Smith W. Bagley Advocacy Award

OBJECTIVE

Celebrate one organization or network, in memory of our late president.
 

DESIRED OUTCOME

Advance the desired outcomes of Grant Portfolios I-III.
 

PROCESS

Annual, closed grant process.

History & Purpose

Each year, we award a special grant to honor our late President and Trustee, Smith W. Bagley, and his vision for a more just and equitable society.

During his more than 30 years as a leader our foundation, Mr. Bagley diligently worked to advance the civil and human rights of Georgia’s disenfranchised populations. Each year, he looked forward to visiting small nonprofit organizations in rural Georgia communities, where they strive to advance social justice and progressive change. He understood the value of meeting people where they live and work, and this practice greatly enriched his grantmaking decisions and those of our Board of Trustees.

Since 2006, our Board of Trustees has selected an outstanding nonprofit organization or network as our annual Smith W. Bagley Advocacy Awardee.

Past Awardees

2023
Georgia Conservation Voters Education Fund

2022
Albany Community Together

2021
New Georgia Project

2020
Coal Ash Committee of the Georgia Water Coalition

2019
Georgia Coastal Collaborative

2018
Georgia Water Coalition

2017
Georgia Women’s Action for New Directions (Georgia WAND)

2016
Center for A Sustainable Coast

2015
Georgia Association of Elected Latino Officials (GALEO)

2014
Georgia Budget and Policy Institute

2013
ProGeorgia

2012
The Honorable John Lewis received the Smith Bagley Advocacy Award. A grant was awarded to the Atlanta Historical Society to support the creation of a film documenting his life and contributions to our society.

2011
Southern Center for Human Rights

2010
Interfaith Children’s Movement

2009
Glynn Environmental Coalition

2008
Justice Project Education Fund

2007
Georgia Innocence Project

2006
The Foundation’s three nonprofit partners in its JUSTGeorgia Project: Georgia Appleseed, Barton Clinic for Child Law and Policy, and Voices for Georgia’s Children