OVERVIEW: The Pleiad Foundation supports higher education, medical research and arts and culture in Alabama.
IP TAKE: This is a family-run foundation that is open to receiving requests from Birmingham-area groups and considers a variety of issues to support.
PROFILE: Established in 1996, the Pleiad Foundation is a private family charitable foundation based in Birmingham, Alabama. This is the foundation of John and Betty McMahon and their children, David McMahon, Jamey and Carrie McMahon and Joel and Ashley McMahon. It funds local efforts for higher education, medical research and arts and culture.
The Pleiad Foundation donates to about 20 to 30 nonprofits per year. Most of these grantees are local groups, but the funder also supports outside organizations in which foundation members are involved or interested. About 40% of grants go toward education, 40% for arts and culture, and 20% for other types of causes. Pleiad regularly provides funding for small, local projects and organizations in various fields.
Grants range between about $1,000 and $100,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses on the Greater Birmingham area and Central Alabama. Past local grantees include the Sidewalk Film Festival, Birmingham Museum of Art and Huntingdon College.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. The family meets every December to decide on grants. Nonprofits can complete a form on the foundation’s website to apply for funding. Direct general questions to the staff at info@pleiadfoundation.org or 205-322-3302.
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