Druid Hills Golf Club Foundation

## Approach Strategy

The Druid Hills Golf Club Foundation operates as a tightly focused, event-driven scholarship foundation anchored to Atlanta's prestigious private golf community. Its primary vehicle — the annual Dogwood Amateur Golf Tournament — serves a dual purpose: celebrating elite collegiate amateur golf while generating scholarship funds for deserving recipients.

Strategic positioning: This foundation is not a traditional grantmaker accepting unsolicited applications. Instead, it channels resources through two defined scholarship programs: the Wayne Reynolds Scholarship (honoring a legacy club figure) and Employee Scholarships supporting club staff and their dependents. Prospective recipients should understand the internal, relationship-driven nature of this foundation — access typically flows through club membership, employment, or direct tournament involvement.

Organizational shift: The 2021-2022 merger with the Dogwood Foundation, Inc. (EIN 58-2074988) consolidated scholarship assets and eliminated administrative duplication. This signals a more streamlined operation going forward.

## Funding Patterns

• Primary funding mechanism: Annual golf tournament (Dogwood Amateur) generating fees, donations, and sponsorships
• Recent financials: Total tournament fundraising of $137,767 against expenses of $144,167 — resulting in a net loss, suggesting scholarship disbursements rely on accumulated reserves
• Asset base: ~$566,930 in total assets (modest for a club foundation)
• Grant types: Scholarships (not project grants or general nonprofit grants)
• Frequency: Annual scholarship cycle tied to tournament timing
• Typical award: Not publicly disclosed; likely in the range of $1,000–$5,000 per scholarship based on asset size and operating scale
• Recipient profile: Collegiate-level golfers (Wayne Reynolds Scholarship) and club employees/dependents (Employee Scholarship)

## Peer Comparison

Assessment: Druid Hills Golf Club Foundation is squarely in the mid-tier of Atlanta private club foundations. Its focus on employee scholarships differentiates it from purely athletic scholarship programs. The merger with Dogwood Foundation strengthened its position but the recent net loss from tournament operations is a yellow flag for long-term sustainability without sponsorship growth.

## Application Tips

1. Understand the access model: This is not an open-application foundation. Scholarships are awarded to individuals connected to the club (employees, their dependents, or collegiate golfers involved in the Dogwood Amateur tournament).

2. Employee scholarships: If you or a family member is employed by Druid Hills Golf Club, inquire directly with club management or the HR department about the Employee Scholarship application process and annual timeline.

3. Dogwood Amateur connection: If you are a top-tier collegiate amateur golfer, getting selected to participate in the Dogwood Amateur tournament is the primary pathway to scholarship consideration. Work through your college golf program and relevant amateur golf associations (USGA, Georgia Golf Association).

4. Timing: Applications and awards follow the annual tournament cycle. Plan outreach well in advance of the tournament date (typically spring).

5. Sponsorship angle for nonprofits: Organizations in Atlanta's golf or youth sports ecosystem could explore tournament sponsorship as a partnership angle — this supports the foundation's operating sustainability while building visibility.