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SCAD SERVE Community Fund

Providing vital support to our neighbors in our hometowns

SCAD is dedicated to serving our hometowns through impactful initiatives that uplift and empower. From revitalizing historic buildings to providing essential workforce housing, our legacy of community engagement is woven into the fabric of the university. The SCAD SERVE Community Fund builds upon that legacy of service with philanthropic support to eligible organizations in Atlanta and Savannah, Ga. With grants ranging from $100,000 to $1,000,000, the fund aims to continue cultivating vibrant, inclusive communities where design and innovation flourish.

These grants represent more than just financial contributions; they will generate innovative, tangible, and sustainable outcomes that directly address pressing issues faced by our communities. Moreover, these initiatives further amplify the positive economic influence that SCAD has on our local economies.

The submission window for the 2025 grant cycle is now closed.

2024 SCAD SERVE Community Fund grant recipients

As part of the university's ongoing dedication to strengthen its hometown communities, SCAD is delighted to announce it has awarded nearly $2 million dollars in grants to nonprofits in Atlanta and Savannah, Ga., including the City of Savannah, Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, Greenbriar Children's Center, and Atlanta's City of Refuge.

Initiatives we support

We prioritize projects within the following six areas of impact, with particular emphasis placed on initiatives that involve SCAD faculty, student, or alumni participation:

  • Food: Initiatives that address food insecurity, promote access to nutritious food, support community gardens, food banks, meal programs, and other hunger relief efforts.
  • Shelter: Work aimed at providing safe and affordable housing, homeless shelters, transitional housing programs, housing assistance services, and initiatives that address homelessness and housing insecurity.
  • Clothing: Work that provides access to clothing and initiatives supporting individuals and families in need of clothing assistance.
  • Environment: Work focused on environmental conservation, sustainability, and protecting natural resources, including initiatives related to tree planting, community clean-up efforts, environmental education programs, and promoting eco-friendly practices.
  • Safety: Initiatives that promote community safety, crime prevention, and emergency preparedness such as funding for safety equipment, disaster relief efforts, and programs aimed at reducing violence and crime in communities.
  • Education: Work that supports access to quality education and promote literacy; provide educational resources, mentorship programs, and after-school programs; and initiatives aimed at closing educational gaps and promoting lifelong learning opportunities.

Grant applications should clearly demonstrate how the proposed project aligns with one or more of these focus areas and outline the anticipated impact on communities in Atlanta and Savannah, Ga.

Who can apply

The SCAD Community Fund welcomes grant applications from three types of eligible organizations:

  • 501(c)(3) nonprofit: Organizations must qualify as a bona fide 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the Internal Revenue Code, ensuring their nonprofit status is federally recognized.
  • Alliance of nonprofits: Collaborative efforts between two or more 501(c)(3) nonprofits are eligible, and an alliance may submit a single application to represent the joint initiative.
  • Bona fide local government entity: Eligible entities include bona fide local government entities such as schools, police departments, and other official municipal organizations.

In addition to meeting one of the above criteria, eligible organizations must:

  • Serve people living or working in Atlanta and Savannah: Applicants must demonstrate a primary focus on serving individuals residing or employed in the Atlanta and Savannah, Ga. communities.

 

How to apply

  1. Submit your application to tell us more about your organization and your project idea.
  2. Qualified applications will be reviewed, and select applications will be invited to submit a full proposal for a SCAD SERVE Community Fund grant.
  3. Proposals submitted before the deadline will go into review. No paper proposals will be accepted. Grant announcements will be made, and all proposals will be notified about their approval status.
  4. Grant recipients will begin working with SCAD SERVE staff to coordinate the next steps.

 

Application timeline

Grants are awarded annually, and organizations must apply each year they wish to be considered for funding.

2025 applications open: Friday, March 7

Application portal closes: Tuesday, July 15

Semi-finalists announced: Friday, Sept. 5

Semi-finalist proposal deadlines: Friday, Oct. 17

Final award determination: Friday, Dec. 5

Reporting requirements

Grant recipients are required to adhere to the following reporting guidelines:

  • Project outcomes: Provide detailed reports on the outcomes and impact of funded projects, including measurable results and qualitative assessments of success.
  • Financial transparency: Submit comprehensive financial reports to track the allocation and use of funds, including budgets, expenditures, and relevant financial documentation.
  • Participant feedback: Gather feedback from participants and stakeholders involved in the project to assess satisfaction, identify areas for improvement, and measure effectiveness.
  • Narrative reports: Share written narrative reports outlining project progress, challenges, achievements, and any unexpected outcomes or lessons learned.
  • Documentation: Provide visual documentation, such as photos, videos, or other multimedia materials to document project activities and impact.
  • Timely communication: Adhere to reporting deadlines and milestones to track progress and maintain open communication with the SCAD SERVE Community Fund.
  • Evaluation criteria: Use pre-defined and agreed upon evaluation criteria and performance metrics to assess project effectiveness and impact.
  • Results dissemination: Share findings and results with SCAD stakeholders, through reports, presentations, or other communication channels.
  • Compliance checks: Honor periodic compliance checks with the SCAD SERVE office to ensure adherence to reporting requirements and appropriate use of funds or resources.
  • Continuous improvement: Use reporting data to inform continuous improvement efforts, refine funding priorities, and identify opportunities for future collaboration and investment.
  • Long-term sustainability: Fund recipients must outline strategies for maintaining the value and impact of the funded work beyond the initial implementation phase, including plans for ongoing maintenance, periodic evaluations, and partnerships to ensure sustained effectiveness.

More detailed guidelines, including a reporting timeline, will be shared with organizations that receive funding.

What we do not fund

We prioritize work that yields tangible, enduring outcomes that cultivate lasting resources which continue to benefit communities for years to come. We prioritize investments in sustainable solutions and infrastructure rather than one-time events, programs, or short-term efforts. As such, grants will not be awarded for the following purposes:

  • Ongoing operating expenses: Funding will not cover routine operating expenses required for the day-to-day functioning of an organization.
  • Debt reductions or operating deficits: Grants cannot be used for debt reduction or retiring past operating deficits.
  • Sponsorships, dinners, or one-time events: Funding will not support sponsorships, dinner events, conferences, or one-time special occasions.
  • Fellowships or grants to individuals: Grants are not awarded to individuals in the form of fellowships or other direct financial support.
  • Loans: The fund does not provide financial assistance in the form of loans.
  • Litigation: Grants will not be awarded to cover legal fees or expenses related to litigation.
  • Political campaigns: Funding cannot be used to support political campaigns or partisan activities.
  • Endowment funds: Grants are not provided for the establishment or enhancement of endowment funds.

SCAD SERVE Community Fund grant-making due diligence policy

The SCAD SERVE Community Fund will not make grants to organizations known to support, or who engage in activities, or who publish language that incites or engages in violence, intimidation, harassment, threats, or defamation targeting an individual or group based on their actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, immigration status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, terrorism, or physical or mental ability. These activities are contrary to the SCAD SERVE Community Fund mission and its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Get involved with SCAD SERVE

Everyone is welcome to contribute to the SCAD SERVE Community Fund. Individuals, businesses, and other organizations are welcome to volunteer for funded projects, attend community events, participate in fundraising efforts, and help spread public awareness for the program. Contact us at communityfund@scad.edu to learn more.