Frances Hollis Brain Foundation Fund

Celebrating a legacy of giving to those most in need.

Frances and David Brain

Frances and David Brain created the Frances Hollis Brain Foundation in 1993 as a reflection of their values, with the hope that future generations of their family would continue to make a positive difference in their communities through philanthropy. Frances passed away in 2012, followed by her husband David in 2016. In 2017 the Frances Hollis Brain Foundation transitioned to the Frances Hollis Brain Foundation Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta and the Maine Community Foundation.
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A commitment to serving the most disadvantaged

Inspired by Frances and David Brain’s lifetime of giving, the Frances Hollis Brain Foundation Fund — a legacy fund managed by the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta — supports nonprofit organizations and projects that serve disadvantaged, underserved and vulnerable communities. Specifically, the fund supports the primary needs of food, shelter and healthcare of individuals and families living in Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties.

In addition, the Foundation will support projects that welcome and provide assistance to new Americans who have joined our Atlanta metro community.

The Frances Hollis Brain Foundation continues to support nonprofit organizations based in Maine through the Frances Hollis Brain Foundation Fund at the Maine Community Foundation.

Funding for nonprofit organizations in Atlanta

Nonprofit organizations seeking funds in 2024 must meet the following requirements:

  • Did not receive funding from the Frances Hollis Brain Foundation Fund in 2023
  • Past grantees must have submitted a prior grant report

Organizations are not required to complete a Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta profile.

Eligible requests
  • Resources for program participants or organizations:
    • Expendable and nonexpendable items that will help program participants succeed, such as clothing, MARTA fares, toys, age-appropriate reading material, tickets/participation fees for program participants and equipment for people with disabilities.
    • Program-related resources such as reference books, videos or training materials that will remain with the organization, (vehicles may be considered)
    • Requests for grocery store and gas station gift cards are eligible while requests for an individual's food or gasoline are not.
  • Capital items: Office equipment including laptops, tablets, furniture, kitchen appliances and items needed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Ineligible requests
  • Items that have already been purchased or services that have been contracted prior to application
  • Total funding request that exceed $10,000
  • Gasoline for organizational fleets
  • Subscriptions for magazines and trade publications
  • Memberships and fees for staff
  • Attendance at conferences or training sessions for staff members
  • Stipends for staff, volunteers, interns or program participants
  • General operating expenses
  • Support for organizational or program endowments

Legacy funding for nonprofit organizations in Lexington, Kentucky

Grant requests will be considered from a limited number of organizations in Lexington that have received funding in the past. These nonprofits are considered legacy organizations. Nonprofit organizations located in Lexington seeking funds in 2024 must meet the following requirements:

  • Did not receive funding from the Frances Hollis Brain Foundation Fund in 2023
  • Must have the minimum of a silver seal on GuideStar
  • Must have an up-to-date profile on the Kentucky Nonprofit Directory

The journey
starts here

Application Timeline

  • April 1 – Informational webinar hosted*; Inquiry form released
  • May 10 – Inquiry form due
  • May 24 – Request for additional information released, if necessary
  • June 30 – Notifications sent about grant awards
  • July – Grants distributed

*The informational webinar will take place on April 1, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Please click here to join. No registration required.

Atlanta Inquiry Form

Kentucky Inquiry Form

Updates about the fund will be communicated via the Foundation’s newsletter.

For more information about grants through the Frances Hollis Brain Foundation Fund of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, please contact:

Amanda Rubin

Amanda Rubin
Philanthropic Officer
229.355.2681
arubin@cfgreateratlanta.org