Community Resources
Starting a Nonprofit
Charitable Organization and Paid Solicitor Forms | Georgia Secretary of State
Provides information on required registration for organizations and individuals that solicit charitable contributions from the public in Georgia.
Georgia Lawyers for the Arts (GLA) is a nonprofit organization that provides legal assistance and educational programming to artists and arts organizations. GLA also holds monthly public seminars on "How to Start a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization".
Starting a Nonprofit | Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta
Includes links to helpful resources, including a video recording of the organization's Myths and Realities of Starting a Nonprofit presentation.
The complete text of the Georgia Code is provided online through LexisNexis. Title 14, Chapter 3 of the code contains regulations pertaining to nonprofit corporations.
Forming a Nonprofit Corporation in Georgia | Citizen Media Law Project
Provides a step-by-step outline of the major steps in forming a nonprofit corporation in Georgia, accompanied by links to additional sources and to relevant forms and government agencies.
Starting a Nonprofit Organization in Georgia | Georgia Center for Nonprofits [PDF]
A publication of the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, this downloadable packet outlines the specific steps for starting a nonprofit in Georgia.
Corporations Division | Georgia Secretary of State
The Corporations Division provides forms and resources for individuals interested in forming a nonprofit corporation or limited-liability company (LLC).
Nonprofit Associations and Service Organizations
Social Enterprise Alliance (SEA) of Greater Atlanta Chapter
The Social Enterprise Alliance (SEA) of Greater Atlanta Chapter aims to increase awareness, collaboration, and education about social enterprise for members and the local community.
Georgia Grant Professionals Association
A chapter of the national Grant Professionals Association, GGPA is a membership organization serving the needs of grant professionals in the greater Atlanta area.
Arkansas Coalition for Excellence
Arkansas Coalition for Excellence (ACE) is the Arkansas state association of nonprofit organizations. ACE works with nonprofits of every size and function to maximize effectiveness so that every donated dollar results in greater impact.
The Georgia Center for Nonprofits is Georgia's association for nonprofit, charitable organizations. GCN provides information, training, consulting and career resources for nonprofits in the state.
Georgia Planned Giving Council
The Georgia Planned Giving Council (GPGC) works to facilitate, coordinate and encourage the education and training of the planned giving community in the state.
Florida Association of Nonprofit Organizations
The Florida Association of Nonprofit Organizations was established to build the capacity of the nonprofit sector in Florida. FANO works with nonprofits to strengthen their leadership, management, financial and public policy capacity.
Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations
The Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations works to provide services to help strengthen the nonprofit sector in Louisiana. LANO provides training and services at centers located throughout the state.
Mississippi Center for Nonprofits
The Mississippi Center for Nonprofits provides direct training and assistance to nonprofit organizations in Mississippi. They also serve as a link between the nonprofit sector and other sectors and as a link to national and regional nonprofit resources.
Southeastern Council of Foundations
The Southeastern Council of Foundations is a membership association of grantmaking foundations dedicated to strengthening, promoting and increasing philanthropy in the Southeast.
South Carolina Association of NonProfit Organizations
The South Carolina Association of Nonprofit Organizations works to provide services and public policy advocacy that support and strengthen nonprofits in South Carolina.
Center for Nonprofit Management
Created in 1986 by the Frist Foundation and the United Way of Metropolitan Nashville to improve the skills of nonprofit executives in the region, the Center now offers a full set of training, consulting and evaluation programs to meet the educational and
Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence
Serving West Tennessee, East Arkansas, and North Mississippi, the Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence is a membership organization of more than 200 nonprofit agencies from various fields ranging from human services to education to health care, arts and econ
Alabama Association of Nonprofits
The Alabama Association of Nonprofits (formerly the Nonprofit Resource Center of Alabama) is an association of nonprofit champions and of nonprofit members and is open to any nonprofit, primarily 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations, in Alabama.
