Clayton County Foundation for the Future

The Clayton County Foundation for the Future (CCFF) was created in 2004 with the intention of setting up a perpetual endowment fund that would serve the needs of all of Clayton County. Our mission is to inspire giving and build stronger communities.

In addition to our current initiatives focusing on brain health, early literacy with the Clayton County Imagination Library, and a study on child care, the CCFF Board awards grants annually to nonprofits that provide essential services and enrich our communities. In the last five years alone, CCFF has partnered with donors to award over $93,000 in grants to local nonprofits to support projects that address significant community issues and build on community strengths. This year, we prioritized applications with a youth enrichment or education focus. We also award grants in the areas of:

• Health and human services
• Education
• Neighborhoods and community development
• The environment
• Children, youth, and families
• Arts and culture, including historic preservation. 

What does that look like? We've funded education initiatives, youth enrichment projects, and after-school programs, provided support for brain health initiatives, child care centers, public libraries, food pantries, senior meal sites, improvements to trails, parks, and playgrounds, museums, community betterment projects, and more.

How do we do it? We use our annual endowment payout to make grants to Clayton County nonprofits. We have successfully built a network of strong partners for our county who generously fund many requests we receive through our annual grant cycle, and yet, the work we can do as a board is limited by the size of our own endowment. 

What does that mean, exactly? What is an endowment? Endowments are forever. Our endowment is invested permanently through the Community Foundation and the earnings provide annual funding to sustain our operations and to make grants. The more we grow our endowment, the more grants we can make year after year. That's why we need your help! 

What's our goal? A board member recently made a generous gift of $10,000 to support our work, and we're challenging our board, board emeritus, and the community to raise an additional $20,000, which will help us make more grants to more nonprofits over time. So far, we've received gifts and pledges of $2,000 and it's our goal to raise $8,000 for our endowment on Great Give Day. 

How can you help? Make a gift on Great Give Day! Gifts from community members like you on Great Give Day strengthen our ability to build a self-determined, high performing, and ultimately more vibrant and prosperous county. Make a gift to the CCFF Endowment to expand our impact in Clayton County!