Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville
The Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville is a public charity and community foundation established in 2009, based in Huntsville, Alabama. Founded by Joe and Pam Alexander, the organization serves as a full-service generosity partner that helps donors mobilize their charitable giving to improve quality of life in the region. The foundation manages 408 funds with a focus on strategic philanthropy across North Alabama.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$66.3M
+29.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$11.7M
-16.4% YoY
Grant Count
285
+9.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$41K
-23.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Vision: To be the trusted leader in mobilizing generosity.
Mission: Mobilize generosity to improve the quality of life in our community.
Core Values: Excellence, passion, innovation, collaboration
The foundation's guiding beliefs emphasize that the community has resources to address pressing problems, that investments in quality of life benefit everyone, and that collaboration yields greater results than individual efforts.
Primary Funding Areas:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Digital equity and inclusion
- Racial equity initiatives
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$2,500–$100,000 (typical awards vary by program)
How to Apply
** Two-stage process with varying timelines by program. Applicants can submit through the foundation's grant portal at grantinterface.com.
Ready to take the next step with Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily serves a five-county region in North Alabama:
- Madison County
- Limestone County
- Marshall County
- Morgan County
- Jackson County
Over 70–78% of all grant funds remain local to meet community needs. The foundation also supports 501(c)(3) organizations throughout the United States, though donors often choose to invest locally.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- 2024: $66.3 million
- 2023: $51.3 million
- 2022: $46.1 million
Annual Giving:
- 2024: $10.0 million (275 grants)
- 2023: $14.0 million (261 grants)
- 2022: $10.5 million (235 grants)
Giving Rate: 15.1% of assets
Annual Expenses: $13.9 million (2024)
Total Revenues: $17.8 million (2023)
Cumulative Impact: Since inception, the foundation has distributed over $100 million in grants to nearly 2,000 nonprofit organizations and raised well over $32 million in charitable assets during its first decade.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $66,326,810 | $51,319,803 | $46,091,896 |
| Revenue | $23,055,184 | $17,823,410 | $14,359,826 |
| Expenses | $13,945,107 | $15,700,525 | $11,421,752 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $2,958,202 | $1,248,746 | $1,055,183 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
15 open opportunities from Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville
ALATEC Corporate Care Fund
Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
CAP & GOWN Project Fund
Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville
Amount
$35,000+
Deadline
Rolling / Open
CFGH: Racial Equity Fund
Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Freed-Hardeman University ($651,700), City of Huntsville ($600,000), Kids to Love Foundation ($381,650).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Freed-Hardeman University | Capital Campign and various Scholarships | $651,700 |
| City of Huntsville | Huntsville City Football Club Stadium | $600,000 |
| Kids to Love Foundation | Davidson Farms and Wellness Support | $381,650 |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville Foundation | Endowed Chair, Capital Campaign, and various scholarships | $379,716 |
| Maranatha Camp and Conference Center Inc | Agency Withdrawal and General Support | $371,034 |
| Whitesburg Baptist Church | Religion, Capital Campaign, and Missions | $357,015 |
| The Museum of Information Explosion (SIGNALS) | Capital Campaign | $356,500 |
| HudsonAlpha Foundation | Healthcare Research | $316,009 |
| Huntsville Hospital Foundation Inc | Capital Campaign, Sponsorships, and General Support | $202,500 |
| Houston PetSet | General Support Sponsorship | $200,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
CEO/President: Melissa Thompson
Grant Contact: Ann Kvach (ann@communityfoundationhsv.org)
Staff Size: 8–10 employees
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield Wilbur Boon III | Secretary | 5 | — |
| Penny Billings | Treasurer | 5 | — |
| Sidney Ray White Jr | Chair | 5 | — |
| Susan Lynn Troy | Vice Chair | 5 | — |
| Brad Garland | Member | 1 | — |
| Christopher Russell | Member | 1 | — |
| Clay Hagan | Member | 1 | — |
| D Ashley Jones | Member | 1 | — |
| Douglas C Martinson II | Member | 1 | — |
| Elizabeth Abel | Member | 1 | — |
| Gary Whitley Jr | Member | 1 | — |
| George Smith | Member | 1 | — |
| Henry L Isenberg III | Member | 1 | — |
| Jay Dryden | Member | 1 | — |
| Katherine Elizabeth Sippel | Member | 1 | — |
| Kristina Hendrix | Member | 1 | — |
| Leta Demaioribus | Member | 1 | — |
| Lori Womack | Member | 1 | — |
| Melissa Thompson | CEO/President | 40 | $127,811 |
Recent Activity & Notable Initiatives
Recent developments and announcements
**Compass Society:** Awarded $125,000 in grants to regional nonprofit initiatives. In 2023, the Compass Society awarded $50,000 each to Habitat for Humanity of the River Valley and HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, plus $25,000 to the Scottsboro Multicultural Foundation. The Compass Endowment balance reached $1.1 million.
Compass Society Awards $125,000 in Grants to Regional Nonprofit Initiatives**Women's Philanthropy Society:** Awarded $50,000 each to Heart of the Valley YMCA and Huntsville Housing Authority, plus $200 to Boys & Girls Clubs of North Alabama. The Women's Endowment balance reached $351,211 by end of 2023.
**Racial Equity Fund:** Selected seven nonprofits to receive $117,500 in grants to help close equity gaps based on race. The Racial Equity Endowment balance reached $290,978 by end of 2023.
Huntsville nonprofits receive grants to support racial equity programs**give256 Fund:** Awarded $16,280 in grants in 2023.
Contact Information
Address: 301 Washington Street NW, Suite 302, Huntsville, AL 35801
Phone: 256-489-3525
Email: info@communityfoundationhsv.org
Website: givehsv.org
Grant Portal: grantinterface.com/Process/Apply?urlkey=cfhsv
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville fund?
**Vision:** To be the trusted leader in mobilizing generosity. **Mission:** Mobilize generosity to improve the quality of life in our community. **Core Values:** Excellence, passion, innovation, collaboration The foundation's guiding beliefs emphasize that the community has resources to address pressing problems, that investments in quality of life benefit everyone, and that collaboration yields greater results than individual efforts. **Primary Funding Areas:** • Education • Philanthropy, Volu…
How do I apply for a grant from Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $2,500–$100,000 (typical awards vary by program) • Median grant: $14,000–$16,000 • Annual giving: $10–$14 million • Number of grants awarded annually: 235–275 **Application Policy:** Invite-only for general applications; does not accept unsolicited applications. However, specific grant programs have open application periods. **Active Grant Programs Include:** • **Compass Society Grant:** $50,000 for innovative collaborative projects spanning three or mo…
Where does Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville make grants?
The foundation primarily serves a five-county region in North Alabama: • Madison County • Limestone County • Marshall County • Morgan County • Jackson County Over 70–78% of all grant funds remain local to meet community needs. The foundation also supports 501(c)(3) organizations throughout the United States, though donors often choose to invest locally.
What size grants does Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville award?
In 2024, Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville awarded 285 grants totaling $11.7M — an average of about $41K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville's EIN?
Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3750673. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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