Get for a Nonprofit?
You can receive grant funding from $20,000 up to $50,000, with some grants exceeding six figures, depending on your nonprofit’s alignment with key issue areas and impact in the Atlanta five-county service area. Strategically utilize these nonprofit resources to maximize your funding potential.
What Is the Women’s Empowerment Small Grant Program?
Through empowerment initiatives, funding opportunities, and targeted support, the Women’s Empowerment Small Grant Program equips Atlanta nonprofits with $20,000–$50,000 to uplift economically vulnerable women and girls via education, health, life skills, childcare, career coaching, and mental health services.
Conclusion
If you’re a nonprofit serving women and girls in metro Atlanta, consider the significant influence you can have: the Atlanta Women’s Foundation has already invested over $30 million in this vibrant community. Their grant process is competitive, rewarding organizations that align with their focus, but if you demonstrate commitment and readiness, you could join a powerful network. Apply with strong documentation and a clear vision—this is your chance to contribute directly to lasting, measurable change for thousands in the region.