Athens Area Community Foundation Inc
Athens Area Community Foundation is a public grantmaking foundation and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2008 as an affiliate fund of the North Georgia Community Foundation, becoming a separate community foundation in 2009. Headquartered in Athens, Georgia, the foundation works to help donors leave permanent legacies, foster strategic philanthropy, and shape effective responses to community needs through collaboration.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$28.3M
+34.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.9M
+95.6% YoY
Grant Count
72
-32.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$83K
+190.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: "We grow giving by inspiring generous communities and creating lasting impact."
The foundation's core approach is captured in their tagline: LEADPARTNERGUIDE. They focus on:
- Building community through long-term giving
- Connecting donors with philanthropic opportunities
- Supporting education, human services, and philanthropy/grantmaking initiatives
- Providing nonprofit training and capacity building
- Facilitating community disaster relief
- Recognizing nonprofit excellence through their Nonprofit of the Year Award
Grantmaking
The foundation manages and disburses funds to charitable organizations in Athens and surrounding areas. Recent grant activity includes:
Grant Range
** $5,100–$2,355,000
Ready to take the next step with Athens Area Community Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation serves six Georgia counties:
- Barrow
- Clarke
- Jackson
- Madison
- Oconee
- Oglethorpe
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue:
- Total assets (2024): $28,313,231
- Total assets (2023): $21.1M
- Total revenues (2024): $10,859,005
- Total revenues (2023): $4.25M
- Total expenses (2024): $7,030,415
- Total expenses (2023): $3.8M
- Total liabilities (2023): $7.79M
Staffing: 5 employees (as of 2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $28,313,231 | $21,056,504 | $18,781,232 |
| Revenue | $10,859,005 | $4,249,622 | $5,823,024 |
| Expenses | $7,030,415 | $3,799,649 | $4,015,531 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $324,624 | $334,198 | $269,201 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Extra Special People ($2,355,000), Apparo Academy ($400,000), Boys & Girls Clubs of Athens ($300,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACCEPTANCE RECOVERY CENTER INC INDIANAPOLIS, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $7,500 |
| APPARO ACADEMY AUGUSTA, GA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $400,000 |
| ASHFORD MEMORIAL METHODIST CHURCH MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| ATHENS ACADEMY INC ROCKVILLE, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| ATHENS AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INC FLOWERY BRANCH, GA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $16,376 |
| ATHENS AREA HOMELESS SHELTER ATHENS, GA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $65,000 |
| ATHENS AREA HUMANE SOCIETY WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ATHENS CHURCH ATHENS, GA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| ATHENS COMMUNITY COUNCIL ON AGING INC ATHENS, GA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $136,786 |
| ATHENS FILM ARTS INSTITUTE INC ATHENS, GA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,135 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Sarah H. McKinney – President & CEO
- Email: smckinney@athensareacf.org
- Office: 706-357-7129
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARA SCHRAMM | CHAIR | 2 | — |
| MYRON DOWN | VICE-CHAIR | 2 | — |
| ALICIA BATTLE | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| CLARK BROWN | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| RHODES MCLANAHAN | IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR | 2 | — |
| AMY BEMENT | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DAVID BRADLEY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KEVIN CLARK | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| SALLY COENEN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JENNIFER FRUM | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| PATRICK GARRARD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KELLY GIRTZ | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| HEIDI HENSLEY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| BAVAN HOPPER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| TIM JOHNSON | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JODY PATTON | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KIRK SMITH | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ROY STOWE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| SARAH MCKINNEY | CEO/PRESIDENT | 40 | $111,806 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced recent grant cycles and initiatives:
**2025 Resilient Northeast Georgia Grant Recipients:** The foundation announced recipients for its Resilient Northeast Georgia 2025 grant program
Athens Area Community Foundation announces Resilient Northeast Georgia 2025**Community Disaster Relief Fund:** In partnership with United Way, the foundation created a fund for community disaster relief
Athens Area Community Foundation announces Resilient Northeast Georgia 2025**Fall 2024 Grant Cycle:** The foundation awarded over $230,000 in grants during the fall 2024 cycle
ACF Awards Over $230k in Fall 2024 Grant Cycle**Ongoing Grant Applications:** The foundation regularly accepts grant applications from local nonprofits
AACF accepting grant applications for local nonprofitsContact Information
Mailing Address: PO Box 1543 Athens, Georgia 30603-1543
Office Location: 150 West Hancock Avenue Athens, GA 30601-2726 (Located inside the downtown Athens branch of Synovus Bank, 2nd floor)
Phone: 706-357-7148
Website: www.athensareacf.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Athens Area Community Foundation Inc fund?
**Mission:** "We grow giving by inspiring generous communities and creating lasting impact." The foundation's core approach is captured in their tagline: LEAD*PARTNER*GUIDE. They focus on: • Building community through long-term giving • Connecting donors with philanthropic opportunities • Supporting education, human services, and philanthropy/grantmaking initiatives • Providing nonprofit training and capacity building • Facilitating community disaster relief • Recognizing nonprofit excellence t…
How do I apply for a grant from Athens Area Community Foundation Inc?
The foundation manages and disburses funds to charitable organizations in Athens and surrounding areas. Recent grant activity includes: • **Total giving (2024):** $6,056,358 • **Typical grant range:** $5,100–$2,355,000 • **Recent major grants (2024):** Extra Special People ($2,355,000), Apparo Academy ($400,000), Boys and Girls Club of Athens ($300,000) • **Total grants made (2024):** 59 grants totaling $5,742,379 The foundation operates several specialized funds: • **Community Disaster Relief …
Where does Athens Area Community Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation serves six Georgia counties: • Barrow • Clarke • Jackson • Madison • Oconee • Oglethorpe
What size grants does Athens Area Community Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Athens Area Community Foundation Inc awarded 72 grants totaling $5.9M — an average of about $83K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Athens Area Community Foundation Inc's EIN?
Athens Area Community Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1838979. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Athens Area Community Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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