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Alicia Philipp, President of CFGA, Retires After Nearly 40 Years

Alicia Philipp Newsmaker headshot; woman with short hair and arms crossed looking up and to the side

Fernando Decillis

Alicia Philipp

Alicia Philipp, president of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta (CFGA), is retiring after leading the foundation for nearly 40 years.

Philipp gained prominence in the philanthropic sector through her exemplary leadership of CFGA for these four decades. When she joined the organization in 1977, it had approximately $7 million in assets. Today, CFGA is the Georgia’s second largest foundation, having grown to more than $1 billion in assets servicing the 23-county region encircling Atlanta.

Philipp’s influence on the sector is felt strongly throughout the city and state. Numerous prominent Georgia charities and philanthropic organizations exist solely because of Philipp’s focus on using capital to strengthen nonprofits around Atlanta. The Georgia Center for Nonprofits, the Atlanta Women’s Foundation, the Atlanta AIDS Partnership Fund, the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund and the Neighborhood Fund are all products of a Philipp and CFGA’s efforts. Along with CFGA and many others, these organizations have been working towards the vision Philipp had for Atlanta more than 40 years ago.

The Atlanta Business Chronicle named Philipp as one of the “100 Most Influential Atlantans” while Georgia Trend Magazine named her as one of their “100 Most Influential Georgians”. Further accolades include being recognized as the ninth “most powerful” Atlantan by Atlanta Magazine and as one of 175 “Emory History Makers” by her alma mater, Emory University, which has also awarded her the “Emory Medal”, its highest honor for alumni.

A native of Maryland, Philipp first came to Atlanta for college, attending Emory University and earning a bachelor’s degree in political science before moving on to Georgia State University to get an MBA.

After completing her education, Philipp joined CFGA and never looked back. During her tenure, she extended the reach of her ideals even more by sitting on numerous philanthropic organizations’ boards; including the Council on Foundations, the Southeastern Council of Foundations, Independent Sector and the National Center on Family Philanthropy.

Alicia Philipp will step down from leading the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta in early 2020. The board will soon release more information about exact timing and the status of the search for a worthy successor.

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