Empty Stocking Fund Information
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Community. Conversation. Philanthropy

Anchoring charitable giving through a fund at the Athens Area Community Foundation has many benefits. Fundholders have opportunities to learn, volunteer, and engage with causes and organizations they are passionate about. Our Community. Conversation. Philanthropy events are curated series of experiences and events designed to bring fundholders together and dig deep into the impact of your philanthropy.

Benefits to Donors

Resilient Northeast Georgia Fund

Resilient Northeast Georgia is a special project fund that supports a regional collaborative of community stakeholders and local leaders working together to build a more trauma-informed northeastern Georgia.

Building an Informed Community

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The Athens Wellbeing Project

In an unprecedented collaboration, AACF is partnering with the Athens-Clarke government, school board, nonprofits, and the University of Georgia to administer a community-wide assessment—the Athens Wellbeing Project.

Strategic Philanthropy and the Athens Wellbeing Project

AACF provides technical assistance in the form of convening, strategic planning, and leadership development to nonprofits and community groups as they strive for increased effectiveness. AACF advances strategic philanthropy by using data to monitor community needs, target resources, and track progress. In an unprecedented collaboration AACF is partnering with the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government, Clarke County School District, Family Connection-Communities in Schools, United Way of Northeast Georgia, and the University of Georgia to administer a community-wide assessment- the Athens Wellbeing Project.

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The mission of the Athens Wellbeing Project (AWP) is to integrate planning efforts and improve outcomes achieved by local institutions, organizations, and community stakeholders through the collection and sharing of an open-access, neighborhood-level, longitudinal data set that is representative of our county’s population. This process will help us benchmark the “health” of our community and measure how much the community’s interventions are moving the needle on issues related to education, civic engagement, and economic development in the coming years. AACF is currently supporting data collection through out Athens-Clarke County.

AACF is more than an investment vehicle. It is a hub that connects donors, nonprofits, and community leaders to address needs and create opportunities. We work with agencies across the community to identify what’s working well, what’s duplicative, and what is missing.

Shaping effective responses to community needs through collaboration, AACF promotes collaboration among nonprofits and community leaders to create sustainable results. We provide technical assistance in the form of convening, strategic planning, and leadership development to nonprofits and community groups as they strive for increased effectiveness. AACF engages stakeholders in a broad spectrum of interventions to address community needs.

Learn More About The Athens Wellbeing Project


Steve Jones & Lillian Kincey Community Impact Fund

A gift to this fund gives back to the community at large rather than to a particular organization or cause by allowing AACF to identify opportunities and target dollars where they will be most effective.

Nonprofits apply for grants through a competitive process, and AACF’s Board, with the assistance of knowledgeable staff, makes the final decisions on which nonprofits receive funds based on current critical issues.

  • A gift to this fund gives back to the community at large rather than to a particular organization or cause by allowing AACF to identify opportunities and target dollars where they will be most effective.
  • Nonprofits apply for grants through a competitive process, and AACF’s Board, with the assistance of knowledgeable staff, makes the final decisions on which nonprofits receive funds based on current critical issues.

Applications are not being accepted at this time as AACF builds an endowment to ensure sustainable funding. Contact us to learn more about the Steve Jones & Lillian Kincey Community Impact Fund.

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Emergency Response

Philanthropy always plays a critical role in our community. Especially during times of public emergency, private philanthropic support can tremendously help local organizations.

See the Impact

Empty Stocking Fund

The Athens-Banner Herald Empty Stocking Fund has been a source for local agencies to assist those in needs in the Athens area for many years. Since 2018, our Foundation has administered this fund to help families at risk of eviction pay rent and take care of other necessary expenses.

Be a part of this Fund

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Become a Donor

The Athens Area Community Foundation is a public grantmaking foundation that builds community by encouraging long term giving through funds created by caring donors.

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