Westside Future Fund

Westside Future Fund
Name	Westside Future Fund
Type	Nonprofit organization
Founded	1999
Headquarters	Atlanta, Georgia
Area served	Atlanta, Westside, Atlanta
Focus	Community development, affordable housing, economic revitalization

Westside Future Fund is a nonprofit community development organization based in Atlanta focused on revitalization of the Westside, Atlanta neighborhoods. Founded in 1999, the organization works on real estate development, affordable housing, workforce development, and public space projects that intersect with municipal planning, philanthropic initiatives, and private investment. Its activities connect to citywide policy debates involving mayors, urban planners, transit agencies, universities, and cultural institutions across Georgia and the United States.

History

The organization emerged amid redevelopment conversations that involved figures and entities such as Maynard Jackson, Shirley Franklin, Kasim Reed, Andre Dickens, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., and the City Council of Atlanta. Its formation paralleled projects like the Atlanta BeltLine and drew attention from institutions including Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, and philanthropic foundations such as the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, and the Ford Foundation. Early initiatives referenced precedents like the Hope VI program, lessons from Pittsburgh and Chicago neighborhood revitalizations, and federal policies such as the Community Development Block Grant program. The group's timeline intersected with major regional developments: the expansion of Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the 1996 Summer Olympics legacy projects, and the construction of Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Mission and Goals

The stated goals emphasize preservation of affordable housing, promotion of mixed-income development, and coordination with agencies including Atlanta Housing Authority, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, Georgia Department of Transportation, and regional planning bodies like the Atlanta Regional Commission. Strategic aims align with research from think tanks such as the Urban Institute, the Brookings Institution, and academic work produced by the School of City and Regional Planning at Georgia Tech. Objectives have referenced models from New York City Housing Authority, San Francisco Bay Area inclusionary housing policies, and city strategies promoted by mayors like Michael Bloomberg and Richard M. Daley.

Key Projects and Initiatives

Initiatives include housing developments, commercial corridors, and public realm improvements that coordinate with entities such as Invest Atlanta, Enterprise Community Partners, Habitat for Humanity, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and corporations including Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, Home Depot, and The Home Depot Foundation. Notable project types mirrored national examples like mixed-use development at Atlantic Station, transit-oriented development around MARTA stations, and adaptive reuse projects akin to Ponce City Market. Projects referenced collaborative stakeholders such as Southwire, SunTrust (now Truist), Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, and philanthropic actors like the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Knight Foundation.

Governance and Funding

Governance structures have connected the organization to civic leaders, clergy, business executives, and nonprofit directors with affiliations to institutions like Atlanta University Center, Georgia State University, The Carter Center, and the United Way of Greater Atlanta. Funding streams have included private philanthropy, corporate donations, foundation grants, and tax credit mechanisms such as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and incentives used by Invest Atlanta. Financial partnerships and donors paralleled large-scale investors seen in redevelopment projects with stakeholders like Kaiser Permanente, Emory Healthcare, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and multinational firms with regional offices in Midtown Atlanta and Downtown Atlanta.

Impact and Criticism

Supporters cite increases in mixed-income housing, improved parks, and coordination with transportation improvements championed by officials from City of Atlanta administrations. Critics and scholars connected to institutions such as Spelman College and Morehouse College have raised concerns about displacement, gentrification, and the adequacy of affordable housing commitments—echoing debates from case studies in Brooklyn, Washington, D.C., and Portland, Oregon. Community activists and groups referencing national movements like Right to the City and local coalitions including tenant associations have highlighted tensions with developers, municipal zoning changes, and the role of tax increment financing used in some projects. Evaluations have been discussed in forums hosted by Atlanta City Council, nonprofit conferences convened by National Community Reinvestment Coalition, and academic symposia at Georgia State University.

Partnerships and Community Engagement

Partnerships span nonprofit intermediaries, faith-based organizations, and community development corporations similar to Southwest Georgia Project and Central Atlanta Progress. Engagement efforts have involved neighborhood associations, faith leaders from churches in Auburn Avenue and West End, and collaborations with cultural institutions like the High Museum of Art, Atlanta History Center, and performing arts organizations such as Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Alliance Theatre. Workforce and training programs have aligned with providers including Goodwill Industries, WorkSource Atlanta, and community colleges like Atlanta Technical College and Georgia Piedmont Technical College to link housing initiatives with employment pipelines.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Atlanta