2026-2028 Strategic Plan
HORIZONS ATLANTA
LETTER FROM THE BOARD CHAIR
2026–2028 Strategic Plan
For much of the past decade, Horizons Atlanta's story has been one of growth with new sites, new partnerships, and a steadily larger circle of children given a stronger shot at their school year. That growth is something the entire Horizons Atlanta community can be proud of, and it's the foundation this next chapter is built on.
That kind of growth naturally asks a lot of an organization, and Horizons Atlanta is being thoughtful about meeting that moment well. Our financial model, operating capacity, and fundraising infrastructure are being strengthened to match the scale we've grown into, and we're already taking action: this year, Horizons Atlanta approved a regional fundraising strategy with clear growth targets, moved our partner sites to a fixed and predictable funding model in place of open-ended cost sharing, and is working thoughtfully and in good faith with our site partners to address past financial commitments. The 2026–2028 Strategic Plan sets the roadmap for the rest, organized around a simple discipline — Stabilize. Strengthen. Sustain. — a right-sized program model, disciplined budgeting, and a Board that leads by example in philanthropy and governance.
Our mission hasn't changed, and neither has our track record. In the summer of 2025, Horizons Atlanta served 1,301 K-8 scholars across 11 sites, backed by 312 dedicated staff members, with our scholars posting an average of 7 to 8 weeks of academic progress in literacy and math against the usual summer slide. That is the kind of outcome Horizons Atlanta intends to keep delivering, not for one more good summer, but for decades of them.
This plan is not a retrenchment. It is stewardship — choosing discipline now so that growth, when it comes back, is durable rather than borrowed against tomorrow. Every child in Atlanta, regardless of background, deserves the same chance at a high-quality, tuition-free summer experience that sparks the joy of learning, builds the skills for success, and inspires the confidence to realize their dreams, and that belief hasn't moved an inch. What's changed is our discipline about how we get there.
This is where our community comes in. Every family, partner, and supporter who has believed in Horizons Atlanta has helped make that impact possible, and that partnership is exactly what will carry it forward. We look forward to continuing to deliver for the scholars and families who count on us this summer and for many summers to come.
Sincerely,
Scott Bernstein
Board Chair, Horizons Atlanta