OVERVIEW: This funder supports nonprofits in the Alabama counties of Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, Conecuh, Monroe, Clarke, Choctaw and Washington. Funding priorities include capacity-building, arts and culture, economic opportunity and health.
IP TAKE: This funder works broadly in the southern region of Alabama and appears to be accessible to small community organizations. It posts RFPs on its application page and offers assistance with grant writing. If RFPs don’t seem to match your organization’s current needs, reach out to inquire if any of the foundation’s 400-plus funds are currently accepting proposals in your area.
PROFILE: The Community Foundation of South Alabama (CFSA), based in Mobile, connects donors to local nonprofit groups in the southern (mostly southwestern) part of the state. The foundation was established in 1976 by a group of civic and professional leaders “to bring together and direct philanthropic assets to make southwest Alabama a better place.” It used to be called the Mobile Community Foundation but changed its name in 1994 to reflect a broader service area of eight counties. It manages over 400 charitable funds today.
The service area for this community foundation is Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, Conecuh, Monroe, Clarke, Choctaw and Washington Counties. Areas of interest are nonprofit capacity building, arts and culture, economic opportunity, health and wellness. Current financial data is available here.
The foundation supports closing the opportunity gap for children in southwest Alabama with regard to family, education and work. This has translated into support for parenting skills, child care, early education, work-based learning, job skills training and more.
Grant applications are available here.
CFSA also administers scholarship funds that support students in high school, community college and university, providing funds for books, tuition and fees. This funder received a Gulf Coast Healthy Communities Project Grant from the Louisiana Public Health Institute to develop a web platform for community data in this region. CFSA also has a veterans’ initiative, and a group of veterans serves on an advisory committee to review its research report and help develop a strategy to assist veterans and their families in the community.
PEOPLE:
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