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DEL.ICIO.USAtlanta as a home for non-profits’ headquarters
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
About 20 years ago, Atlanta leaders made it a top priority to seek the headquarters of major charitable organizations looking to save their entities operating dollars.
The results of that initiative were largely successful, attracting the offices and leaders of nonprofits that are household names to all of us — the American Cancer Society, CARE and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
In the last year or so, Habitat for Humanity International also moved its headquarters to Atlanta from Americus, Ga.; and now the merged Points of Light Institute and Hands On Network has established Atlanta as its home.
Attracting the headquarters of these philanthropic organization is not unlike attracting the corporate headquarters of Fortune 500 companies. It increases the international exposure of Atlanta; it reinforces our region as a strong place to do business; it brings leaders from around the country and world for conferences; and it helps promote economic development for our state.
The reasons they move here also parallel the reasons companies move here: Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, lower cost of living, ease in recruiting employees and a welcoming business environment.
What can our region and state do to attract more nonprofit headquarters?
Please share some of your ideas with the rest of us.
To read about the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s experience in making Atlanta its home….
Enjoy.
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Comments
By Jocelyn
June 23, 2008 7:48 AM | Link to this
Wilmington, DE has taken an unused building and created business suites, of varying sizes for non-profits. The advantages are that NPOs don’t have to request grant dollars to shore up deteriorating buildings, but instead can ask for dollars to build capacity, ramp-up programs and deliver services. They also enjoy economies of scale with a copy service, conference rooms and security. The NPOs have occupied this building for ten years; it has been a tremendous success.
By DAinGA
June 23, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this
I have an idea. Create a location, a center for all the non profits to locate to. For example, with Ft Mac shutting down, why not use part of that land to create a campus for all of the current non-profits to relocate to and have adequate space for others to join? It would be a win-win. Give the non-profits free or very discounted office space. Have them be all in the same area and perhaps even share some buildings. Create a common cafeteria for the workers to have lunch and breaks in to promote the co-mingling of staff and ideas. This would benefit the redevelopment of Ft Mac by having a built in base of customers from day one to help entice retail and residential developers. It is a great location too, as many non-profits, especially HQ staff, need to travel frequently and would be closer to the airport this way. It is also between two MARTA stations so more of their staff could take MARTA to and from work.
Another place where something like this could be done is the old Ford plant. As it is so close to the airport, again it would be great for those non-profits HQs who have staff who have to travel alot. As I work for a non-profit HQ here in ATL, I can tell you that if you give them a good deal on rent (give them a nice low, locked in rate for say 10-15 years) they would be very interested and would be hard pressed not to do it.
By Outsourced in 7 weeks...
June 24, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
To DAinGA,
That is a great idea! I fully agree.
By Rick
June 24, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
People who work for non-profits are generally progressive when it comes to transport utilization and would prefer to be located close to a transport network such as MARTA. Provide incentives for these businesses to locate near transport stations. I have to say hearing news like this makes me proud to be from Atlanta. With great figures that have had a prominent impact on our city such as Martin Luther King, Jane Fonda, Jimmy Carter, and Ted Turner I can see why ATL might be more of a draw for these organizations.