Central Georgia Empowerment Fund Program

The Central Georgia Empowerment Fund is a philanthropic initiative managed by the Community Foundation of Central Georgia. As a giving circle, the Fund pools contributions from individual members, each of whom donates $360 annually. These funds are split evenly—half is distributed as grant funding within the same year, while the other half is invested into an endowment to support future community efforts. The Fund’s primary aim is to improve the quality of life in African American communities by promoting sustainability, fostering opportunities, and advancing self-sufficiency for individuals historically marginalized and excluded from wealth-building systems. This funding opportunity specifically supports Black-led and Black-serving nonprofit organizations operating in Central Georgia, especially within Bibb, Houston, and Jones counties. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, schools, religious organizations (only for non-sectarian community projects), government agencies, and institutions of higher education. To be considered Black-led and Black-serving, the applying organization must have an African American Executive Director, a board with at least 30% African American representation, and must demonstrate that at least half of its projects or services directly benefit the African American community. Applications are accepted through the Community Foundation’s online grants portal. The deadline for submissions is noon on July 18. Selected finalists will be invited to present their project proposals during a Grant Finalist Event scheduled for August 28. These presentations must be limited to two minutes and are evaluated by members of the Empowerment Fund, who vote to determine the recipients. Final funding decisions are based on this community-driven selection process. Organizations applying for a grant must submit several documents, including proof of tax-exempt status, the latest financial audit or IRS Form 990, a current annual operating budget, a detailed project budget, a board of directors list, and a project photo. Additionally, applicants must include a video between 2 and 3 minutes in length (MP4 or MOV format, under 35MB), which outlines the organization’s mission, community accomplishments, planned use of the grant funds, and the anticipated impact on the African American community. Closed captioning is recommended but not mandatory. The maximum grant award available per organization is $5,000, and all funds must be used by July 1 of the year following the award. Reporting requirements include submission of a final report and expense summary within 60 days of expending the funds or by the annual June 1 reporting deadline, whichever is earlier. These reports must now be completed through the Foundation’s online portal. For further information, applicants can contact the Community Foundation of Central Georgia at 478-750-9338, toll-free at 866-750-9338, or via email at info@cfcga.org. Mailing inquiries can be directed to 577 Mulberry Street, Suite 1600, Macon, GA 31201. All organizations receiving a grant must acknowledge the funding source in promotional materials as “a grant from the Central Georgia Empowerment Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia.”

If selected as a finalist, presentations must not exceed 2 minutes. Include closed captions in your video to assist reviewers.