Founded in 2002, the Kentucky Nonprofit Network is an association of nonprofits serving 501( c )(3) organizations of all types and sizes in all 120 Kentucky counties.
Association of Fundraising Professionals - Greater Atlanta Chapter
The AFP Greater Atlanta Chapter promotes professional development, networking and volunteer opportunities for area nonprofit professionals working in fundraising or development positions.
Atlanta Nonprofit Professionals
A service of the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, Atlanta Nonprofit Professionals (ANP) offers opportunities each month for both nonprofit professionals and those planning to enter the nonprofit sector to connect and enhance their skills.
YNPN Atlanta | Young Nonprofit Professionals Network
The Atlanta chapter of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network provides networking and professional development opportunities for individuals starting their career in nonprofits and for those who are new to the sector.
Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership Center | Rollins College
The Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership Center at Rollins College works to increase the social impact and effectiveness of philanthropy in the state of Florida through education, research and public communications.
Consulting, Legal and Other Technical Assistance
Social Enterprise Alliance (SEA) of Greater Atlanta Chapter
The Social Enterprise Alliance (SEA) of Greater Atlanta Chapter aims to increase awareness, collaboration, and education about social enterprise for members and the local community.
Student-led Initiatives | Emory University Goizueta Business School
Goizueta Nonprofit Consultants (GNC) is a graduate student led initiative that matches MBA students with Atlanta area nonprofit organizations. GNC provides students with an opportunity to apply their business skills in a nonprofit setting, while encouraging a commitment to community engagement.
Public Relations Society of America - Georgia Chapter
PRSA|GA's Quality Time with PR Minds is a free counseling event that matches PR professionals with nonprofits that might not otherwise have the resources to retain professional public relations counsel. Nonprofits team with professionals in brainstorm sessions focused on the organization's key communications and marketing issues.
The Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB) currently distributes nearly two million pounds of food and other donated grocery items each month to more than 700 nonprofit partner agencies in 38 counties in Metro Atlanta and North Georgia. The Food Bank also assists partner agencies in community building, technical assistance and advocacy efforts.
The Fund for Southern Communities is a public foundation that supports and unites organizations working to create just and sustainable communities that are free of oppression and that embrace and celebrate all people through programs, grant-making, and fiscal sponsorship.
People TV, Inc. is a nonprofit community television center driven by its mission to provide the Atlanta community a voice through public access to media. People TV's Office of Community Development offers free production services for other nonprofits in the Atlanta metro area. People TV also provides fiscal sponsorship to producers.
Georgia Lawyers for the Arts (GLA) is a nonprofit organization that provides legal assistance and educational programming to artists and arts organizations. GLA also holds monthly public seminars on "How to Start a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization".
Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta
Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta provides resources, training, and pro bono legal assistance to area nonprofits in need of legal services.
TechBridge is an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping nonprofits achieve their mission through the strategic use of technology. TechBridge offers IT consulting, hosting and outsourcing services to area nonprofits.
The Atlanta Community ToolBank is a vast 'tool library' that lends tools and equipment to community-based organizations for use in mission-advancing service projects.
United Way Gifts in Kind Atlanta
United Way Gifts In Kind Atlanta, an affiliate of Gifts In Kind International, is the pipeline for donations to flow from contributors to member agencies that use the donations to create long-term positive impact on our community.
Atlanta Area Evaluation Association
The Atlanta-area Evaluation Association (AaEA) seeks to promote the science and practice of program evaluation in public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
For more information on finding consultants, please see our Knowledge Base article,Where can I find technical assistance or a consultant for my nonprofit?
Office and Meeting Space for Nonprofits
Druid Hills Presbyterian Church
Druid Hills Presbyterian Church offers several offices and rooms that are available for rent to small or startup nonprofit organizations to use as office space or to hold meetings, conferences, and seminars. Contact the church office for more information at 404-875-7591.
