Athens Area Community Foundation

08/27/2026

Join us for a practical day designed to help nonprofit leaders move from chaos to clarity with stronger systems, better project management, and greater accountability.

The day includes two sessions:
Session 1: People and Processes with Jason Vonk

Session 2: Project Management and Accountability with a panel of nonprofit peers sharing practical insights and lessons learned.

You’ll leave with ideas and tools you can put into practice right away to help your organization run more effectively—and build systems that are built to last.

Ready to strengthen your nonprofit? Sign up today and join us September 18!
https://athensareacf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/event?event_date_id=5752

08/26/2026

Board leadership is not a light task. It is an act of service.

At the Athens Area Community Foundation, we are fortunate to have an incredible Board of Directors who choose to serve and lend their leadership in meaningful and uniquely personal ways.

At our August Board meeting, we celebrated one of those special moments as Dr. Myron Downs passed the gavel to our new Board Chair, Amy BeMent.

And, in true "Dr. D" fashion, the passing of the gavel was uniquely his. ❤️ The moment was personal, authentic, full of humor, and a wonderful reminder that being a good community leader means bringing yourself to the work.

Thank you, Dr. Downs, for two years of dedicated leadership as Chair and for the many ways you continue to serve.

Amy, thank YOU for saying YES to leading our Board into this next chapter. We are so honored to have your leadership.

2026–2028, let’s go!

08/21/2026

What a great night of connection, community, and purpose! 💙

Last Friday night, Resilient Northeast Georgia had the opportunity to join the annual Teen Rock the Block Back-to-School Event at the Jackson County Agricultural Facility, hosted by Jackson County Family Connection.

The event brought together students from 6th grade through high school and connected them with valuable resources, support, and opportunities to help them start the school year strong. We were grateful to be invited to share information about Resilient Northeast Georgia and connect with students, families, and community partners throughout the evening.

Events like this remind us of the power of community, connection, and supportive relationships in building resilience. We’re so thankful to everyone who made this evening possible and to all of the partners working together to help our young people thrive. 💙

08/18/2026

What would be possible if your organization had additional resources to strengthen resilience, expand trauma-informed practices, or better support children and families?

The Trauma-Informed Communities Grant was created to help turn those possibilities into action! Applications close TOMORROW August 19.

Submit your application today!
https://resilientnortheastgeorgia.org/toolkit-trauma-and-resilience/

08/08/2026

Looking for ways to strengthen your trauma-informed practices?

Our Trauma & Resilience Toolkit includes resources to help organizations:
• Learn about ACEs
• Build resilience
• Implement trauma-informed approaches
• Support children and families more effectively

Whether you're applying for funding or simply looking to grow your impact, the toolkit is a great place to start.

Explore the Toolkit!
https://resilientnortheastgeorgia.org/toolkit-trauma-and-resilience/

08/05/2026

Did you know many donor-advised fund holders are among a nonprofit's most engaged supporters? Discover three ways to strengthen those relationships in our latest blog.

Even in tough economic times, charitable giving is growing – Americans contributed an estimated $617 billion to nonprofits in 2025 alone. And along with that generosity, donor-advised funds have grown and become a popular way to organize philanthropy for individuals, families, and businesses. Thes...

08/01/2026

Trauma doesn’t always look like what you’d expect…
It can show up as exhaustion, perfectionism, avoiding certain people or places, or even difficulty trusting others.

Becoming trauma-aware is the first step toward being trauma-informed. When we recognize the signs, we create space for healing.

The Trauma-Informed Communities Grant exists to support and strengthen that work.
Applications remain open through August 19.

Apply Today!
https://resilientnortheastgeorgia.org/toolkit-trauma-and-resilience/

07/31/2026

TO DO: Support the people supporting our communities. ✔️

This past week, our President | CEO, Sarah McKinney, spent time on the campus of the Jackson County School System Empower College & Career Academy for a meeting of the Jackson County School System Foundation Board.

On the agenda? Teacher grants! 🍎

Sarah joined fellow Board members in reviewing opportunities to put resources directly into the hands of educators with great ideas for their students and classrooms.

At the Athens Area Community Foundation, we LOVE supporting other foundations. Why? Because strong foundations build strong communities.

Whether focused on education, healthcare, a specific organization, or an entire community, foundations help turn generosity into opportunity. We learn from one another, share ideas, strengthen practices, and ultimately help more resources reach the people and places we all care about.

And sometimes, the best way to strengthen philanthropy is simply to show up for one another.

That’s a TO DO worth checking off. ✔️

07/31/2026

Halfway through the year and feeling grateful. Every gift, every partnership, and every act of kindness helps strengthen our community. Thank you for being part of the mission. 💙

07/30/2026

We honor the life of Michael Mann, beloved husband of our dear coworker and friend, Stephanie Mann.

Michael lived a life marked by deep faith, unwavering love for his family, and a servant's heart. His legacy is reflected not only in the words of his obituary, but in the countless lives he touched through his kindness, leadership, and steadfast commitment to serving others.

We invite our community to take a few moments to read Michael's story and celebrate a life so beautifully lived.

We are truly grateful for the many (many) ways our community has come alongside their family. Thank you.

View Michael Coley Mann's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.