The Imlay Foundation Inc.

The Imlay Foundation operates from a venture-capital philosophy instilled by founder John P. Imlay Jr., a prominent Atlanta technology entrepreneur who established the foundation in 1990. This mindset shapes every aspect of their giving: they favor organizations that demonstrate passion, leadership, and initiative — not just demonstrated need. Rather than prescribing narrow issue areas, the foundation takes a responsive, relationship-driven approach that rewards strong management and clear community impact over programmatic alignment with predefined categories.

Geographic focus is the single most absolute screening criterion. All 241 tracked grants in the foundation's history went exclusively to Georgia-based organizations, virtually all in Metro Atlanta. Organizations outside this footprint are ineligible unless specifically invited by the board. Permanent staff implementing programs must be locally based, and at least two full years of Atlanta operations with 501(c)(3) status are required before applying.

The application pathway is deliberately structured. Every applicant — first-time and returning alike — must begin with a written Letter of Intent (LOI) mailed to the foundation. No unsolicited full applications or digital submissions are accepted. The LOI serves as the critical filtering mechanism: the foundation reviews all LOIs and invites only qualified applicants to proceed. This means a strong LOI is not a formality but the primary vehicle for making your case to staff and board.

First-time grantees typically receive entry-level grants of $10,000–$15,000, regardless of organizational size. This reflects the foundation's deliberate preference for testing relationships before scaling commitment. Grantees that demonstrate impact and maintain the relationship across multiple award cycles can access substantially larger support — the top recipients (Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at $2M cumulative, Atlanta Botanical Garden at $1.4M, Historic Oakland Foundation at $900K) all represent long-term partnerships built over many years.

The board is family-governed: Mary Ellen Imlay serves as President, with John P. Imlay III and Lucinda Imlay as Directors. Robert Smulian is the paid Executive Director ($307,298 in FY2022) and primary operational contact. The family-governed character means organizational reputation in Atlanta's civic community and authentic relationship history carry significant weight alongside programmatic quality.

The Imlay Foundation's giving capacity has undergone dramatic growth over the past decade. In 2013–2014, the foundation distributed approximately $1.7–1.9M annually against assets of ~$21M. By 2021, grants paid had grown to $7.9M with assets reaching $51.9M — propelled by large endowment contributions of $5–8M per year between 2019 and 2022 ($5M in 2019, $7M in 2020, $8M in 2021, $5M in 2022). As of the most recent FY2024 filing, total assets stand at $48.5M with total revenue of $14.1M; FY2023 Instrumentl data reports approximately 168 awards totaling $8.9M.

Grant size profile: Median grant $19,500; average $45,041 across 241 tracked awards; first-time grants typically $10,000–$15,000 per published FAQ; no stated minimum or maximum. Large outliers of $250,000–$2,000,000 are reserved for capital campaigns, signature naming projects, and endowment gifts.

Sector breakdown from top 50 grantees:

• Health and Social Services (~40%): Good Samaritan Health Center ($170K, 3 grants), Meals on Wheels Atlanta ($150K), Grady Health Foundation ($100K), Volunteers in Medicine ($85K), Giving Kitchen Initiative ($250K), MUST Ministries ($60K), Crossroads Community Ministries ($60K), Midtown Assistance Center ($65K)
• Arts, Culture, and Media (~25%): Atlanta Botanical Garden ($1.4M), Robert W. Woodruff Arts Center ($210K, 4 grants), GPB/Foundation for Public Broadcasting ($160K+), Atlanta Contemporary Art Center ($55K), Actor's Express ($60K), Atlanta Ballet ($50K), Zoo Atlanta ($83K)
• Children, Youth, and Family (~25%): Children's Healthcare of Atlanta ($2M), Georgia Center for Child Advocacy ($75K), Foster Care Support Foundation ($70K), Los Ninos Primero ($90K combined), Kate's Club ($45K), Murphy-Harpst Children's Center ($50K), Eagle Ranch ($50K)
• Parks, Environment, and Civic (~10%): Historic Oakland Bell Tower ($900K capital), Trust for Public Land ($250K), Park Pride ($100K)

The foundation's no-consecutive-year funding policy (24-month gap required) effectively creates a biennial cadence for returning grantees. Multiyear commitments are not standard operating grants but have been made for endowment purposes (CHOA Innovation Fund) and capital restoration (Historic Oakland).

