Today the Episcopal Community Foundation for Middle and North Georgia (ECF) announces it will grant $81,135 to seven organizations that are lifting people from poverty and oppression in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. The grants – which go into effect this month – will be made to St. Bede’s Episcopal Church, DEO Clinic, Commission on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking for the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, The Drake House, Norcross Cooperative Ministry, Path To Shine, and Rainbow Village.

“In 2017, we restructured our grantmaking priorities to focus on efforts that make significant impact and contribute to long-term sustainability for our grantees,” said Lindsey E. Hardegree, Executive Director for the Episcopal Community Foundation for Middle and North Georgia. “With this most recent round of grant applications, we’ve really seen our community embrace that mindset. All of our fall general grants are focused on capacity building efforts, which increase sustainability for smarter operations and more impactful fundraising, or capital projects, which will be utilized for years to come.”

ECF’s fall 2018 general grant recipients:

• St. Bede’s Episcopal Church has received a capital grant of $19,000 to help renovate and furnish their former preschool building for use with their expanding English as a Second Language (ESL) program. The parish’s ESL program has been a significant catalyst at the parish for growth of the local Hispanic congregation, and integration of these efforts provides spiritual growth for the entire St. Bede’s community.

• The DEO Clinic, in partnership with St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, has received a capital grant of $6,262 to equip a new examination room at their new clinic space. They have recently formed a new partnership with the City of Dalton which has allowed them to relocate to a much larger clinic space in the Mack Gaston Community Center. This will enable them to respond to the tremendous growth in demand for clinic services that they have experienced over the past year, and will bring them closer to those who need their services the most.

• The Drake House, in partnership with St. David’s Episcopal Church, has received a capital grant of $19,000 to help renovate an adjacent apartment building which will provide affordable housing opportunities for their recent program graduates. By providing this further assistance step for these women and families recovering from homelessness, The Drake House is ensuring that their clients are able stay on a path that will lead them to housing sustainability in the future.

• Path to Shine has received a capacity building grant of $10,306 to provide part-time administrative support and executive fundraising training. These combined efforts will allow their executive director to step away from administrative duties and create a sustainable fundraising strategy for the organization. With demonstrated success, this grant will continue in 2019.

• Rainbow Village, in partnership with Christ Episcopal Church (Norcross), has received a capacity building grant of $17,819 to implement Salesforce to track date for their clients and alumni. By utilizing true program data and metrics, Rainbow Village will be able to manage their programs more efficiently and effectively, to the benefit of their clients, and will also have real data to make a stronger case for support with unlimited funders in the future.

ECF’s Q4 2018 Small Acts of Charity recipient:

• The Commission on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking for the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta has received a project grant of $5,000 towards the purchase of 20,000 bars of motel soap and volunteer-training as a part of the one-time S.O.A.P. project around Super Bowl LIII. This project aims to increase awareness of human trafficking at high-demand trafficking events in order to restore trafficked survivors and prevent future trafficking.

• Norcross Cooperative Ministry, in partnership with Christ Episcopal Church (Norcross), has received an operating grant of $3,748 to provide prescription drug assistance for their clients at their health clinic. 

About ECF’s Grant Programs
ECF awards General Grants twice a year and Small Acts of Charity (capped at $5,000) quarterly. Applications for the Q1 Small Acts of Charity are due December 15, 2018, and LOIs for Fall 2019 General Grants are due March 31, 2019. Those interested in applying for funding should visit ECFimpact.org/grants for information regarding both funding opportunities as well as links to the applications. Applicants are highly encouraged to contact Lindsey Hardegree with any questions they may have regarding eligibility or their applications.

About Episcopal Community Foundation for Middle and North Georgia 
Founded in 1982 as the Episcopal Charities Foundation, the Episcopal Community Foundation for Middle and North Georgia (ECF) provides funding, leadership, and resources to enable Episcopal parishes and nonprofit partners to lift up people facing poverty and oppression and to achieve significant, long-lasting impact in the Diocese of Atlanta. Since its inception, ECF has donated more than $4.4 million to promote thriving and spiritually strong individuals, families, and communities locally. Learn more at ECFimpact.org.

About The Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
The Diocese of Atlanta was created in 1907 and serves the cities, towns, and communities in Middle and North Georgia. Led by the Right Rev. Robert C. Wright, it is comprised of 114 welcoming worship communities. Our purpose is to challenge ourselves and the world to love like Jesus as we worship joyfully, serve compassionately, and grow spiritually. Learn more at episcopalatlanta.org.