Our History

In 1990, a coalition of foundations commissioned a study on the health of the nonprofit sector in Atlanta. 

Among several actions recommended to address the issues holding back the sector back from reaching its full potential was the formation of the Nonprofit Resource Center (NRC).  The NRC was envisioned as a hub for information, tools, and resources that would help people working in Atlanta’s nonprofits address management issues, slow the duplication of efforts, and help the funding community understand what capital requests were planned for upcoming years.

Staffed by a half-time administrator, the NRC operated for 10 years under the wing of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. In 1998, it split from the foundation and incorporated under the name of the Georgia Center for Nonprofits (GCN).

Since that time, GCN has expanded its geographic reach throughout Georgia, and its influence throughout the U.S. as a nationally recognized solutions provider for nonprofit capacity-building.

Our mission is to create thriving communities by helping nonprofits succeed.

Our work revolves around four primary areas of focus:

  1. We are a hub for social innovation. 
  2. We are a capacity accelerator for organizations and their people. 
  3. We are Georgia’s largest association of nonprofits and its industry champion.  
  4. We are an influential convener of changemakers. 


Within these areas of focus, GCN designs and curates a mix of unique capacity-building solutions tailored to help nonprofits maximize their impact. These solutions are delivered through: 
 

  • Nonprofit University, a comprehensive education center designed for nonprofit professionals in all areas and at every stage of their careers.
  • The Nonprofit Consulting Group, a team of local and national experts providing counsel in organizational design, management, strategy, and finance, as well as succession planning.  
  • GCN.org, providing an extensive array of information, tools, and research, including an ever-evolving suite of Resource Hubs dedicated to vital nonprofit disciplines including governance, finance, change management, and more.
  • Work for Good, our nationwide job board and HR support resource exclusively for the purpose-driven sector.
  • GAgives on GivingTuesday, our statewide giving movement campaign, public engagement hub, and digital fundraising platform, raising awareness and operational support for local nonprofits.  
  • The Nonprofit Marketplace, a curated service ecosystem specific to nonprofit risk management and operational needs.

 

In addition to our capacity-building work, GCN is Georgia’s nonprofit industry association.

To that end, we work proactively with our members across the state to influence legislation regarding issues important to nonprofits’ work and community impact; we convene leaders across sectors to catalyze collaboration,  understanding, and engagement; and we conduct research that increases the sector’s capabilities while informing investors from the private sector and government agencies. 

  

Questions?

If you know which department you are trying to reach, you can find their direct contact information here.

For questions about directions, our services, or other general information, you can reach us at (678) 916-3080.