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William Josef Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$3.2M
Grant Range
$50K - $0.2M
Decision Time
3mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3,175,000 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $47,360,726
  • Number of Grants: 26 awards in 2023
  • Average Grant Size: ~$122,000
  • Decision Schedule: Quarterly (January, April, July, October)
  • Geographic Focus: Georgia and the Southeast, with particular focus on Metro Atlanta

Contact Details

Address: 2900 Chamblee Tucker Rd, Building 15, Atlanta, GA 30341

Program Manager: Roswell Satterwhite
Email: roswell@williamjoseffoundation.org

Website: https://www.williamjoseffoundation.org

For inquiries, contact Roswell Satterwhite to submit a letter of inquiry.

Overview

The William Josef Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation based in Atlanta, Georgia, established to improve quality of life for individuals experiencing poverty and economic insecurity. Through grants and mission-related investments, the foundation supports organizations in Georgia and the Southeast that empower individuals through direct services, build innovative service models, and affect systems change through policy and advocacy. The foundation prioritizes unrestricted operating grants and operates on an invitation-only application model. With assets exceeding $47 million and annual grantmaking of approximately $3.2 million, the foundation made 26 awards in 2023. The William Josef Foundation is an active partner in Atlanta's homelessness response system, working with Partners for HOME and other regional organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a single grantmaking program with quarterly approval cycles. Grants are approved four times per year in January, April, July, and October.

Grant Types:

  • Unrestricted Operating Grants (prioritized): General support for organizational operations
  • Project Grants (considered): Specific program or initiative funding
  • Capital Campaigns (considered): Building and infrastructure projects

Grant Size: Average grant size is approximately $122,000. Known grants range from $125,000 (CaringWorks, 2023) to varying amounts based on organizational need and program scope.

Priority Areas

1. Stable Housing (Metro Atlanta Focus)

  • Expanding access to affordable housing
  • Reducing barriers for individuals experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity
  • Supporting supportive housing programs
  • Service, advocacy, and policy strategies

2. Income and Wealth Building (Metro Atlanta Focus)

  • Education and access to educational opportunities
  • Employment access and workforce development programs
  • Homeownership support
  • Business ownership and entrepreneurship
  • Economic mobility initiatives

3. Criminal Justice Reform (Statewide Georgia Focus)

  • Policy research and education
  • Impact litigation
  • Organizing and movement building
  • Civic engagement
  • Reducing criminalization of poverty
  • Reducing barriers to reentry housing and employment
  • Supporting societal reintegration

What They Don't Fund

  • Direct grants to individuals
  • Religious activities
  • Conferences and seminars
  • Special events

Governance and Leadership

The foundation maintains a private governance structure. Public information about trustees and board members is limited, though the foundation employs professional staff including:

Roswell Satterwhite, Program Manager - Full-time position managing grantmaking operations and serving as primary contact for prospective applicants.

The foundation operates with a professional approach to grantmaking, utilizing quarterly review cycles and a structured invitation-only application process.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The William Josef Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis. Organizations cannot submit full grant proposals without an invitation.

Step 1: Submit Letter of Inquiry

Step 2: Invitation to Apply (if selected)

  • May include a site visit or meeting with foundation staff
  • Request for additional programmatic, strategic, and financial documents

Important: Submission of a letter of inquiry may result in an invitation to apply for funding but does not guarantee funding consideration.

Decision Timeline

Grant Approval Schedule: Quarterly - January, April, July, and October

Process Flow:

  1. Submit letter of inquiry to Roswell Satterwhite
  2. Foundation reviews LOI (timeline not publicly specified)
  3. If selected, invitation to apply with request for additional documentation
  4. Potential site visit or meeting
  5. Grant decision at quarterly board meeting

Specific timeframes from LOI submission to decision are not publicly disclosed but align with quarterly approval cycles.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be 501(c)(3) organizations, or
  • Have fiscal sponsorship arrangement with a 501(c)(3) organization

Reapplication Policy

The foundation's reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly disclosed. Organizations should contact Roswell Satterwhite to inquire about resubmitting or submitting new letters of inquiry.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated priorities and approach:

Alignment with Geographic Focus: The foundation emphasizes Metro Atlanta for housing and economic mobility work, and statewide Georgia for criminal justice reform. Organizations working in these specific geographic areas will be most competitive.

Direct Service + Systems Change: The foundation explicitly states it supports "organizations which seek to empower individuals to better their lives through direct services; build new, innovative service models, and affect systems change through policy." Applications should demonstrate how programs combine direct service delivery with broader systemic impact.

Mission Alignment with Poverty and Inequality: The foundation's core focus is "poverty and inequality" in Georgia and the Southeast. Applications should clearly articulate how programs address economic insecurity and barriers faced by people experiencing poverty.

Unrestricted Operating Support Preference: The foundation states it "prioritizes unrestricted operating grants." Organizations seeking general operating support may be more competitive than those requesting project-specific funding, though project grants and capital campaigns are considered.

Partnership and Coalition Work: As evidenced by the foundation's partnership with Partners for HOME, the foundation values organizations engaged in collaborative, coordinated responses to complex social issues.

Innovation and Service Models: The foundation explicitly supports organizations that "build new, innovative service models," suggesting they value creative approaches to addressing social challenges.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only process: You must start with a letter of inquiry to Roswell Satterwhite; full proposals cannot be submitted without invitation
  • Quarterly cycles: Plan submission timing around January, April, July, and October approval schedules
  • Geographic specificity matters: Metro Atlanta focus for housing and economic mobility; statewide Georgia for criminal justice reform
  • Operating support advantage: The foundation prioritizes unrestricted operating grants over project-specific funding
  • Direct service + policy combination: Strongest applications will demonstrate both direct service delivery and systems change through advocacy or policy work
  • Average grant size: With approximately $122,000 average awards and 26 grants annually, position requests within realistic ranges
  • Partnership engagement: The foundation values collaborative approaches and regional coordination (e.g., Partners for HOME partnership)

References

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