The Mansour Center in Marietta, owned and operated by The Center for Family Resources (CFR), provides office space for area nonprofits, along with a variety of meeting and event spaces.
Lists coworking sites in the greater Atlanta area. Most sites offer low-cost, flexible meeting rooms and workspace for individual consultants or small groups.
Rental Space | Little Five Points Community Center
The Little Five Points Community Center (L5PCC) provides quality, affordable meeting space for arts organizations, student artists, and grassroots nonprofits.
Leadership and Governance Programs
Institute for Leadership and Entrepreneurship | Georgia Tech
The ILE is an interdisciplinary institute that encourages values-based leadership and socially responsible entrepreneurship through workshops, courses, grants, and the IMPACT lecture series featuring speakers from leading area business and nonprofit organizations.
Georgia Society of Association Executives
GSAE's mission is to advance the profession of association management and to enhance the professionalism of association executives.
Council of Volunteer Administrators of Metropolitan Atlanta
COVA is an organization of volunteer administrators dedicated to advancing the professional management of volunteer services.
United Way VIP (Volunteer Improvement Program)
VIP's mission is to develop and place ethnically diverse and under-represented populations into leadership roles in nonprofit agencies in order to create a more open and caring community.
For more information on nonprofit management and governance topics, please see our Knowledge Base.
Volunteering and Employment Options
United Way Volunteer Solutions
Volunteer Solutions is a web-based application that helps connect individuals to volunteer opportunities in their community.
Hands On Atlanta helps individuals, families and corporate and community groups find flexible volunteer opportunities at more than 400 service organizations and schools.
Opportunity Knocks provides national listings of nonprofit career opportunities, as well as resources and training for job seekers.
Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta
The Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta connects and inspires businesses and volunteer leaders to make a positive impact on the Atlanta community.
For more nonprofit employment and volunteering resources, please see our Knowledge Base.
Nonprofit Academic Programs
Public and Nonprofit Administration | University of Memphis
The Division of Public and Nonprofit Administration in the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Memphis offers a graduate program in public administration with a concentration in nonprofit administration and a certificate program in nonprofit management.
Master of Public Administration | American Public University
American Public University administers over 100 degree and certificate programs in an online distance learning format. APU offers a master's degree in public administration with concentrations in environmental policy, health policy, human resources, security management, and disaster management.
School of Social Work | University of Georgia
The University of Georgia offers a Master of Arts in Nonprofit Organizations degree and a Certificate in Nonprofit Organizations through its School of Social Work.
Master of Public Administration | College of Charleston
The College of Charleston offers a graduate degree in public administration.
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies | Georgia State University
Through the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University offers both graduate and undergraduate degrees in public administration and public policy, as well as a graduate certificate in nonprofit management.
Online MSW | Florida State University
Florida State offers a graduate degree in the field of social work.
Martin School of Public Policy and Administration | University of Kentucky
The Martin School offers graduate programs in public administration and public policy, with a concentration in nonprofit management.
Department of Public Administration | Southern University
Through the Nelson Mandela School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, Southern University offers graduate degrees in public administration and public policy.
Institute for Human Services & Public Policy | Louisiana State University in Shreveport
The Institute offers a variety of academic programs, including the American Humanics certificate program and the Master of Science in Human Services Administration, as well as an online certificate in nonprofit administration.
Master of Public Administration | University of North Florida
The University of North Florida offers graduate degrees in public administration with a concentration in nonprofit management and graduate certificates in nonprofit management through the Department of Political Science & Public Administration.
Master of Public Administration | University of Phoenix
The University of Phoenix's Master of Public Administration program offers courses both online and at campuses located across the U.S.
College of Social Work | University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the field of social work.
Online Degree Programs | Walden University
Walden University offers online graduate degree programs in public administration and nonprofit management.
Master of Public Administration | Auburn University at Montgomery
Auburn University at Montgomery offers a master's degree in public administration with a concentration in nonprofit management and leadership.
