Campaigns at Atlanta's United Way, Woodruff Center Competing for Scarce Dollars

Campaigns by two of Atlanta's largest nonprofit organizations — the Woodruff Arts Center and the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta — are overlapping and making it difficult for either to succeed, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reports.

Due to a late start and sluggish results, the United Way pushed the closing date of its campaign completion from December to early February, while the arts center's campaign, launched in late November, will run through July 31. Adding to the challenge, funds have been harder to raise in the wake of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Phil Jacobs, president of community technologies for BellSouth Corp. and chair of the Woodruff corporate campaign, as well as a board member of the United Way, called the overlap a concern, adding "[the Woodruff campaign organizers] would have liked to have a little bit more breathing room."

Lee Thomas, chair of the annual United Way workplace giving campaign, said the organization has raised 57 percent ($44 million) of its $76.5 million goal, although it has raised nearly all of an additional $10 million earmarked for hurricane-victim relief. Meanwhile, the Woodruff — now the country's largest performing and visual arts center — is attempting to raise $8.25 million from local corporations, with $2.3 million budgeted from new sources. The campaign accounts for roughly 10 percent of the arts center's total budget, and if the goal is not achieved it may need to cut programming and staff, officials said. The Woodruff has increased its square footage 95 percent since 1996, while operating activities have increased 180 percent.

Fundraisers in Atlanta are also fretting over the loss of two large Atlanta-based companies, Georgia-Pacific and Scientific-Atlanta Inc., to mergers, as well as the ongoing troubles at Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, which has filed for bankruptcy. On a more positive note, Georgia-Pacific completed its United Way employee campaign early this year, Thomas said, and finished 30 percent over goal, raising $1.7 million, 75 percent of which came from employees. Moreover, Thomas expects the United Way to achieve its fundraising goal, although he admitted "it's going to be a stretch."

Lerner, Jill. “Big Nonprofits Struggle for Cash.” Atlanta Business Chronicle 12/11/05.

Primary Subject: Philanthropy and Voluntarism
Location(s): Atlanta, Georgia

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