Inside United Way of Greater Atlanta’s Grant Strategy

For over a century, United Way of Greater Atlanta has been a foundation in making communities in greater Atlanta resilient. From emergency response to longer-term equity initiatives, United Way investments touch virtually every sphere of public life: education, health, housing, financial stability, youth development, and racial equity.

But what does this high-impact giving actually entail? And what are some available avenues for nonprofits looking to make a difference in their own backyard?

A Mission Based on Equity and Community Potential

United Way's strategy is founded upon a simple but powerful assumption: where a person ends up growing up should not determine where in life he or she ends up. Everything their programs are based upon is a Child Well-Being Index, an information-based framework which maps neighborhoods in the area by health and resilience.

Their mission is clear and traceable: improve kids' wellness by investing in families and in support for families.

Grants are awarded to agencies which can demonstrate a strong connection with such objectives, in particular those which are active with residents in low child well-being communities.

Their Focus Areas

United Way of Greater Atlanta invests in programs in the following strategic focus areas:

• Education and Youth Empowerment
• Health Access and Outcomes
• Housing and Homelessness Prevention
• Economic Stability and Workforce Development
• Childcare and Early Learning
• Justice and Equity Initiatives
• LGBTQ+ Support and Organizations Led by Youth

From advocating for a grassroots organization working with first-generation college students to a local collaborative tackling health disparities in motherhood, United Way grantmaking is critically place-, equity-, and results-oriented.

Featured Grant Opportunities - Second Look

1. Place-Based Grants

These are invested in line with United Way’s Child Well-Being Mission Fund, and they focus on neighborhoods where kids experience systematic obstacles for success.

Organizations looking for place-based grants must demonstrate:

• A physical presence or significant programming within the target community
• Community trust and participation
• Measurable outcomes involving child, youth, or family well-being

2. Youth Grantmaking: The P2P Fund

The Potential to Power (P2P) Youth Grant Fund is a gem within United Way’s portfolio. By youth, for youth, the P2P Fund invests in community organizations and programs which elevate youth voices, leadership, and power.

Main points:

• Prioritize Black youth, youth of color, LGBTQ+ youth, and youth living in low-resourced communities
• Grants finance organizing, healing, capacity building, and policy advocacy
• Grants are made by a youth-led review committee that is trained in grantmaking by a leadership training program

That is a different type of philanthropy and model which is reframing young people's engagement in civic life.

3. OUT Georgia Impact Fund

Alongside OUT Georgia Business Alliance, United Way invests in LGBTQ+-led nonprofits and programs with the OUT Georgia Impact Fund.

These are grants about:

• Equity-oriented service delivery for LGBTQ+ populations
• Physical health, living circumstances, safety, and economic security for LGBTQ+ people
• Supporting BIPOC-led and trans-led groups

Grants vary in amount depending on scope of work and often involve capacity-building support.

Why is United Way’s Grantmaking Process Special?

Community-Driven

United Ways are not top-down funders. Programs are guided by needs assessments in their communities, and their grants are often developed with input from residents and partner listening forums.

Equity-First Strategy

From youth-led efforts to dedicated support for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ leaders, equity is a component in every grant making process.

Data-Driven Investment

The Child Well-Being Index is more than a measurement, it’s the guide for allocating resources where needs are highest. This model for accountability ensures grants fund real need rather than perceived risk.

Systems Change Orientation

As an alternative to short-term Band-Aid solutions, United Way invests in policy shifts, system alignment, and community infrastructure over time−frequently collaborating across sectors.

Investing in What’s Possible

United Way of Greater Atlanta is more than a grantmaker, it's a community-change partner. With decades-long presence in the region and a forward-thinking vision grounded in equity, United Way channels resources into the hands of those closest to problems and solutions.

From young people making grant decisions through the P2P Fund, to trans-led groups protecting LGBTQ+ life, to local coalitions building cradle-to-career pipelines, each grant is an investment in a region where every child, every family, and every community can thrive.

Find our available funding opportunities now or register on United Way Of Greater Atlanta’s website.