Nonprofits are the backbone of Atlanta, but their survival is under threat

That’s why we’re coming home to Atlanta this Oct. 27-29 and inviting you to join us for the Independent Sector National Summit, where nonprofit and philanthropic leaders from across the country will gather to build our collective power.

Atlanta’s ethos of being “too busy to hate” helped shape a cultural and economic powerhouse. Yet today, the city ranks first in the nation for income inequality. Despite a concentration of Fortune 500 companies, wealth doesn’t always reach the communities that need it most.

It’s also a city of rapid change — a refuge for climate migrants and a beacon for personal reinvention. But rising housing costs and strained public systems increasingly put opportunity out of reach. The people powering the city’s progress aren’t immune to the strain; one in five nonprofit workers live paycheck to paycheck.

From legacy institutions like Habitat for Humanity to grassroots organizations serving immigrant communities, nonprofits consistently step in where systems fall short. Georgia’s charitable foundations distribute more than $1.7 billion in grants annually. Statewide, volunteers contribute time valued at over $5 billion each year.

As leaders at Independent Sector, a national membership organization of nonprofits and philanthropies, we have a bird’s-eye view of our sector’s challenges.

Federal policy changes have already led to a $20 billion drop in charitable giving and new proposals could cost the sector an additional $50 billion.

In short, our sector is being squeezed at the very moment demand for its work is soaring. This means a workforce pushed to the brink and fewer trusted places for communities to turn to in times of crisis.

We don’t believe the solution is to burn our institutions down and start over. Cutting our teeth in Atlanta taught us that change comes from bringing everyone to the table and reimagining what’s possible with community at the center.

Atlanta is where lasting movements are born. It’s the city that brought together Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Honorable John Lewis, Joseph Lowery, and countless others in the ongoing march toward justice. What better place to gather for our Summit than Atlanta, a blueprint for people-powered solutions?

Sessions will explore what’s possible when organizations are financially resilient, powered by a thriving workforce, trusted by their communities, and equipped to advocate for lasting change. Speakers include hometown heroes like Aarti Sharma of RedefinED Atlanta and Blythe Robinson of Sheltering Arms.

We’ll also learn directly from communities leading local innovation through site tours — including Buford Highway, a vibrant corridor known for its immigrant-owned businesses, and Pittsburgh Yards, a visionary 31-acre development that builds community wealth and drives economic impact on Atlanta’s Southside.

Change doesn’t just happen in conference rooms or within the four walls of our organizations. Change happens on the ground and is always fueled by relationships.

In a time of polarization and uncertainty, 57% of Americans still trust nonprofits — more than any other institution, including government, media or large corporations. That trust must be protected and grown through collective action.