The Foundation focuses on four funding priorities:

EDUCATION	Priorities include public school reform and expanding education opportunities for underserved communities. Exclusions: support for individual charter schools.
HEALTH	Priorities include age related macular degeneration research, access to basic health services including low vision services. Exclusions: medical research other than ARMD.
ENVIRONMENT	Land conservation and watershed protection with particular interest in the coastal Georgia (PDF, 16 MB) and longleaf pine (PDF, 3 MB) ecosystems.
ARTS	Arts funding is limited due the priority of the Foundation’s other three areas of interest. Two types of support are available to midsized organizations (budgets less than $2 million): capital grants for specific improvements and project support for arts education programs.

Grants may also be made in the Trustees’ areas of special interest.

Guidelines

Priority is given to organizations that serve the metropolitan Atlanta area. Consideration will also be given to proposals that serve other parts of the state of Georgia as well as states in which the Life Insurance Company of Georgia operated. Proposals from beyond the metro Atlanta area, however, will be considered by invitation only.

The Foundation provides support for capital campaigns and special projects. The strongest proposals will reflect and serve an organization’s mission and address strategic priorities. Trustees are committed to helping organizations build or strengthen their ability to fulfill their mission. If an organization does not have the benefit of a current strategic plan, the Foundation will entertain proposals for funding a planning process as well as other capacity building efforts.

In general, the Foundation will not fund requests for endowments although exceptions may be made when a proposal falls in an area of special interest for one or more Trustee. No grants or loans will be made to individuals. The Foundation will not consider funding for special events, performances, or dinners (i.e. sponsorship, tickets and/or tables); booster clubs; churches or religious organizations when the project in question primarily serves members; or requests to retire accumulated debt resulting from operating deficits.

NOTE: Applicants must be classified as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. An IRS determination letter certifying this tax status will be required.