The Georgia Education Foundation (GEF) is a nonprofit established in 2012 to provide educational opportunities to small business owners and entrepreneurs across Georgia. GEF equips businesses with the tools and business acumen necessary to build sustainable and profitable enterprises.
As the educational arm of the Georgia Business Council (GBC), the GEF strengthens the foundation that allows companies to grow, compete and contribute to a resilient economy.
The Georgia Mentor Protégé Connection is one of the nation’s leading business mentoring initiatives. Founded more than 20 years ago as the Governor’s Mentor Protégé Program and incorporated into GEF in 2012, the GMPC pairs high-potential Georgia small businesses with corporate mentors for a structured, one-year development partnership.
Participants undergo a comprehensive assessment and follow a goal-driven engagement that includes executive meetings, targeted training, and one-on-one coaching. The GMPC alumni represent some of Georgia’s most accomplished small businesses, securing major contracts and earning regional and national recognition.
The Community Business Development Program strengthens local firms that may not yet be positioned for global supply chains or large corporate procurement. Through structured workshops and practical training, CBDP focuses on foundational business disciplines including financial management, operational efficiency, and access to capital.
The program equips businesses with the infrastructure and clarity needed to sustain growth within their local and regional markets.
The Small Business Internship Program provides paid internship opportunities for Georgia college students while increasing capacity within small businesses. SBIP matches students with companies aligned to their fields of study.
Business owners mentor interns, providing hands-on professional development and exposure to entrepreneurship and client engagement. Corporate sponsors help offset wages, ensuring competitive pay while strengthening Georgia’s future workforce pipeline.