Connecting People who Care with Causes that Matter
“Every single individual that we’ve been introduced to through the Community Foundation, whether Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta or Good Samaritan Health Center of Gwinnett, or other folks we’ve met along the way, are all tremendous organizations and individuals. We love everything going on at the Community Foundation!”
— Fundholders Ken and Lori Massaroni
Who We Are
At the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, everything we do centers around one purpose – improving our world through the power of philanthropy.
On a fundamental level, we do that through managing funds held in trust, donated by individuals, organizations and businesses. Most funds are donor-advised funds, similar to savings accounts. These funds are pooled for investment purposes and their income is used to make grants for a wide variety of charitable purposes.
But our goals expand far beyond managing funds. We desire to strengthen the communities we serve in Gwinnett, Northeast Georgia and beyond by providing leadership, addressing community needs and assisting individuals and organizations with their charitable giving.
Our History
The Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia began operating as the Gwinnett Foundation, Inc. a nonprofit community foundation on March 25, 1985. It was founded by a group of community-minded citizens to receive and disburse charitable funds for an improved quality of life throughout Gwinnett County. After a capital campaign provided the initial seed money, the Community Foundation received a major boost in 1987, due to the efforts of the late Robert D. Fowler. Under his leadership, he and the other owners of the Gwinnett Daily News generously offered a $1 million challenge grant, which was matched by the community. These funds enabled a significant increase in grant awards and provided a solid base for future asset growth. The board of directors voted to change the name to the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia in March of 2002.
We are one of the few nonprofits founded in Gwinnett that is still here after 30 years. One of the main reasons for our longevity is the fact that we have always been community based. We know our community’s issues intimately and have developed close relationships through the years with the people who can help solve those issues – not just through their finances but also through volunteering, education and leadership skills.
Over the years, the Community Foundation has continued to grow – not only in terms of giving, but also through other areas. Our desire to innovate can be seen through our expanding education efforts and our focus on bringing key organizations and community leaders together to address issues such as early education, food insufficiency and more. We seek to strengthen not only our nonprofits but also our donors and the community at large. This desire has led us to create education partnerships with the Georgia Center of Nonprofits, the Southeast Council on Foundations and the J.W. Fanning Institute at UGA to bring the very best nonprofit educational opportunities to Gwinnett.
To date, the Community Foundation has granted out more than $100 million – impacting the arts, education, faith-based organizations, community service and health care. We can’t wait to see what the future holds!
Our Mission
The Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia strengthens the communities we serve by providing leadership, addressing community needs and assisting
individuals and organizations
with their charitable giving.
Our Vision
Improve the world through the power of philanthropy.
Our Staff
DePriest Waddy, President & CEO
DePriest has a long history of leadership in the nonprofit sector. He has served almost 30 years in leadership roles at various nonprofits and Fortune 500 companies, including the American Hospital Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, United Way of Greater Atlanta, Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity, and, most recently, Families First.
Prior to joining the Community Foundation in June 2022, DePriest was CEO of Families First, a 131 year-old nonprofit serving at-risk children and families throughout Georgia, the United States and abroad.
DePriest received his bachelors degree in marketing from The University of Alabama and his MBA from Kennesaw State University. He is a Leadership Gwinnett Class of 2015 alumnus, as well as a Leadership Birmingham Class of 2019 alumnus and Leadership Atlanta Class of 2022. He has been named to the Atlanta 500 in 2021 and 2022, Atlanta Magazine’s annual list of the area’s most powerful leaders. He was also awarded the Georgia Titan 100 in 2022. He and his wife, Carol, have one married daughter and two granddaughters.
DePriest’s dream for the Community Foundation: “Continuing to help meet the increasing needs resulting from complex family problems.”
dwaddy@cfneg.org | 770.813.3384
Britt Ramroop, Director of Fundholder Experience
Connecting people who care with causes that matter is at the heart of what Britt, our director of fundholder experience, does every day. Britt works with our current fundholders to help them become even more engaged in the opportunities and the needs of the community. She enjoys helping them develop their own personal philanthropic plan to guide their giving. In addition, she also is helping create a Legacy Society and ensuring that our annual Good2Give Celebration continues to grow and prosper.
Before coming to the Community Foundation, Britt was the director of community outreach at Aurora Theatre, and spent 10 years with Aurora, building relationships and connecting people through the arts.
Britt, a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University in Washington, is originally from Wyoming but has called Gwinnett home since 2007. She lives on a small farm in Loganville with her husband, 8-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter, plus 30-some chickens, 19 goats and two dogs.
bramroop@cfneg.org | 770.353.9760
Margaret Bugbee, Chief Financial Officer
As the Community Foundation’s CFO, Margaret ensures everything runs smoothly from a financial standpoint. She interacts with the donors, board and nonprofit partners on a regular basis – her favorite part of the job.
Before joining the Community Foundation’s staff in May 2013, Margaret spent 15 years doing part-time accounting work for the Community Foundation. Prior to that she worked in the banking industry; in public accounting for Moore Stephens Tiller and Westbrook, McGrath, Bridges, Orth & Bray; in government accounting performing foreign grantee oversight for the Centers for Disease Control; and worked in the nonprofit sector for the National Public Health Information Coalition.