All figures for peer foundations are estimates from publicly available 990 filings and third-party databases; actual amounts vary by year.

The Imlay Foundation occupies a distinctive mid-tier position among Atlanta private foundations: large enough to make transformative capital gifts (historic preservation, endowments) while remaining nimble enough to support emerging organizations through modest entry-level grants. Its venture-capital-inspired philosophy and family governance make it more relationship-driven than peer funders of similar asset size. Compared to the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation — which funds narrowly in children and youth services — Imlay's broad mandate across arts, health, and social services offers more access points for Metro Atlanta nonprofits. Unlike larger foundations such as Arthur M. Blank, which receives thousands of inquiries nationally, Imlay's regional focus and mail-only LOI process create a more personal, direct channel where organizational reputation and community relationships carry real weight.

The foundation's most visible recent activity has centered on two major institutional partnerships and civic legacy projects. In November 2022, The Imlay Foundation completed the restoration of the Historic Oakland Bell Tower, a capital project originally committed in May 2020 with a public groundbreaking in November 2021. The restored tower now houses Foundation offices alongside a gift shop, archives, and event space — marking a permanent physical home for the institution.

In January 2022, the foundation's multi-year grant to Georgia Public Broadcasting resumed their Virtual Reality Initiative (paused during COVID), expanding VR curriculum covering Georgia civil rights history, the history of slavery, Georgia landmarks, and natural sites.

The Imlay Innovation Fund at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, established in partnership with Georgia Tech, has continued operating as the foundation's primary endowed initiative. Since 2017 the fund has awarded $1.25M+ across nine projects, providing seed funding for innovations implementable within 12–18 months. The $8M+ endowment honors both John Imlay's entrepreneurial legacy and Mary Ellen Imlay's long commitment to CHOA.

In September 2021, The Imlay Foundation joined a five-foundation $795,000 collaborative for eviction prevention relief, contributing $90,000 to three Latino-serving Atlanta organizations. No specific 2025–2026 individual grant announcements or leadership changes were found in public searches. The most recent IRS filings indicate tax returns filed in November 2025 and February 2025, confirming continued active operations.

Time your LOI strategically. The board meets in April, September, and December. LOI deadlines fall approximately six to eight weeks before application deadlines: December 15 (April meeting), April 15 (September meeting), and August 15 (December meeting). The October 1 application deadline (December cycle) often draws fewer competing submissions than the June 1 deadline — consider it for your first approach.

Mail only — no exceptions. The foundation accepts zero digital submissions. LOIs and full applications must be physical hard copies received by 5:00 pm on the deadline. Use a delivery-confirmation service when mailing. Hand delivery to Suite 320 at 3630 Peachtree Rd NE is a viable option that guarantees compliance and signals local commitment.

Structure your LOI with the ask in paragraph one. The foundation explicitly requires the dollar amount and specific purpose to lead the letter. A strong opening: "We are requesting $12,500 to fund [specific program], which will serve [X people] in [Metro Atlanta neighborhood]." Follow with organizational mission, then capacity and track record. Maximum two pages.

Right-size your first ask. First-time grants are typically $10,000–$15,000. Requesting $75,000 on an initial LOI signals a misunderstanding of how the foundation builds relationships. Plan your first application as step one of a multi-cycle relationship arc, not a one-time transaction.

Speak the venture-capital language. The foundation's philosophy prizes strong management, entrepreneurial thinking, and measurable community impact. Frame your leadership team as capable operators with a clear theory of change. Quantify outcomes where possible and describe your organization's trajectory and growth over time.

Returning applicants must report before re-asking. Prior recipients are required to include a brief update on how previous funding was used directly within the LOI text — not as a separate attachment. This is the moment to demonstrate stewardship. Make it specific: outcomes achieved, lives affected, dollars leveraged.

Watch for thematic windows. The foundation has launched targeted funding rounds focused on specific community crises — homelessness (2017, $510K), refugee services (2018, $205K), eviction prevention (2021, $90K). Monitor the foundation's News & Events page before submitting; alignment with an active thematic priority can significantly strengthen your LOI.