Communities Unlimited Inc
Communities Unlimited Inc is a Fayetteville, Arkansas-based public charity working alongside rural communities in the South. It connects rural people and places with capital, expertise, and other resources through lending, community infrastructure, sustainability, housing, and entrepreneurship programs.
Communities Unlimited Inc at a glance
In short: Communities Unlimited Inc gave $659K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $37K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $659,216
- +85.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- +200.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $36,623
- -38.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $19,982
- Total assets
- $46,254,247
- +15.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Texas (54% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Communities Unlimited Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 3 East Colt Square Drive, Fayetteville, AR 72703
Phone: (479) 443-2700
Website: https://communitiesu.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Communities Unlimited Inc
Who Communities Unlimited Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lamar State College ($259K). Together the top 10 received $579K.
Grant Size Distribution
32 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 26 grants of 32 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Communities Unlimited describes its direct service area as Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. In its 2025 grantmaking, 54% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas, 20% to Arkansas, 16% to Mississippi, and 5% to Tennessee; 3% was listed with no recipient state specified.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
Cities
How Communities Unlimited Inc gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $14K (2022) to $659K (2025). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $659K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lamar State College Port Arthur, TX | Rapid Access funds - crane, tuition assistance, equipment for CDL program, tractor trailer rig. | $259,400 |
| WE Center Pine Bluff, AR | WORTH grant activities - completion of modular home. | $100,000 |
| City of Crockett Crockett, TX | Grant application matching funds for tornado sirens. | $53,800 |
| Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS | Resource Rural - Support project to complete First Impressions community assessments. | $25,740 |
| Forge Huntsville, AR | Matching funds for SBA TA grant. | $25,000 |
| Mississippi Heritage Trust Cleveland, MS | Resource Rural grant - build capacity for historic preservation. | $25,000 |
| SouthWay Foundation Eupora, MS | Resource Rural - build organization capacity to support grant writing. | $25,000 |
| City of Zavalla Zavalla, TX | Rapid Access funds- auditor fees. | $25,000 |
| Weakley County School Distrist | Farm to School Healthy Food Program purchase of two immersion blenders, two melon peelers, and a food processor. | $22,517 |
| Belzoni Humphreys County Industrial Development Foundation Inc Belzoni, MS | Organizational development and community development grant activities. | $17,447 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $46,254,247 | $17,366,019 | $15,653,715 | $659,216 | 18 | $531,670 |
| 2024 | $40,019,464 | $15,434,686 | $14,726,552 | $356,316 | 6 | $498,913 |
| 2023 | $36,993,001 | $15,485,400 | $12,312,477 | — | — | $263,346 |
| 2022 | $26,843,803 | $9,936,122 | $8,978,642 | $13,875 | 1 | $18,260 |
| 2021 | $25,081,026 | $11,037,384 | $7,632,129 | $140,517 | 7 | $12,574 |
| 2020 | $19,186,633 | $8,051,493 | $6,610,161 | $158,500 | 3 | $21,760 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Communities Unlimited’s stated mission is to connect rural Americans to solutions that sustain healthy businesses, communities, and lives. Its work includes lending to small businesses and water and wastewater systems; technical assistance for community infrastructure; housing support; entrepreneurship services; and community sustainability work, including broadband and healthy-food initiatives.
In its 2025 grants, Communities Unlimited supported organizations with varied purposes. Mississippi State University described its mission as promoting new technologies and research through work with business, industry, and the university. Mississippi Heritage Trust said it works to save and renew places meaningful to Mississippians and their history. FORGE Inc described its mission as supporting long-term economic growth and revitalization of rural communities and farm-related enterprises in the Ozark region.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Communities Unlimited reported 18 grants totaling $659,216. Grants ranged from $6,233 to $259,400, with a median grant of $19,982. The largest grant was $259,400 to Lamar State College in Port Arthur, Texas, for Rapid Access funds supporting a crane, tuition assistance, equipment for a CDL program, and a tractor-trailer rig. Other notable grants included $100,000 to WE Center in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, for WORTH grant activities and completion of a modular home, and $53,800 to the City of Crockett, Texas, for matching funds for tornado sirens.
