Sartain Lanier Family Foundation Grants

The Sartain Lanier Family Foundation Grants focus on enhancing opportunities for K-12 students in Atlanta, emphasizing literacy instruction, afterschool, and summer programs. The foundation prioritizes collaborative, evidence-informed initiatives that build meaningful relationships and foster personal growth for youth. By supporting programs that improve educational outcomes and provide career readiness, the foundation aims to empower students to achieve their goals and positively impact their communities.

NOTE: The Sartain Lanier Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. ALL organizations wishing to apply for a grant must first submit a LOI to the Foundation. The LOI is required even if your organization has received funding from us in the past.
Opportunity
Expanding access to foundational reading skills and enriching education.
Humility
Listening and learning from those on the frontlines of service delivery.
Impact
Strengthening partnerships that lead to meaningful long-term outcomes.
Funding Priorities
We generally award funding in three categories: literacy instruction, afterschool and summer programs, and college and career readiness. We prioritize initiatives that are highly collaborative and grounded in evidence-informed solutions.
Why It Matters
Reading must be explicitly taught if children are to become deep readers (Cox Campus). Students who do not read at grade level by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school than proficient readers (AECF).
High-quality literacy programs improve learning outcomes and transform the trajectory of students’ lives.
The Foundation prioritizes funding for programs and organizations that:

• Utilize evidence and scientific methodologies proven to improve student literacy masteryInclude rigorous evaluation to support continuous growth
• Represent collaboration among partners, service providers and families
• Afterschool & Summer Programs
• Why It Matters

Students who participate in afterschool and summer learning programs have fewer absences from school and achieve higher scores in core subjects. Summer programs help students retain skills and routines—a critical function given that research shows most students lose two months of math skills and low-income students lose an additional 2-3 months of reading skills over the summer. (Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network)
Well-designed and well-implemented out of school time programs equip students with the foundational skills they need for success in school and life.
The Foundation prioritizes funding for programs and organizations that:

• Provide young people with meaningful connections with trained and caring adults
• Emphasize opportunities for learning and development to cultivate new interests

Deliver enriching and engaging experiences that support social, emotional and academic development, especially in the areas of arts, nature, reading and writing, entrepreneurship and career exploration
Why It Matters
By the year 2025, more than 60 percent of jobs will require some form of post-secondary education. It is critical to ensure students have access to post-secondary program options and financial aid information. (Learn4Life)
Programs and organizations that help students discover and access different paths to a future of prosperity and fulfillment enable them to live the choice-filled lives they deserve.
The Foundation prioritizes funding for programs that:

• Inspire students to explore diverse careers and the chance to discover options that match their interests, talents and abilities

Offer support for navigating the financial aid and postsecondary enrollment processPrepare and equip students in advance to overcome obstacles that prevent postsecondary persistence and completion
Provide exposure and access for middle and high school students to work-based pathways and career and technical education

Eligibility

The Sartain Lanier Family Foundation primarily supports organizations that expand and enhance opportunities for K-12 students in metro Atlanta’s five core counties: Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett. We are especially interested in funding organizations focused on literacy instruction, afterschool and summer programs, and college and career readiness for K-12 students in metro Atlanta public schools and will prioritize meeting with those organizations.

Ineligibility

The Foundation does not consider funding for special events, performances or dinners (sponsorships, tickets or tables), nor does it support booster organizations, churches or religious entities. The Foundation is not establishing new relationships with independent schools. The Foundation does not make grants or loans to individuals.