The Community Foundation of West Georgia was formed in 2002 with a remarkable challenge from a local citizen to raise $4 million in order to receive a gift of $3 million. The challenge was met within a short 6-month period of time. The Community Foundation of West Georgia partners with local nonprofit organizations, individuals, and companies, to increase opportunities to serve those in need, to beautify, and to enhance the quality of life for the people of Carroll, Haralson, and Heard Counties. The entire community benefits from the Foundation as it increases the total pool of philanthropic resources available for charitable activity in the West Georgia region. The Foundation strengthens the self-sufficiency of the nonprofit sector and serves as a resource and a catalyst for charitable activities and organizations.
Today, the Foundation has total assets of $97 million, including $24 million in donor funds. During the first 17 years, $58 million in grants has been made from the Foundation’s 162 donor-advised and designated funds. Since the first grants were issued from the Community Impact Fund in 2004, a total of $4.5 million has been distributed to local organizations, including the Innovations Grants introduced in 2018. This program is designed to inspire and support problem solving in the community. The selected grantees receive funds, renewable up to three years, to implement their project ideas, creating models of innovation for the entire community.
