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Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation

Annual Giving
$103.8M
Grant Range
$115K - $25.0M
Decision Time
2mo
Success Rate
20%

Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $103.8 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: 20% (approximately one in five requests approved)
  • Decision Time: Within 1 week of board meeting (April or November)
  • Grant Range: $115,000 - $25,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: Metro Atlanta (13 counties)
  • Total Assets: $1.6 billion awarded since 1937

Contact Details

Address: Atlanta, GA
Website: https://jbwhitehead.org/
Application Inquiries: fdns@woodruff.org
Program Officer: Jenny Zhang Morgan (morgan@woodruff.org)
President: Erik S. Johnson

Overview

Established in 1937, the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation is an independent private foundation that seeks to help people in need in metro Atlanta, particularly children, by investing in education, health, and economic opportunity. With over $1.6 billion awarded through more than 2,900 grants since inception, the Foundation has become one of the most significant philanthropic institutions serving the Atlanta region. In 2023, the Foundation distributed $103.8 million across 47 grants. The Foundation shares office space and staff with the Robert W. Woodruff and Lettie Pate Evans Foundations but operates under an independent Board of Trustees. The Foundation focuses on making strategic, one-time grants to well-established organizations with proven track records, preferring to help strong institutions seize new opportunities or meet extraordinary needs rather than providing ongoing operating support.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation makes grants in five program areas:

Early Childhood Education - Primarily through Smart Start at United Way of Greater Atlanta, focusing on improving quality and accessibility of care and education for children birth through age five. Recent example: United Way of Greater Atlanta received $14.7 million for Smart Start early childhood initiatives.

K-12 Education - Investments in systemic improvements at the state level and within Atlanta Public Schools, focusing on standards, teacher quality, and persistence to graduation. Grant range examples: $190,000 - $1,000,000.

Children and Youth - Child welfare and youth development organizations providing personal development, academic support, and recreational programs. Recent example: Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta received $2 million in operating support.

Human Services - Addressing poverty, homelessness, and community development. Recent examples include $7 million to The Salvation Army for Center of Hope construction and $5 million to United Way Regional Commission on Homelessness.

Health - Improving health outcomes and access to affordable healthcare for low-income populations. Recent examples: $10 million to Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities for new facility construction; $4 million to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for Marcus Autism Center expansion.

Typical grant amounts range from $115,000 to $25 million, with a median of $500,000. Applications accepted through online portal on rolling basis with two annual deadlines.

Priority Areas

  • Quality early childhood education programs (birth-5)
  • K-12 education reform and dropout prevention
  • Youth development and academic enrichment programs
  • Healthcare access for underserved populations
  • Homelessness and poverty alleviation
  • Capital projects and one-time extraordinary needs
  • Organizations serving disadvantaged children and families in metro Atlanta

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations outside metro Atlanta (13-county region)
  • Startup or seed funding for new organizations
  • Grants to individuals
  • Independent private schools (limited charter school support only within Atlanta Public Schools)
  • Basic annual operating expenses
  • Organizations with budgets under $500,000
  • Organizations without paid full-time staff
  • Projects or campaigns they have previously funded
  • Previously declined requests (unless specifically encouraged to reapply)

Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is governed by a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees that sets policies and makes all grant decisions.

Jenner Wood, Chairman - Joined the board in 2015 and became chairman in 2018. Spent his entire career with SunTrust (now Truist) Bank from 1975 to 2017 in various corporate executive positions.

Larry Gellerstedt, Trustee - Joined the board in 2015. Partner in Sweetwater Holdings and former executive chairman and CEO of Cousins Properties.

Joe Arnold, Trustee - Joined the board in 2024.

Erik S. Johnson, President - Joined the Foundations' staff in 2006, became Treasurer in 2014, Vice President in 2021, and President in 2025. According to former president P. Russell Hardin, Johnson is "trustworthy, discerning, principled and humble" and "a natural leader, in part because he listens more than he speaks."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the Foundation's online grant portal using Blackbaud's YourCause system. First-time applicants should create an account at jbwhitehead.org and add noreply@yourcause.com to safe senders list.

