About the Foundation

There are more than 700 community foundations across the country and around the world. We are proud to be the 21st in Georgia.

Who We Are:

The Community Foundation provides charitable support to all in the Rome/Floyd community. Our grants and funds reach and impact everyone all while helping to make our community a better place. The Community Foundation strives to serve, educate, and inspire a better tomorrow. Currently, community foundations are the fastest growing vehicle for philanthropy in the country and are among the most cost-efficient and flexible avenues for generosity. We can be thought of like an entrepreneur, looking for creative ways to channel generosity to address ambitious goals for community growth, impact, and sustainability.

What We Do:

The Community Foundation has an amazing track record of noticing community needs and addressing them with meaningful, long-term solutions. We serve as a “non-operating charity.” We do not operate a traditional non-profit like a homeless shelter or a museum, instead, we exist to encourage other charities by providing grants and gifts to local non-profits and community projects. Foundations serve as a “savings account”. Endowments are established by local donors and are invested carefully in perpetuity and earn interest. From there, donors may choose what they want to spend their interest-earned on and can designate where their gift will go for the benefit of their community. We also administer non-endowment funds.

History of the Community Foundation:

The Community Foundation for Greater Rome was incorporated in April of 2015 after many years of planning by local community leaders. There are over 700 community foundations in the United States – we were the 21st foundation established in Georgia. Foundations range in size, from Carrollton to Atlanta; we make a difference anywhere, big or small.

Not only are we building a healthier community, but we are also working to inspire the next generation of generous givers.

Community Foundation Staff

Ashley Garner, Executive Director

Ashley was one of the founders of the Community Foundation for Greater Rome. Garner has been a resident of Rome since 2005 and has worked as Chief Development Officer at Darlington School, a strategic planning consultant for multiple local non-profits, and as a freelance grant writer. She earned advanced degrees from Harvard University and Vanderbilt University.

CFFGR Board of Directors

John Bennett
Retired Rome City Manager

           Gregory Harris, DO                 Medical Oncologist, Harbin Clinic   

             Ashley L. Jennings                 Community Advocate

                  David J. Lance                                                President & CEO                                Greater Community Bank

                  Todd H. Lindsey                                                   Attorney

            

                      Mike Mathis                                      Owner, Mathis Builders’                 Hardware & Supply

                  Sarah McElrath                                             Sales Associate,                                      Toles, Temple, and Wright

                     David Newby                              Former President & CEO, Custom Extrusion Holdings, LLC & Profile Custom Extrusions, LLC

                      Jennifer Scott                            Community Advocate

               

                  Scott Smith, Chair                      Attorney, McRae, Smith, and Peek

                    David Tomlin                                         Wealth Advisor, Sr. VP,                          RCB Wealth Management         

                 C. B. Wright III                                  Retired Financial Services        Executive

              Ashley N. Garner                Executive Director