Margaret has a bachelor’s degree in finance and is a CPA. She is actively involved in the community and serves on the Scott Hudgens Family Foundation Advisory Board, the Gwinnett Medical Center Women’s Advisory Council, and the Gwinnett County Public Library Foundation Board.
She and her husband Robert have three children: Tyler, Suzanne and Jack. In her free time, Margaret enjoys tennis, reading, soccer and horseback riding.
Margaret’s dream for the Community Foundation: “I want to see us grow to $100 million in assets by 2020, and have the ability to make $1,000,000 in annual general grants to nonprofits in our region by 2025.”
mbugbee@cfneg.org | 770.813.3382
Karyl Kaye Miller, Executive Assistant
With 30 years of administrative experience, Karyl Kaye Miller helps ensure the Community Foundation runs smoothly. She’s responsible for all admin/office support as well as coordinating special events and meetings, managing the database, and much more.
A graduate of DeKalb College, Karyl Kaye previously worked for the Council for Quality Growth, as well as other organizations, before coming to the Community Foundation in 2014.
Her favorite part of her job is working to help grow and develop the Community Foundation to reach even further in the region, sustaining communities so that individuals and families can prosper and thrive.
Outside of work, Karyl Kaye loves spending time with her twin daughters Katie and Kristin and her pet Yorkie Chloe. She also enjoys reading, gardening, the great outdoors and is an avid sports fan.
Karyl Kaye’s dream for the Community Foundation: “To engage large corporate organizations to partner with the Community Foundation to sustain our community and make it a better place to live, work and play.”
kmiller@cfneg.org | 770.813.3387
Board of Directors
At the Community Foundation, we’re governed by a board of directors as diverse as our community. Our officers and directors are chosen for their extensive knowledge of the community’s educational, cultural, civic and charitable needs. Directors serve on a volunteer basis and meet to discuss community issues, set policy, oversee investments and make final decisions on grants.
2022 OFFICERS
Chair:
Dick LoPresti, Community Leader
Vice Chair:
J. Michael Levengood, Law Office of J. Michael Levengood
Treasurer:
K. Clifford Bray II, WBO CPA Group
Secretary:
Kenneth M. Massaroni, Community Leader
Directors
Tom Abernathy
Abernathy & Timberlake Investment Group
Ethel D. Andersen
Andersen, Tate & Carr
Julie Keeton Arnold
Keeton Arnold Communications
Dr. Audrey Arona
GNR Health Department
Emily J. Brantley
Gwinnett State Court Judge
Carla T. Carraway
Precision Planning
Rev. Bryan S. Choe
Atlanta Promise Church
Dean Collins
Axis Companies
Dave Cook
Edward Jones
Alejandro Cross
Latin American Chamber of Commerce
Julia Davis
Community Leader
James (Jay) D. Dennard, Jr.
Northside Hospital Duluth
Wayne D. Ellison
Ellison Insurance Agency
Melvin Everson
Gwinnett Technical College
Ron Garrard
Garrard Group
Kim Hartsock
Warren Averett
Jim Joedecke
Andersen, Tate & Carr
Sloan Jones
Georgia Gwinnett College
Scott Jordan
Pinnacle Financial Partners
Dr. Daniel J. Kaufman
DKaufman Consulting
Jill Kersh
Thrive Unlimited
Kathryn Kieser
Primerica
Daniel J. King
Community Leader
Ronda Colvin Leary
Gwinnett State Court Judge
Bin Liu
CFS Corporation
Santiago R. Marquez
Latin American Association
Scott Mawdesley
Corners Outreach
William F. McCargo
B Mac & Associates
Michael Park
Whitlock Group
Sam Park
Georgia House of Representatives
Debra Potter
Perimeter Church
Nathan Powell
Powell & Edwards
Teddy Russell
Russell Landscape
Robin F. Sansone
Rhodes, Young, Black & Duncan CPAs
David Still
Capital Endeavors
Sandra J. Strickland
Community Leader
R. Lee Tucker, Jr.
Mahaffey Pickens Tucker
Monty G. Watson
The Piedmont Bank
Adam C. Wilson
Sugarloaf Wealth Management
Philip R. Wolfe
Community Leader
Professional Advisor Network
Since 1999, our professional advisors network has played a critical role in the Community Foundation’s endowment programs. Our network is comprised of attorneys, financial planners, bankers, CPAs and related professionals — all on a volunteer basis — who desire to help other professionals and their clients connect with the power of giving through the Community Foundation.
Professional Advisor Leadership Team
Amy Bray
Coulter & Sierra
Dave Cook
Edward Jones
Hays Evans
Capital Group Private Client Services
Meredith Hilton
Meredith Hilton Law
Jim Joedecke
Andersen, Tate & Carr
Jerri Miller
Wealth Horizon
Nathan Powell
Powell & Edwards
Robin Sansone
Rhodes, Young, Black & Duncan, CPAs
Adam C. Wilson
Sugarloaf Wealth Management