Rural Grants

The Rural Grants program by the Daniel Foundation of Alabama aims to enhance community well-being by supporting organizations in Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties. Eligible projects must focus on improving quality of life for residents in areas with populations under 50,000 and higher poverty rates. The foundation prioritizes initiatives that foster education and community collaboration, ensuring that funds are dedicated to impactful, localized efforts for sustainable development.

NOTE:
This cycle starts with an LOI submitted through our online grants management system. LOIs submitted will be reviewed monthly and notifications sent to all organizations submitting.This will be a rolling cycle and the timing of committee meetings will determine application dues dates. In general, we anticipate LOIs submitted: December – March will be considered at the June board meetingApril – July will be considered at the October board meetingAugust – November will be considered at the February board meeting
We determined the eligible geographic areas for this cycle, by county, using the following three criteria from the 2024 Alabama Kids Count Data Book, available through VOICES for Alabama’s Children:

• County population under 50,000Kids Count county ranking below top 25%County poverty greater than 15%

In the list and chart below, Tier 1 counties meet all three of the criteria items; the Tier 2 list incorporates counties who met the first criteria (population), along with counties with population under 125,000 who met both the second and third criteria (overall ranking and poverty rate).

Eligibility

Projects or programming for organizations based in our Tier 1 or Tier 2 listing, with preference given to Tier 1 counties.Projects or programming overseen by an organization that is in an excluded county, but the project or program delivery is 100% in a Tier 1 or Tier 2 county.Applicants must be a 501(c)3 public charity.Tier 1 CountiesBarbourBibbBullockButlerChambersChoctawClarkeClayConecuhCovingtonDaleDallasEscambiaFayetteFranklinGenevaGreeneHaleHenryLamarLawrenceLowndesMaconMarengoMarionMonroePerryPickensPikeRandolphSumterTallapoosaWashingtonWilcoxWinstonTier 2CalhounCherokeeChiltonCleburneCoffeeColbertCoosaCrenshawDe KalbHoustonJacksonMarshallRussellTalladegaWalker

Ineligibility

Projects or programming occuring outside of Tier 1 or Tier 2 counties.Projects or programming designed to attract residents from Tier 1 or Tier 2 counties into an excluded county for services and programming are not eligible for consideration.