Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation announces new key areas of giving

"Closer Look" show host Rose Scott talks with Fay Twersky, the president of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation (on left), and Kenny Blank, a director and board member at the foundation (on right), about the foundations’ new key areas of philanthropy. ( Photo courtesy: Daniel Rayzel)

The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has announced a new focus strategy for the next decade.

Fay Twersky, the president of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, and Kenny Blank, a director and board member at the foundation, recently spoke about the foundation’s former longtime investment in areas of education, parks and green space and youth development—and why, after 28 years, the foundation has decided to focus on new key areas of philanthropy.

Twersky explained the foundation took a look back to better understand its roughly $55 million investment into Atlanta’s Westside community and decided to listen and respond to the community’s needs to have a greater impact.

“We ended up with a strategy that is more focused on where the community is now and that is on affordable housing and financial inclusion,” said Twersky.

The foundation’s new primary focus areas of giving over the next 10 years include: Atlanta’s Westside, democracy, environment, mental health and well-being and youth development.

“We had to had to find areas again, where the need was the greatest, where we could have the biggest impact, where unique strengths of the particular foundation could serve the community best,” Blank explained.

During the conversation the guests also talked about the foundation’s new rebranded identity.