Program, Operating and Capital Campaign Grants

The Mike & Gillian Goodrich Foundation offers Program, Operating, and Capital Campaign Grants to support nonprofit organizations in the Birmingham area and the Black Belt of Alabama. Since 2009, it has distributed over $26 million to enhance education, neighborhood revitalization, cultural arts, and environmental initiatives. Applications are accepted quarterly, with specific deadlines for different types of grants, ensuring that funds align with the Foundation's mission to strengthen communities and improve quality of life.

NOTE: Applications must be submitted by February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1 for consideration at the following quarterly board meeting. Grant applications pertaining to the Black Belt Region must be submitted by January 16 and July 16 for consideration at the next quarterly board meeting.
Background
Since 2009, the Mike & Gillian Goodrich Foundation has been providing grants to nonprofit organizations in our community, the Black Belt, and the state as a whole to support a variety of programs. From education to the environment, from the cultural arts to neighborhood revitalization, the Foundation has distributed over $26,000,000 in grants to 221 organizations whose work we are proud to support.
The Mike & Gillian Goodrich Foundation seeks to strengthen communities and improve the quality of life primarily in the Birmingham metropolitan area and the State of Alabama.
Our Service Area
The Mike & Gillian Goodrich Foundation focuses its grantmaking in the Birmingham metropolitan area. Special consideration is given to support programs that serve the Woodlawn community in Birmingham.
The Foundation will also support efforts that build opportunities in the Black Belt of Alabama, particularly Hale and Greene Counties. Grants that impact the State of Alabama as a whole or that impact policy issues affecting all Alabamians will also be considered.
Grants from the Mike & Gillian Goodrich Foundation are made to support programs that impact:
The Birmingham metro area;The Woodlawn area of Birmingham;The Black Belt area in Alabama;The State of Alabama as a whole, through influencing policy change at the state level.
Our Program Areas
The Foundation is interested in developing partnerships with nonprofit organizations to achieve measurable results in the following areas:
EducationWe believe that every child should have the educational resources to become a successful adult. Grants are made to support efforts in early childhood to help children be ready to learn when they enter the school system. Other grants support teachers, students and families to help more children achieve and succeed. These include grants to improve academic outcomes through teacher and principal coaching as well as support for meeting non-academic needs, like physical and mental health needs.Neighborhood RevitalizationWe believe in the Purpose Built Communities’ holistic model for rebuilding strong neighborhoods. A strong cradle – to – adult educational pipeline, affordable mixed-income housing, wrap-around social services and local economic revitalization are necessary components for creating livable communities and helping to break the cycle of poverty.The EnvironmentWe believe that the protection of our natural resources and green spaces are vital to the environment and to the health of our communities.The Arts and CultureWe believe that the cultural arts enrich lives and are an integral part of a dynamic and vibrant community.Positioning Strategic Community AssetsWe believe that the success of our community depends on the strength of its intrinsic partners – those institutions that represent the best of Birmingham.
Grant applications must be geared toward achieving specific results in these focus areas.
We fund capital campaigns and provide grants for operating and programmatic support to organizations engaged in activities that align with the Foundation’s funding interests listed above.
Program grants are grants of up to $30,000 to support a specific program.Operating grants of any amount may be applied for in up to three year increments with an annual review. Our goal is to help our grantees focus more on their missions and less on application cycles.Capital Campaign grants of any amount will be considered in the first and third quarters of each year (deadline February 1 and August 1).

Eligibility

Grant applications must be geared toward achieving specific results in the above focus areas.Grants to faith-based organizations may be made to support programs that strongly address the focus areas.

Ineligibility

Grants are not made:to individuals;for scholarships or individual awards;to individual school classrooms;to private schools;for mission trips or ambassador programs;for individual school programs;for health-related research;to support fundraising events that are not 100% deductible for charitable purposes.