Atmore Community Foundation Grant

The Atmore Community Foundation Grant supports nonprofits in the Atmore community, focusing on enhancing quality of life through various sectors including arts, education, and health. The 2024-2025 cycle emphasizes sustainable programs with measurable outcomes and capacity-building initiatives. Grants typically range from $500 to $1,000 for projects serving the 36502 zip code. Eligible organizations must be IRS recognized 501(c)(3)s or similar entities. Collaboration and innovative approaches are highly encouraged to address community needs.

2025-2026 Competitive Grantmaking Guidelines
Established in April 2017, the Atmore Community Foundation, an affiliate of The Community Foundation of South Alabama (“CFSA”), serves as a vehicle to receive donations and bequests to benefit the community in perpetuity. The Atmore Community Foundation Advisory Committee is pleased to announce the opening of its 2024-2025 competitive grantmaking cycle which will award grants to local nonprofits. These grants are funded through the Atmore Community Fund, a field of interest fund established by donors to address the most pressing needs in the Atmore community.
Grantmaking Priorities
For 2025-2026, the Atmore Community Foundation will accept proposals from organizations that address the needs of the Atmore community and strive to improve the quality of life of Atmore residents, including but not limited to the following areas: Arts & Culture, Community/Economic Development, Education, Environment/Beautification, Health & Wellness, Human Services, Recreation, Technology, &/or Youth.
Programmatic Grants
The Foundation is most interested in supporting sustainable, evidencebased programs that have the potential to produce meaningful results on community priorities and/or needs. Funding is provided for the expansion or refinement of existing programs that, through program evaluation, show promise of effectiveness, value, and sustainability. Grants to programs with a successful track record are also considered. Program grants are restricted to expenses directly and indirectly related to the operation of the project. No more than 10% may be used to pay for indirect or administrative expenses. Program grants may not be used for general operating support or organizational capacity building. As a general rule, the Foundation prefers program grant requests do not exceed 50% of the budget for the program/project/activity for which the application is seeking support. This demonstrates that the proposal has a diversified base of support and has some measure of community buy-in.
Capacity Building
The Foundation defines organizational capacity building as any strategy that improves and enhances an organization’s ability to achieve its mission and sustain itself over time. The Foundation recognizes great value in developing the internal capacities of organizations to increase their effectiveness and community impact. The Foundation believes that by supporting organizational capacity building it will enable organizations to strengthen their operations and effectively address systemic issues that significantly impede the quality of life for individuals and families that they serve.
Organizations proposing a capacity building grant should address how the project strengthens the organization and how it will enhance its mission and benefit the community served. Funding for capacity building is not designed to support a specific program or initiative, but rather to enhance the overall operations of an organization.
Examples of capacity building activities include the following:
Strategic planning, organizational assessments or evaluations Leadership development and training (Board, Executive or Staff) Enhanced marketing, branding and communications planning or technology Improved fundraising and fund development training or technology Database or technology improvements
Funding Considerations:

• The Atmore Community Foundation seeks to fund proposals that:

Focus on work aligned with the Atmore Community Foundation’s mission Exhibit the potential to accomplish meaningful results or impact in one or more priority areasAddress community challenges, underserved populations, and/or service gaps Articulate measurable outcomes (desired results), effective approaches, and viable plans for maintaining ongoing effortsDemonstrate strong community support, capable leadership and knowledge of, and involvement in, the community served Include a realistic project budget and organizational financial information demonstrates fiscal health (e.g. diversified revenue sources, sustainability, solvent, etc.)

Eligibility

Eligibility: Applicant organizations must be recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization, government entity, educational institution or religious organization. The program and/or activities must serve the Atmore community, more specifically the 36502 zip code. Applicants may be individual organizations or may represent a collaboration of two or more organizations. Length of Funding: Funding requests should be for 12 months or less. Applicants must review the important dates cited below and note when grants will be awarded to ensure that proposals align with the timeline for funding.Request Amount: Grant awards will most likely be in the range of $500 - $1,000.Use of Funds: Funding must be used in alignment with the Atmore Community Foundation mission and is intended to strengthen the delivery of programs and services in identified areas of programmatic and geographical need.Funding may be applied toward direct program services, as well as to strengthen the organization’s capacity to deliver such services or to collaborate with other service providers.

Ineligibility

Grant requests should not exceed $3,000.00. As a general rule, the Foundation prefers program grant requests do not exceed 50% of the budget for the program/project/activity for which the application is seeking support. This demonstrates that the proposal has a diversified base of support and has some measure of community buy-in. Funding for capacity building is not designed to support a specific program or initiative, but rather to enhance the overall operations of an organization.Grant Restrictions: Proposals will not be accepted in support of:Individuals Debt reduction or endowment fundingFraternal, social or athletic clubs or teamsFundraising events or conference underwritingLabor, or political organizationsOrganizations that discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, marital status, mental or physical ability, or sexual orientation Organizations other than 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, government entities, educational institutions, or religious organizations (these organizations may be collaborating partners but may not receive funding directly)