Fanz Foundation

## Approach Strategy

The Fanz Foundation is a Lilburn, Georgia-based private foundation with a distinctive education-focused portfolio that spans undergraduate scholarships at women's colleges, African immigrant women's empowerment, foster children's education, and global high school programs. The foundation is led by Cheryl Hartman (President) and Carol Hartman (Treasurer), with paid staff members Chad Haywood, Lane Cotton Winn, and Nathan Haywood (each receiving $12,000/year compensation for 4 hours/week work).

The grantee profile is remarkably consistent year-over-year: the same 9 organizations receive support annually with minor amount variations. Agnes Scott College (the prestigious women's liberal arts college in Decatur, GA) and UMass Amherst consistently receive the two largest grants ($100,000 each), suggesting scholarship endowments or recurring commitments rather than competitive awards. Pathways for Learning in Lilburn receives ongoing support, placing it in the foundation's local community anchor role.

Critical insight: This foundation is fully preselected. All grants go to the same core nine organizations with no open applications. The grantee list has been stable for at least 4+ years.

The website fanz.org belongs to an esports gaming company (Fanz Esports NIL) — completely unrelated to this foundation. The Fanz Foundation has no public web presence.

For education-focused organizations outside this established network, connecting with the Hartman family or Haywood staff through Atlanta-area education philanthropy circles (Agnes Scott alumni network, Lilburn community connections) would be the only realistic path.

## Funding Patterns

The Fanz Foundation maintains extremely consistent annual giving of $240,000-$295,000 per year, a rate that has held stable since at least FY2020.

Historical giving: - 2024: $248,725 (9 grants) - 2023: $239,225 (9 grants) - 2022: $295,025 (9 grants) — peak year - 2021: $248,400 (9 grants) - 2020: $260,075 (9 grants)

Grant structure (FY2024 typical): Agnes Scott $100,000 (scholarship); UMass Amherst $100,000 (scholarship); Pathways for Learning $33,725; Growth Through Learning $15,000; and five additional organizations at $0 (programmatic support recorded but no cash transfer, or below-threshold cash).

The two $100,000 grants to Agnes Scott and UMass Amherst are recurring, suggesting these are scholarship endowments or multi-year commitments. The Pathways for Learning amount varies ($20-34K range), suggesting discretionary local giving. The remaining five organizations receive nominal or $0-level programmatic support.

Asset stability: Assets have remained in the $4.6-5.9M range since 2020, suggesting the foundation is distributing roughly the income/appreciation on its endowment without drawing down principal.

## Peer Comparison

The Fanz Foundation's focus on Agnes Scott (women's college), Amani Women Center (African immigrant women, Clarkston GA), and multi-country high school programs suggests a coherent women's education and global development thread. Clarkston, GA is famously one of the most diverse cities in America and a hub for African refugees — Amani Women Center's location there is significant.

For organizations working with African immigrant women, refugees, or global education in Atlanta, the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation are more accessible alternatives with open grant cycles.

## Recent Activity

FY2024 giving: Agnes Scott College $100,000 (scholarships grad/undergrad); UMass Amherst $100,000 (scholarships grad/undergrad); Pathways for Learning Lilburn GA $33,725; Growth Through Learning Cambridge MA $15,000 (multi-country high school education grants); Amani Women Center Clarkston GA, Center for Puppetry Arts Atlanta, Kent State University, Multi Agency Alliance for Children Atlanta, and Public Health Museum Tewksbury MA (all at $0 or nominal amounts in IRS data — may reflect in-kind support or below-threshold transfers).

Officers receiving compensation: Chad Haywood, Lane Cotton Winn, and Nathan Haywood each receive $12,000/year for 4 hours/week work as "At Large," "Donor Liaison," and "Secretary" respectively. This level of family/staff compensation is modest but notable for a foundation of this size.

IRS records: No website on file. The fanz.org URL in the database is a misattribution to an unrelated esports company. EIN 261286823, recognition date not specified but active since at least 2020.

## Application Tips

Bottom line: Do not apply cold. The Fanz Foundation maintains a closed grantee pool of 9 organizations that has not changed in at least 4 years.

However, for organizations that fit the foundation's evident philanthropic priorities:

1. Women's colleges and universities: Agnes Scott and UMass Amherst receive the largest grants ($100,000 each). Women's colleges or co-ed universities with strong women's scholarship programs in the Southeast or Northeast US may be in scope for future expansion.

2. African refugee/immigrant women's organizations in Atlanta metro: Amani Women Center (Clarkston) serves African immigrant women, and Clarkston GA is a major African refugee resettlement hub. Organizations serving African women immigrants through education, workforce training, or entrepreneurship in the Atlanta area align strongly with the foundation's stated purpose "educate African women in serving skills."

3. Tutoring and learning support in Lilburn/Gwinnett County: Pathways for Learning (Lilburn) is the foundation's local anchor organization. Similar tutoring, literacy, or academic support programs in Gwinnett County may be adjacent to the Hartman family's personal interests.

4. Foster children's education programs: "Foster Children Tuition Program" appears as a grant purpose for Multi Agency Alliance for Children Atlanta. Organizations running college access or tuition support for foster youth in Georgia may appeal.

5. Global high school education programs: Growth Through Learning (Cambridge MA) runs multi-country high school education grants. Similar global education initiatives may be considered in the future.

Reach out through Agnes Scott's alumni network or Lilburn/Gwinnett County education circles to make initial contact with the Hartman family or Haywood staff.