Augusta Bar Foundation Grant Program

The Augusta Bar Foundation Grant is administered by the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) and is designed to support programs and initiatives that benefit at-risk, disadvantaged, and underserved youth within the Augusta Judicial Circuit. The Augusta Bar Foundation was originally founded to promote and improve the administration of justice. Its mission has expanded to use its resources for supporting programs that can help youth overcome adversity and avoid involvement in crime, violence, illiteracy, and substance abuse—key contributors to burdens on the justice system. The funding opportunity is open to charitable organizations and government entities that operate within the counties of Burke, Columbia, and Richmond in Georgia. Eligible applicants include organizations that qualify as 501(c)(3) nonprofits or as units of government, or those that meet classifications such as educational or cultural organizations. A key eligibility restriction is that applicants who have received two consecutive years of funding must take a mandatory one-year hiatus before reapplying. The Foundation also requires that applicants demonstrate financial stability and does not tolerate discrimination on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, physical ability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or religion. Grant funding must be directed toward programs addressing either an ongoing or emerging community need, or those that propose innovative, creative solutions that positively impact the targeted youth demographic. Priority funding areas include education (both in and out of schools), mentoring, health and safety (such as conflict resolution and substance abuse prevention), self-sufficiency (including empowerment and skills development), and family issues (such as parenting skills and juvenile justice). Projects that are sustainable beyond the grant period and show the ability to produce measurable outcomes are given preference. The Augusta Bar Foundation does not fund capital and endowment campaigns, individual requests, fraternal organizations, capital transportation expenses, travel, conferences, or re-granting organizations. The maximum grant request permitted is $5,000, and only one application per organization is accepted annually. Grant recipients must agree to participate in an evaluation process and return any unspent funds by a deadline set by the Foundation. Organizations may also be subject to a site visit as part of the application review process. Applications open on June 1 and must be submitted by July 11 at 4:00 p.m. via the Community Foundation for the CSRA's online portal. Applicants new to the portal must create an account, while returning users can log in with their existing credentials. Final decisions will be communicated by December, and successful applicants will receive their funding distributions by the end of that month. The grant application can be accessed through the Community Foundation's grant portal at https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=cfcentralsavannah. Applicants seeking assistance or clarification may contact the Community Foundation for the CSRA at (706) 724-1314. This opportunity is recurring but with eligibility limitations based on recent award history. All submission requirements must be strictly followed to be considered for funding.

Organizations should ensure their projects align with community needs and sustainability goals to enhance evaluation success.