Master of Public Administration | Central Michigan University Off-Campus & Online
Central Michigan University offers a Master of Public Administration program as part of its off-campus education program in the Metro Atlanta area, with face-to-face instruction held in a compressed, weekend-only format.
Master of Public Administration | Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw State offers a master's degree in public administration with a concentration in community services/nonprofit administration through its Department of Political Science and International Affairs.
Nonprofit Management | University of Tampa
As part of its School of Business, the University of Tampa offers an MBA with a concentration in nonprofit management, as well as a separate graduate certificate in nonprofit management.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offers an undergraduate degree in public administration and nonprofit management and a graduate program in public administration with a concentration in nonprofit management.
Nonprofit Management | University of Tampa
As part of its School of Business, the University of Tampa offers an MBA with a concentration in nonprofit management, as well as a separate graduate certificate in nonprofit management.
Public Administration Program | University of South Florida
The Public Administration Program at the University of South Florida offers graduate study in public administration and certificates in public and nonprofit management.
Department of Public Administration | University of Central Florida
Within the College of Health & Public Affairs, the Department of Public Administration offers certificate, graduate, and undergraduate degrees in public administration and nonprofit management.
Master of Public Administration | Troy University
Troy University offers a graduate degree in public administration with a concentration in nonprofit management.
School of Public Administration | Florida Atlantic University
Through its School of Public Administration, Florida Atlantic University offers a Master of Nonprofit Management program.
Online MPA | University of Delaware Online
The University of Delaware offers an online public administration degree program with a specialization in the nonprofit sector.
For more information on nonprofit academic programs, please see our Knowledge Base article, How can I find degree or certification programs in fundraising, philanthropy, and nonprofit management?
Resources for Artists and Arts Organizations
ArtWorks! Gwinnett is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization that cultivates and promotes arts opportunities in Gwinnett County that enhance cultural and economic capital and enrich the county's residents and the business community. The organization's activities include providing resources, education, and networking opportunities for local artists and arts organizations.
Big Picture Film & Video Foundation
The Big Picture Film & Video Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization established to educate, support, and utilize students and industry newcomers in the areas of film and visual media in the "big picture" of the film & video production community in Georgia.
VSA Arts of Georgia provides access to the arts for people with disabilities and those with low income. We are a statewide resource working with artists and organizations to fulfill our vision of an inclusive community that encourages everyone to enjoy and participate in the arts.
Established in 1975, the Spruill Center for the Arts is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster understanding and appreciation for the visual and performing arts by offering an extensive and diverse program of classes, professional artist exhibition series, and outreach programs for seniors, youth and audiences with special needs.
South Arts, formerly the Southern Arts Federation, is a nonprofit regional arts organization promoting art in the South by creating partnerships; assisting in the development of artists and arts professionals; presenting, promoting, and producing southern arts and cultural programming; and advocating for the arts and arts education.
Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville & Douglas County
The Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/Douglas County is the sole professional nonprofit provider of cultural arts in Douglas County. Through their Grassroots Art Programs, they distribute funds for arts activities to nonprofit organizations in Douglas and Paulding Counties.
The FCAC assists the Fulton County Commission in the development of public policy on public support for the arts industry, makes recommendations to Fulton County Commissioners on funding the arts and generally oversees the development and implementation of publicly assisted programs that address the diverse cultural needs of Fulton County's citizenry.
People TV, Inc. is a nonprofit community television center driven by its mission to provide the Atlanta community a voice through public access to media. People TV's Office of Community Development offers free production services for other nonprofits in the Atlanta metro area. People TV also provides fiscal sponsorship to producers.
Georgia Lawyers for the Arts (GLA) is a nonprofit organization that provides legal assistance and educational programming to artists and arts organizations. GLA also holds monthly public seminars on "How to Start a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization".
The DeKalb Council for the Arts serves DeKalb County as a service organization to the county's artists, institutions, and residents in providing support and funding towards cultural and educational programming.
