Thank you for your interest in a grant from the Betty and Davis Fitzgerald Foundation.
Our Vision
Families across Georgia thrive with equitable access to high-quality education and comprehensive mental health support.
Our Mission
Support organizations committed to enhancing quality education and mental health access for families with low incomes – particularly those strengthening talent pipelines, championing systemic solutions, and promoting collaboration.
Grantmaking Program Overview
At the Betty and Davis Fitzgerald Foundation, we are deeply moved and inspired by the tireless efforts of non-profits across Georgia. We view our grantee partners, both current and prospective, as pivotal collaborators in our shared mission.
The Foundation seeks to support organizations committed to enhancing quality education and mental health access for families experiencing low income, particularly those strengthening talent pipelines, championing systemic solutions, and promoting collaboration. While we recognize the needs are across the state, the Foundation has limited resources. To increase our effectiveness and understanding of local systems, the Foundation’s funding efforts will be concentrated on organizations serving the 21-county Metro Atlanta area.
We believe we can provide the greatest value by anchoring our work in communities, prioritizing those led by/serving Black Indigenous People of Color, and championing advocacy that drives pivotal policy changes.
The Foundation’s grantmaking will now prioritize support to organizations and projects working to:
- Support high-quality, culturally relevant talent development, training, and placement for educators and mental health workforce to better serve families with low income in areas with shortages.
- Champion advocacy and policy agendas that strengthen and support the current workforce and enhance access for families with low income.
- Promote strategic partnerships and innovative/coordinated approaches to enhance access for families with low income.
Application Process
The Foundation’s grant decision-making process includes two stages: the submission of a one-page proposal and then, for those selected, a follow-up site visit.
Step 1. Determine Eligibility
Before applying, please ensure your organization and proposal meet our grantmaking criteria. If aligned, you are welcome to apply through our open process. For help with the grant amount, contact the Foundation’s staff. Note: Consulting with staff or Board members before application submission is not required.
If you can answer “yes” to all the following requirements, you are welcome to apply through our open process.
- Aligned to the Mental Health and/or Education focus area
- Classified as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
- Serves the 21-county Metro Atlanta region
- Works to benefit families with low incomes and living in historically marginalized or underserved communities
Step 2. Submit a One-Page Proposal
Our online application requires basic details about your organization and contact information, accompanied by a concise narrative of your funding request, which can include support for operating expenses, a special project or program, or for capital projects. Be prepared to include the following information:
- Introduction to your organization, highlighting its dedication to enhancing education or mental health equity.
- Clearly describe the specific services your organization plans to offer using the grant. Include concrete, measurable outcomes you’ve achieved so far and/or the future impact you aim to create.
- Illustrate the demographics of the populations you serve, focusing on the communities that have directly benefited from your work.
- Provide insights into the diversity of your leadership and staff, including but not limited to the racial and gender makeup of your executive director, board, and staff.
Begin a new application OR Review or edit a previously submitted application
Step 3. Proposal Review Process
Trustees review all submitted proposals during the board meeting according to the schedule provided below. Typically, the Board selects approximately 6 – 8 proposals for a more in-depth evaluation through a site visit invitation, aiming to decide on funding in the subsequent quarter after visiting the prospective grantee partners.
If your proposal does not advance to the site visit stage, our staff will inform you of its status—either declined or pended—following the board meeting (refer to the schedule below for details). Reasons for a proposal’s decline may include misalignment with our guidelines or priorities, or limitations due to the current capacity of our grantmaking budget.
Step 4. Site Visit Process
If selected for a site visit, you’ll be notified via email. The Foundation will request detailed strategy and financial documents, then schedule a visit—virtual, hybrid, or in-person. Post-visit, a report is submitted to the Board by the staff, who then decide on grant approval and amount.
Step 5. Notification, Payment, and Reporting of Grant Decisions
Approved grantees will be notified by email within two business days after the Board’s approval. Our team will prepare grant agreements and collect required information for the fund’s wire transfer. Funds are usually transferred within 30 business days once the team has all the necessary details.
Step 6. Reporting
To support a culture of learning, we request that organizations submit a report at the end of the grant period or annually, based on the grant type. This can be a brief written narrative with optional photos or a virtual or in-person meeting, depending on your preference. Foundation staff will contact grantees as the reporting deadline approaches to identify their preferred reporting method and to arrange interviews if desired.
Application Timeline
The Foundation administers four grant cycles annually. Applications are accepted year-round. However, those submitted past a cycle’s deadline will be reviewed in the subsequent grant cycle.
| Grant Application Milestones ↓ | 1st Cycle | 2nd Cycle | 3rd Cycle | 4th Cycle |
| Proposal Submission Deadline for Current Cycle by 5:00 p.m. | February 12th | April 8th | July 8th | November 4th |
| Notification of Invitation to Site Visit Phase or Decline | March | June | September | March 2025 |
| Board Meeting for Funding Consideration | June | September | December | June 2025 |
The staff will communicate the status of submitted applications according to the above timeline via email. If your organization’s grant application is declined, we request you wait one year before reapplying. For organizations that receive funding, a waiting period of at least six months after the grant term’s conclusion is required before submitting a new proposal.
Begin a new application OR Review or edit a previously submitted application