Community Grants

Geographic Scope: West Alabama area communities

Established: 1999

Purpose

The Community Foundation of West Alabama makes grants for charitable purposes to benefit communities in the West Alabama area.

Eligible Purposes

Grants may be made for the following charitable purposes:

• Arts and Humanities
• Children and Youth
• Education
• Elder Care
• Environment
• Health & Medicine
• Recreation
• Social Welfare

What They Do NOT Fund

No grants are made to or for:

• Individuals
• Religious organizations for religious purposes
• Dinners, balls or other ticketed events
• Political purposes
• Lobbying activities
• Replacement of government grants or funding
• Endowments or other discretionary pools

Ordinarily, they do not make grants for:

• Operating expenses (unless for initial stages of pilot project)
• Program expenses that occur regularly (e.g., annual workshop series, regularly needed medical equipment)
• Regularly supported activities of fundraising organizations

What They Look For

• Requests addressing critical community needs
• Projects that get at root causes of problems
• Non-duplication of existing services (unless serving unserved populations)
• Pilot projects that can be expanded or duplicated
• Collaboration and cooperation with other organizations
• Effective mechanisms for measuring impact
• Applicant demonstrates expertise and experience
• Organization operates under sound financial principles
• Future funding plan exists
• Solid base of community and financial support
• Preference for partial funding rather than full support

Funding Frequency and Amount

• Applicants will not be funded on ongoing annual basis unless specifically multi-year
• Award amounts vary; specific ranges not published

Applicant Eligibility Requirements

• Must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization
• Must include copy of IRS Tax Determination letter

Application Frequency

• Organizations that received grants should wait 1 year before resubmitting
• Unsuccessful applicants should wait at least 1 year to reapply unless terms changed

Contact Information

Glenn Taylor, Executive Director

• Phone: (205) 366-0698
• Email: gtaylor@thecfwa.org
• Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3033, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403
• Physical Address: 700 Energy Center Blvd., Suite 406, Northport, AL 35473

Application Process

Submission Requirements (3 copies of all materials):

1. Cover Letter summarizing:
   • Purposes and anticipated benefits of the grant
   • One-paragraph abstract or summary of project
   • Dollar amount requested
2. Grant Application Form
   • Complete all questions to the best of ability
   • Form available on website
3. Financial Information:
   • Line-item income and expense budget for the project (not entire organization)
   • Include in-kind and cash support
   • Description of funding contributed by your organization
   • Detail of other funding sources
   • List of other foundations, corporations, or individuals asked to fund the project:
   • Amounts requested from each
   • Notation of whether funds committed, declined, or pending
   • Organization's current annual operating budget with explanation of funding sources
4. Additional Information:
   • One copy of organization's IRS Tax Determination letter
   • Annual report for latest year

Submission Instructions

Mail To:
Glenn Taylor, Executive Director
Community Foundation of West Alabama
P.O. Box 3033
Tuscaloosa, AL 35403
Phone: (205) 366-0698

Or Deliver Physically To:
Glenn Taylor, Executive Director
Community Foundation of West Alabama
700 Energy Center Blvd., Suite 406
Northport, AL 35476

Grant Review Process:

1. Initial review to verify all required materials included
2. Detailed review by Grant Review Committee
3. Committee makes recommendations to Board of Directors
4. Board makes final decision on all grants