Office of Cultural Affairs | City of Atlanta
The Office of Cultural Affairs provides support to arts organizations in the City of Atlanta and to individual artists who live and create in the city.
Arts Leadership League of Georgia
The Arts Leadership League of Georgia (ALL-GA) is a non-partisan, non-profit advocacy group working to strengthen arts and culture in Georgia through advocacy and outreach.
Atlanta Coalition of Performing Arts
The Atlanta Coalition of Performing Arts is the nonprofit alliance of greater Atlanta's performing arts organizations and professionals.
Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund
The Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund provides financial stabilization, strategic support, and related technical assistance to small and medium-sized arts organizations throughout the metropolitan Atlanta region.
Metro Atlanta Arts and Culture Coalition
MAACC is an organizational collaborative involving local governments, private companies, foundations and arts organizations for the purpose of building participation in arts and culture in our region.
The Georgia Humanities Council supports educational activities in the state that involve history, literature, philosophy, folk life, or the history and theory of the arts.
Atlanta Contemporary Art Center
The Atlanta Contemporary Art Center is dedicated to excellence, experimentation, and education in all forms of contemporary art and provides both exhibit space and fiscal sponsorship support to individual artists.
Alternate Roots is an arts service organization supporting more than 150 individual artists in the Southeast who work in partnership with non-arts entitites to create art that honors community place, tradition and spirit.
Atlanta Film Festival 365, formerly known as IMAGE (Independent Media Artists of Georgia, Etc.), promotes the production, exhibition and awareness of film and video as unique forms of artistic expression.
The Georgia Council for the Arts encourages excellence in the arts, supports the arts' many forms of expression and works to make the arts available to all Georgians by providing funding, programming and services.
Idea Capital pools resources from throughout the arts community to provide direct monetary support for Atlanta artists and performers.
WonderRoot is an Atlanta-based 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization committed to uniting artists and community to inspire positive social change.
Georgia Assembly of Community Arts Agencies
The Georgia Assembly of Community Arts Agencies mission is to strengthen, foster and connect all arts organizations in Georgia communities – to provide professional development and technical assistance, and to promote the arts.
For more information on funding for artists, please see our Knowledge Base article, Where can I find grants for individual artists?
Resources for Students
Georgia Student Finance Commission
The Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) is the agency responsible for administering student financial aid programs provided by the State of Georgia. GSFC administers a variety of scholarship and grant programs, including the HOPE Scholarship Program.
GAcollege411.org is a one-stop online resource created by the Georgia Student Finance Commission to provide information on college planning and financial aid for students, parents, and college administrators in Georgia.
For additional resources, please see our Knowledge Base articles for students.
Business Startup Resources
In order to comply with IRS regulations, private foundations primarily restrict their funding to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and, for the most part, do not award grants to for-profit businesses. For information on financing a business startup, we recommend the following resources.
Georgia Statewide Minority Business Enterprise Center
The Georgia Statewide Minority Business Enterprise Center provides business and technical assistance that helps emerging and existing minority businesses experience significant growth and sustainability, and have long-term economic impact through the creation of jobs and revenue.
Georgia Small Business Development Center Network
The Georgia Small Business Development Center Network provides training and resources for small business owners and startups both online and through more than two dozen centers located across Georgia and maintained through partnerships with the University of Georgia and seven other universities and colleges in the state.
The Edge Connection, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization housed at the campus of Kennesaw State University's Coles College of Business, provides best practices in microenterprise and small business training, financial literacy, technology training, and essential entrepreneurial support services to aid microentrepreneurs to launch, sustain, or grow a business.
Women's Economic Development Agency
The Women's Economic Development Agency (WEDA) is dedicated to assisting women in achieving economic independence through a holistic approach to business development and wealth-building that encompasses classroom training, technical assistance, mentoring, and access to pertinent resources.
SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) provides professional guidance and information, accessible to all, to maximize the success of America's existing and emerging small businesses by providing free counseling and low-cost workshops to the small business community.
Georgia District Office | Small Business Administration
An independent agency of the federal government, the U.S. Small Business Administration helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, the SBA delivers training and other resources to help small business owners succeed.
Urban League of Greater Atlanta
The Urban League is dedicated to enabling and empowering African Americans and other minorities to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights. The organization's programs include homebuyer education, training and counseling for small business owners, and youth development.
Georgia Micro Enterprise Network
The Georgia Micro Enterprise Network (GMEN) is a private, nonprofit organization serving as a statewide industry resource to provide training, technical assistance, funding, and advocacy for the development of micro-enterprises in the state.
Small Business Loans & Microfinance | ACCION USA
A national organization with regional lending offices in Atlanta and Savannah, ACCION USA works to help small business owners use microloans to build their businesses through access to capital and financial education.
Doing Business in Georgia | Georgia.org
Provides links to information and resources on starting or managing a business in Georgia.
Links To Member Incubators | National Business Incubation Association
NBIA serves as a clearinghouse of information on incubator management and development issues and provides a directory of business incubators by state.
Economic Development Financing Packet | Georgia Department of Community Affairs
This packet contains information about various federal, state, and local financing programs that directly or indirectly benefit Georgia businesses or those businesses interested in making Georgia their home.
For more information on funding for businesses, please see our Knowledge Base article, Where can I find funding for my business?
Personal Assistance for Individuals
While a limited number of funders do award grants directly to individuals for assistance with their education or to fund artistic or research projects, foundations typically do not provide funding for personal needs, such as housing costs or medical care.
Instead, we recommend referring to the following resources for information on area nonprofit agencies or government programs that may be able to assist with such needs.
CFR carries out its mission by providing temporary financial assistance to stabilize families in crisis; housing for low-income and homeless families in a safe and secure environment; and education and training to individuals and communities to increase economic capacity and personal growth.
Urban League of Greater Atlanta
The Urban League is dedicated to enabling and empowering African Americans and other minorities to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights. The organization's programs include homebuyer education, training and counseling for small business owners, and youth development.
Established in 1972, the Latin American Association's mission is to help Latino individuals and families achieve their aspirations for academic, social and economic advancement.
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
The DCA serves as the primary state agency to promote economic and community development in Georgia. The department administers a number of funding programs, including home buyer and housing assistance.
As the Area Agency on Aging (AAA), the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) plans and provides comprehensive services to address the needs of the region's older population.
Fulton Atlanta Community Action Authority
FACAA helps citizens of Atlanta and Fulton County become self-sufficient by offering comprehensive programs and services that enable individuals and families to have an improved quality of life.
Families First fosters strong communities by delivering empowering and sustainable solutions for children and families. Programs focus on child permanency, housing assistance, and family education.
The Atlanta Legal Aid Society promotes equal access to the system of justice and improves opportunities for low-income people in Atlanta by providing pro bono legal assistance and other services.
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta
CCCS is a non-profit, community service agency providing confidential budget counseling, money management education, debt management programs, bankruptcy counseling and education, and comprehensive housing counseling.
Georgia Charitable Care Network
The Georgia Charitable Care Network includes more than 100 independent, non-profit clinics across Georgia that provide free or low-cost services to the uninsured and under-insured.
The United Way's 2-1-1 service connects individuals needing assistance with community programs and services that can help.
Division of Family & Children Services | Georgia Department of Human Services
The Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) offers a wide range of programs and services for Georgia families in need of assistance, including emergency food and housing assistance, child care programs, and education and training.
The Georgia Free Clinic Network includes more than 100 independent, non-profit clinics across Georgia that provide free or low-cost services to the uninsured and under-insured.
For more information on assistance for personal needs, please see our Knowledge Base article, Where can I find funding for personal expenses?