The Historical Heavy Hitters

If your eyes are open in Atlanta, there’s a good chance you’ll see the name Woodruff on something.  

But that’s not how Robert Woodruff wanted it to be.

“He had a sort of Southern chivalry about him and a disdain for folk who engaged in philanthropy or their own glory,” says Russ Hardin, president of the Woodruff Foundation. 

Coca-Cola magnate Robert Woodruff started the foundation in the late 1930s with several million dollars of his own money.  Its coffer has since grown to some $2.8-billion.

Bettering education has always been a mission of the foundation, as evidenced by its backing of the new Drew Charter School.  But Woodruff money has also helped build Centennial Park, save Grady hospital, and fund the Atlanta BeltLine.“But those aren’t Woodruff Foundation projects,” says Hardin.  ”Those are  Atlanta projects that require public and private support.  And, in fact, those are classic projects because they bring us all together.”

Woodruff knew his talents.  And he understood his limitations.  That’s why the foundation doesn’t take on projects itself; instead, it funds those outlets best equipped to get results.  And today as always, there’s an Atlanta-centric guiding light.

“Nationally, we’re actually rare among foundations our size in our unabashed, stubborn, geographic focus on our own city and our own community and own state,” says Hardin. 

For decades, that was how philanthropy worked in Atlanta.  Older, “well-meaning” wealthy white men occupied the table where the area’s important  philanthropic decisions were made.  That’s until 37 year ago, when an Emory alum named Alicia Philipp pulled up a chair. 

“She was allowed in that room and started kind of busting out the walls of that room and being more able and more inclusive,” says Lesley Grady, the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta’s senior vice president of community partnerships.

Philipp’s vision evolved the face of local philanthropy as thee Community Foundation transformed into an organizational “bridge.”  It connects money from foundations and affluent individuals with the non-profits working on causes near and dear to them. 

Today, that covers more than 1,100 private donors and some three-quarters of a billion dollars. 

While no one person is responsible for that success, Lesley Grady  says there’s no question who’s led the way.

“The story of Atlanta’s philanthropy, especially community philanthropy, is a lot the story of Alicia Philipp.”

Karen Beavor is CEO of the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, which emerged from a Community Foundation initiative.  She says Philipp listens to people and leaders in the community, connecting dots and making the best decisions possible given available resources.  ”Generally, if you listen hard enough, you’re going to make those right  decisions.”

While neither Woodruff nor Philipp sought the spotlight, their names will forever remain synonymous with Atlanta’s “Heavy Lift.”   

A special thanks to Thomas Wheatley, Joeff Davis and all the professionals at Creative Loafing for doing the “Heavy Lift” on this series.