Some of our most frequently asked questions – with answers!

If you can answer “yes” to all of the following requirements, you are eligible to apply:

1. Is your organization a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or a fiscally sponsored project classified as a public charity?
2. Does your work primarily serve the 21-county Metro Atlanta region or have statewide impact?
3. Does your organization focus on improving access to education or mental health for children, youth, or families?
4. Does your work strengthen systems or infrastructure (e.g., workforce development, policy or advocacy, coordination, navigation, shared pathways)?
5. Is your organization rooted in, accountable to, or meaningfully guided by the communities most affected by inequities in education or mental health access?

We focus on advancing equity in education and mental health for families experiencing low income, particularly in historically marginalized communities. Our grantmaking prioritizes efforts that strengthen talent pipelines for early childhood educators, K–12 teachers, and mental health professionals; advance systemic change to improve access and outcomes; and promote coordinated, community-based approaches that reduce fragmentation and improve continuity of support. Learn more about our grantmaking priorities.

We encourage you to review the Foundation’s grantmaking priorities in our two focus areas, education and mental health, as well as our grant history, which provides context on the types of work we prioritize. Together, these resources should help you assess general alignment and eligibility. Foundation staff are also available to answer questions and discuss fit. We encourage interested organizations to attend a virtual information session to learn more about eligibility and the grantmaking process.

Our online application gathers essential details about your organization and funding request. In your 500-750 word proposal, we suggest including the following, as relevant to your work:

• Overview of your organization and its role in the education and/or mental health ecosystem;
• Purpose of the funding request and why it matters in this moment;
• How your work strengthens access through workforce development, systems improvement, policy/advocacy, or leading collective action;
• How your organization's approach advances equity, particularly for populations most impacted by disparities; and
• The impact you aim to achieve.

The Foundation does not provide funding for special events, performances, or dinners, including sponsorships, tickets, or tables. We also do not support booster organizations; churches or sectarian religious activities; research; conferences or seminars; or grants or loans to individuals.

Yes. The Foundation accepts proposals from fiscally sponsored projects and organizations of all sizes, provided eligibility requirements are met, and the fiscal sponsorship relationship is clearly defined. Funding decisions are based on alignment with our priorities, responsiveness to community needs, and the ability to carry out the proposed work, not organizational size.

Guided by Foundation staff, the Grants Committee assesses proposals based on alignment with the Foundation’s strategic priorities, potential impact, and organizational capacity. Because the Foundation receives more requests than it can fund, we encourage applicants to review the Grantmaking Overview to better assess alignment and understand how funding opportunities are prioritized.

Grants typically range from $25,000 to $50,000, though requests outside this range may be considered. Most grants are awarded for a single year, with a limited number of multi-year grants supported at any given time, as they limit our ability to support a broader group of partners each year. View grant history.

The Foundation provides several types of support, depending on partner needs. This may include program support, general operating support, organizational capacity-building, and, in limited cases, capital support when tied to a broader strategy aligned with our priorities. Our goal is to provide support that best addresses the most pressing needs of the organizations we seek to partner with.

Yes. You can save your work and return to it at any time. Your work will automatically be saved in the portal until you hit “Submit.” To return to your saved application, log back in to the portal and select the “BDFF 2026 Grant Application.” If you have any questions or run into issues with the portal, please don’t hesitate to contact Angela Ballantyne, Grantmaking and Operations Associate.

Yes. Foundation staff are available to answer questions and provide clarification related to eligibility, priorities, or the application process. We encourage applicants to review the information available on our website before reaching out so conversations can focus on specific, clarifying questions. For questions or to schedule a time to speak with a staff person, please email Angela Ballantyne.

If your proposal advances in the review process, you will be notified by email. The Foundation will request additional strategy and financial documents and will schedule a virtual, hybrid, or in-person visit. Following the visit, the staff prepares a report for the grants committee, which determines grant approval and funding amount. View our grant process.

To support a culture of learning, grantees are asked to submit a brief report at the end of the grant period or, for multi-year grants, annually. This may be a short written narrative with optional photos or a conversation, virtual or in person. As the reporting period approaches, Foundation staff will contact grantees to confirm the preferred format and, if helpful, schedule a debrief. The goal is reflection and learning, not data collection alone. Apply for a Grant.

Yes. YourCause, My GrantsConnect is a new portal the Foundation now uses, where grantees can manage applications across different funders who use this platform, using a single Blackbaud ID. First-time users should create an account using an email and a password. To begin a new application, please use this link. You will be brought to the Fitzgerald Foundation Open Application page. From here, you can begin a new application or edit an existing application for submission. When logged in, you can see all of your applications across funders by clicking “view all my applications.” Our application is the “BDFF 2026 Grant Application.” You can also add additional team members using the “Manage applicants” feature. This enables shared access to the application and ensures they receive grant-related notifications. If you have any questions or run into issues with the portal, please don’t hesitate to contact Angela Ballantyne, Grantmaking and Operations Associate. We’re happy to help!

Once the Board approves a grant, the Foundation will send an award notification and request payment details to process payment through Bill.com, along with confirmation of the authorized signatory for the grant agreement. In most cases, the grant agreement is sent via DocuSign within one to two weeks after the required information is received from the grantee. Grants are typically funded within 30 days of receipt of the signed grant agreement.

If your organization’s application is declined, we ask that you wait one year from the date of notification before reapplying. For organizations that receive funding, a waiting period of at least six months following the conclusion of the grant term is required before submitting a new proposal. View our grant process.

For any questions at any time, please feel free to reach out to a member of our staff directly through our website.