Other 2025 grants included $25,740 to Mississippi State University for community assessments; $25,000 each to FORGE, Mississippi Heritage Trust, and SouthWay Foundation for matching funds or organizational and community capacity-building; and $25,000 to the City of Zavalla, Texas, for auditor fees.
The funder also lists a FORTIFIED Roof Replacement Grant for eligible homeowners, offering up to $15,000 toward a roof. The application cycle shown required applications by April 18, 2025, and is closed. Eligibility for that cycle was limited to qualifying households at or below 120% of area median income whose primary residence was in Linden, Texas, or Jefferson, Lincoln, or Desha County, Arkansas.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ines Polonius as CEO and Kimberly Griffey as CFO. Other listed officers and directors are Elaine Crutchfield, Director of Program Services; Cynthia Terry, Director of Entrepreneurship; Martha Claire Bullen, Director of Community Sustainability; Michael Rivera, Director of Loan Fund; Karen Conrad, Director of Community Infrastructure; and board members Donna Kay Yeargan, Salomon Torres, and Maximillan Sprinkle.
Communities Unlimited Inc is led by Ines Polonius, CEO on every filing since 2020; 7 of 15 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ines Polonius
CEO
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$106K (2020) → $158K (2025)
Deborah Warren
Board Chair
Board Member → Board President, 2024
Board President → Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elaine Crutchfield
Director of Program Services
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$115K (2023) → $126K (2025)
Cynthia Terry
Director of Entrepreneurship
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$110K (2024) → $118K (2025)
Martha Claire Bullen
Director of Community Sustainability
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$100K (2024) → $107K (2025)
Karen Conrad
Director of Community Infrastructure
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$106K (2025)
Michael Rivera
Director of Loan Fund
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$119K (2025)
Kimberly Griffey
CFO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$68K (2020) → $139K (2025)
Billy Hix
Vice Chair
Secretary Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Donna Kay Yeargan
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maximillan Sprinkle
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Salomon Torres
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dominique Gomez
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deb Markley
Secretary Treasurer
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Justin Maxson
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Thomas Ricks (2022–2024) — Director of Environmental Services
- Former: Bryn Bagwell (2023–2024) — Director of Loan Fund
- Former: Chris Page (2020–2023) — Board President
- Former: Wayne Fawbush (2020–2022) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $158K, to Ines Polonius (CEO). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Communities Unlimited Inc
How much does Communities Unlimited Inc give each year?
Communities Unlimited Inc gave $659K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $356K across 6 grants.
What is Communities Unlimited Inc's typical grant size?
Communities Unlimited Inc's median grant in 2025 was $19,982, and its average grant was $36,623, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Communities Unlimited Inc give grants?
Communities Unlimited Inc gives mostly in Texas: 54% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Arkansas (20%) and Mississippi (16%).
Does Communities Unlimited Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Communities Unlimited Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Communities Unlimited Inc's largest grantees?
Communities Unlimited Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Lamar State College ($259,400), WE Center ($100,000) and City of Crockett ($53,800), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Communities Unlimited Inc?
Communities Unlimited Inc reported $46.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $17.4M.
What does Communities Unlimited Inc fund?
Communities Unlimited’s stated mission is to connect rural Americans to solutions that sustain healthy businesses, communities, and lives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Communities Unlimited Inc?
Communities Unlimited Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check communitiesu.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Communities Unlimited Inc's EIN?
Communities Unlimited Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 71-0464321. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 12, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Communities Unlimited Inc funds
Community Improvement & Capacity Building Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Communities Unlimited Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Communities Unlimited Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/communities-unlimited-inc-morg_8e4481eaf9f442cc9e79874d1060e6d5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_710464321_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Communities Unlimited Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/communities-unlimited-inc-morg_8e4481eaf9f442cc9e79874d1060e6d5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Communities Unlimited Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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