Wells Fargo announced the company donated more than $16.4 million through 600 grants to local nonprofits, schools and community organizations in 2018 to help the communities and people of Georgia.

Wells Fargo’s philanthropic contributions build on a long history of collaboration with local nonprofits and community leaders to make a positive impact by addressing urgent community issues such as affordable housing, small business growth, and access to education.

When combined with the $1.4 million donated by the company’s Georgia team members, nonprofits in the state received a total of $17.9 million from Wells Fargo and its team members in 2018. That amounts to an average daily donation of $49,000.

“Across our community, many residents are working hard to make ends meet,” said Kris Christy, Wells Fargo’s Georgia Community Affairs consultant. “Here in Georgia, we want to help people find a stable place to live, help small business owners expand, and help young people gain a quality education that prepares them for the workforce. We are determined to help people and communities, especially in underserved areas, succeed financially. We will continue to provide philanthropy, volunteers, expertise and other resources to revitalize and strengthen local neighborhoods.”

Beyond philanthropy, Wells Fargo team members in Georgia volunteered more than 27,000 hours in 2018 to support nonprofits and causes important to them.

“Part of what makes Wells Fargo unique is the generosity of our team members who help multiply our community impact,” said Christy. “Sometimes giving time is even more valuable than money because it puts our desire to build a strong community into action and gives us a tangible way to personally make a difference.”

United Way Worldwide recently recognized Wells Fargo for having the No. 1 workplace giving campaign in the U.S. for the tenth consecutive year.

Making an impact in Georgia

Wells Fargo concentrated its local philanthropic contributions on addressing urgent community issues such as:

Affordable housing. To help increase affordable, stable housing and homeownership in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, Wells Fargo collaborated with grantees such as Neighborworks Columbus, Quest Community Development Organization and Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership to provide homebuyer education, down payment assistance and other affordable housing solutions.

Small business growth. Small businesses are critical to job creation and a vibrant community. Many diverse-owned small businesses, especially those in rural and low- to moderate-income communities, face unique challenges and often lack access to the full spectrum of resources necessary for growth and success. Nonprofits serving small businesses – including Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE), Small Business Assistance Corporation of Savannah and Southwest Georgia United – received grants to provide access to capital and training for entrepreneurs in rural and urban markets. 

Economic equity and inclusion. Support included grants to nonprofits that directly serve diverse and historically underserved groups, including initiatives focused on the development of women and diverse talent, education and vocational training, and other solutions for communities with limited access to traditional financial services. For example, Wells Fargo collaborated with Latin American Association and the Urban League of Greater Atlanta.

Access to education. Support included grants for local K-12 schools, scholarships for post-secondary or vocational training, and financial education, including Junior Achievement of Georgia and Communities in Schools throughout the state.

Minimizing the impacts of climate change. The company supported the work of nonprofits helping communities become more resilient in the face of a changing climate, including environmental education, resiliency planning, green infrastructure and bringing renewable energy to low-income communities. For example, Wells Fargo supported Georgia Conservancy, Park Pride Atlanta and Trees Atlanta.