Application Deadlines:

  • February 1 - Proposals considered at April Board of Trustees meeting
  • August 15 - Proposals considered at November Board of Trustees meeting

Required Materials:

  1. Grant request letter (5 pages maximum, not including attachments)

    • Prepared on letterhead, dated, and signed by organizational leadership
    • Addressed to Erik S. Johnson, President
    • Include organization description, mission, history, programs, outcomes, partnerships, and population served
    • Detail the funding request: challenges to address, goals, implementation timeline, expected outcomes, capacity, and long-term funding plans

  2. Attachments:

    • Most recent audited financial statements (or Form 990 if audited statements unavailable)
    • IRS determination letter
    • List of board members
    • Current operating budget

Pre-Application Inquiry: First-time grantseekers are strongly encouraged to submit an informal inquiry to fdns@woodruff.org before submitting a full proposal to confirm alignment with funding priorities.

Review Process: Grant requests are reviewed by the president, grants program director, and program officers. If the request aligns with funding interests, applicants will be notified by email and contacted for a meeting or site visit. If not aligned, applicants receive prompt email notification.

Decision Timeline

  • Applications accepted on rolling basis with two annual deadlines
  • Board meetings held in April and November
  • Applicants notified of decisions within one week of the board meeting
  • Site visits and meetings conducted for proposals under serious consideration
  • Decisions made by full Board of Trustees based on request merits and Foundation priorities

Success Rates

Approximately one in five requests (20%) is approved for funding in any given year. In 2023, the Foundation made 47 awards from approximately 235 applications received.

Reapplication Policy

The Foundation has specific guidelines for reapplication:

  • Previously declined requests: Generally should not be resubmitted unless specifically encouraged by Foundation staff
  • Prior grantees: May reapply only with "a new and extraordinary one-time need"
  • Repeat funding: The Foundation typically does not fund projects or campaigns it has already funded
  • Outstanding grant reports: Organizations cannot submit new requests until grant reports for prior funding have been submitted and approved

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values

Proven Track Record: The Foundation "seeks to help organizations with a proven track record of success" and "typically makes grants to well-established institutions and projects with strong leadership and a broad base of support."

Co-Funding Required: "Secure other funding (in hand or pledges) before submitting a request" - The Foundation strongly prefers not to be the sole funder and wants to "participate with the community in supporting initiatives led by others."

Strong Leadership: Applications should demonstrate "strong executive and board leadership" and "proven effectiveness meeting community needs with measurable impact."

Strategic Alignment: Review the Previous Grants page to understand the types of projects funded. Recent major investments include:

  • $14.7 million to United Way for Smart Start early childhood initiatives
  • $10 million to Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities for facility construction
  • $7 million to The Salvation Army for Center of Hope
  • $4 million to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for Marcus Autism Center expansion

Application Best Practices

Conciseness: Keep grant request letters to 5 pages or less (not including attachments). The Foundation values clarity and brevity.

No Supplementary Materials: Avoid submitting press kits, newsletters, or other collateral materials beyond required attachments.

One-Time Needs: The Foundation prefers "one-time capital projects and other extraordinary needs" rather than annual operating support. Frame requests around special opportunities or strategic initiatives.

Measurable Impact: Emphasize how your organization demonstrates outcomes and measures success in meeting community needs.

Community Support: Show broad base of support through co-funding commitments, partnerships, and community engagement.

What Makes Applications Stand Out

Organizations that have received recent funding demonstrate:

  • Scale and Impact: Major capital projects that expand capacity to serve disadvantaged populations
  • Systems-Level Change: Investments that improve quality and accessibility of services at a community-wide level (e.g., Smart Start early childhood initiative)
  • Established Organizations: Well-known institutions with multi-year track records and budgets well above the $500,000 minimum
  • Strategic Timing: Requests tied to specific opportunities, campaigns, or extraordinary needs rather than routine operations

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • High Bar for Entry: With a 20% success rate and 47 grants from ~235 applications, competition is significant. Only apply if you have a strong strategic fit and proven organizational capacity.

  • Co-Funding is Critical: Secure other funding commitments before applying. The Foundation wants to be a catalytic partner, not the sole supporter.

  • Think Big but Specific: While grants range from $115K to $25M, the Foundation prefers substantial one-time investments in capital projects or extraordinary opportunities rather than modest operating support.

  • Pre-Application Inquiry Recommended: First-time applicants should contact fdns@woodruff.org before investing time in a full proposal. Staff feedback can save significant effort.

  • Geographic Limitation is Strict: Organizations must be located and operating in the 13-county metro Atlanta region. No exceptions.

  • Budget Threshold Matters: Organizations must have annual budgets above $500,000 and paid full-time staff. This is not a funder for emerging organizations.

  • Don't Reapply Without Encouragement: If your request is declined, do not resubmit unless Foundation staff specifically encourage you to do so with a different approach or timing.

References

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