Traditional Philanthropy
To honor our founders Dr. George & Mrs. Jean Brumley, who dedicated their careers and volunteer service to the health, education, and artistic endeavors of children, the Zeist Foundation funds non-profit organizations working in these focus areas.Â
Successful organizations often have some or all of these qualities: collaborate with others, can serve as an intermediary to provide resources across the state, and/or have strong relationships and expertise within an area of particular interest to the Foundation.Â
While it may take several years between introductions and an invitation to apply, our directors like to invest for long-term impact.Â
Please review the How We Work page for details about the Zeist Foundation grantmaking process.
Areas of Focus
Arts & Culture
Our intent is to increase access to culturally enriching experiences connected to learning and to support capital needs for improved quality and increased capacity to serve children.
Education
Our intent is to expand high quality early learning opportunities and improve young people’s success and experiences in and out of school.
Health & Human Services
Our intent is to expand access to high quality healthcare for all children, assist families with children in crisis, and to explore food security.
Recent Grant History
| Organization | Project Title | Program Area | Year | Entry ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organization | Project Title | Program Area | Year | Entry ID |
Arts & Culture
The Alliance Theatre
The Alliance Theatre nurtures artistic careers and access to the arts. Their Children and Family programs include Theatre for the Very Young, the Palefsky Collision Project, student matinees for the Family Series, and an Institute that provides acting classes and professional development to teachers wanting to incorporate evidence-based theatrical techniques that improve student learning. Over nearly two decades, the Zeist Foundation has seeded new programs for children and youth, subsidized tickets for student matinees, and provided production support for collaborative and youth-focused performances.
Fernbank Natural History Museum
Fernbank Natural History Museum is dedicated to protecting the 65-acre old growth Fernbank Forest and stimulating an interest in science, the environment, and human culture. It does so through hands-on interdisciplinary STEAM learning. In addition to its museum exhibits and nature programs, the Museum provides exploratory science classes, a science explorer program in partnership with afterschool program providers, an ecology program for middle and high school students from historically low-income communities, and a discovery vehicle that supports hands-on activities at community events. Over the years, the Zeist Foundation has contributed student field trips and capital campaigns that expanded exhibits designed for children.
Education
GEEARS
GEEARS, the Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students, is a leading advocate for the early care and learning sector in the state. GEEARS advocates for program affordability and accessibility for families; high quality and financial viability for providers, and implementation of strong health policy for new mothers and their infants. Their research demonstrates the correlation between a robust early care & learning sector and Georgia’s (and the country’s) economic progress. The coalitions that GEEARS has built have been instrumental in preserving full-day pre-K during the great recession, promoting quality improvement practices at a systems level, and preserving HEAD Start slots in Georgia. The Zeist Foundation provides operating dollars to GEEARS to support its robust research, analysis, and advocacy which in turn informs our work.
Raising Expectations
Raising Expectations empowers youth in crises by elevating academic, social, and civic expectations to facilitate high school graduation and post-secondary plans. Services include mentorship, tutoring, career exploration and post-secondary advisement with an emphasis on STEM careers. While programming focuses on youth, their holistic approach creates a community that helps build resilience among youth and their families. Additionally, the program provides a re-entry point for young adults whose trajectory was derailed by supporting them through course recovery and career coaching.
Health & Human Services
The Center for Black Women’s Wellness
The Center for Black Women’s Wellness is a trusted community-based organization providing women’s health service, a monthly primary care clinic, financial literacy education, and family support programming. Through the Atlanta Healthy Start Initiative, CBWW provides perinatal case management and home visiting services complemented by a Fatherhood Coordinator. As CBWW works to support women, they have also created a workforce pathway for Certified Home Visitors, Community-Based Doulas, Community Health Workers and Certified Lactation Counselors. The Zeist Foundation supports CBWW for its generational approach to health families.
Mercy Care
Mercy Care is a Federally Qualified Health Center serving as a comprehensive medical home for nearly 16,000 people annually through a combination of their fixed and mobile sites. Their pediatric practice serves more than 4,400 children; 93% of whom were homeless or at risk for homelessness.
Atlanta Mission
The Atlanta Mission’s Restoration House is a 44,385-square-foot low-barrier shelter for women and children. Opened in 2021 the shelter implements a trauma-informed design focused on dignity and self-esteem; empowerment and personal control; security; privacy and personal space; stress management; sense of community; and beauty and meaning. With the addition of its Restoration House campus, Atlanta Mission facilities provide 40% of the total available bed space in the city of Atlanta for women and children. Because the Mission’s footprint is so large and the Zeist Foundation focuses on children and families, our support has focused on the Mission’s programs related to housing children.
Feeding Georgia
Feeding Georgia was formed by the CEOs of Georgia’s Feeding America food banks to share emerging trends, best practices, and resources in an effort to better serve their regions. The six participating foodbanks all operate child nutrition programs in the form of school pantries, weekend & summer food backpacks, and Kids Café meals in addition to the 1,500 community-based partners that help get food distributed out in the community. Through grants to Feeding GA the Zeist Foundation has contributed to the capacity of food banks throughout the state to respond to economic crises and natural disasters.