
Michelle Prater
President & CEO mprater@ngcf.orgMichelle Prater, an Ohio native, moved to Georgia in 1990 to attend the University of North Georgia where she earned a bachelor’s degree in both marketing and management. She continued her education at Brenau University earning her MBA in Leadership Development.
Michelle started her career in banking. As a vice president at Regions then BB&T, she led a highly successful team earning many sales and leadership awards. After a mission trip to Uganda in 2005, she decided to leave corporate America and move into the nonprofit sector so that she could make a greater impact on those in need. Michelle worked in development for LDI Inc. and Map International before landing at United Way. In her role as Senior Director of Volunteerism at United Way of Greater Atlanta, Michelle created a new synergy around volunteerism launching this division into a lead income producer for UWGA.
In October 2015, Michelle accepted the position of President and CEO with the North Georgia Community Foundation. NGCF helps people and nonprofits invest generously in the lives of all those who call our community home. With Michelle at the helm, the organization has grown from $42 million in assets to its current level. Under her leadership, NGCF has become the go to resource for nonprofit training in North Georgia, offering learning opportunities for nonprofit Executive Directors and their staff on topics designed specifically for their organizations.
Michelle currently serves on the UNG Mike Cottrell College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board, the Georgia Forward Board of Directors, the Philanthropy Southeast Community Foundation Council, the Women of UNG Scholarship Committee, the Sisu Strategic Planning Committee, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lanier Board of Directors as well as their Finance Committee. In the past, Michelle has been a part of the COVID-19 Community Leadership Coalition, the United Way Worldwide Volunteerism Engagement Council, The United Way Worldwide NFL Council, and Leadership Forsyth. She has won several awards for her work, most recently being recognized as the recipient of the 2021 Brenau University Community Service Award.
Michelle focuses on making an impact on others in her personal time as well. She has gone on mission trips to China, Romania, Bolivia and as mentioned above, Uganda. She has been a mentor for over 18 years. She started mentoring a first-grade boy named Jay and stayed his mentor through his graduation in 2013. When Jay unexpectedly passed away in 2017, Michelle stepped in to provide support for his infant son and she remains actively involved in his care today.