Five local nonprofits got a $5,000 boost to their efforts to improve Newton County.

The Newton Fund, a local fund of The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, gave $5,000 cash grants to A Child’s Voice, Horse Time, Newton County Trails, Prevent Child Abuse Rockdale and Southern Heartland Arts.

The grants will pay for general operations and will allow the organizations to use the funds where they’re needed, said Tieler Giles, communications manager for The Community Foundation.

The Newton Fund connects local philanthropic resources to nonprofits making a difference in Newton County. The five groups were selected during a competitive process – the process included a comprehensive evaluation of operations, financials and impact – that included 13 organizations.

“The Newton County community is a strong one, with individuals and nonprofit organizations addressing critical issues and working to make a difference for the people that live here,” said Lisa Hanson, grants committee chair of the Newton Fund, who said nonprofits need help more than ever in these tough economic times.

Since 2000, The Community Foundation has invested nearly $2.5 million in organizations in Newton County through donor-advised gifts and through various grant programs including $285,000 from the Newton Fund.

The 2014 Newton Fund grant cycle will take place in the fall. For more information about the Newton Fund, you can contact Margaret Washington, advisory committee chair, at newtonfund@cfgreateratlanta.org. Nonprofits interested in learning about other funding opportunities from The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta should visit www.cfgreateratlanta.org.