Driving Regional Cooperation
Our individual communities are connected and share a common fate. When we remain fragmented, our efforts are piecemeal and disjointed.
When we work together, we can drive positive change for the whole region. Regional cooperation may focus on many things – advancing regional plans, creating common policies, improving inefficient systems, building innovative programs – but the end goal of a better region for all is the same.
What We Believe
Metro areas with strong regional cooperation structures tend to perform better over time on economic measures such as job growth, population growth, median household income, poverty rate, and labor force participation. Structure is key: regions must create structures and processes for cooperation that function well and endure through political change. Building trust and a sense of shared fates is also important. We believe that if we build effective structures for regional cooperation and nurture a culture of trust, our region can ‘grow the pie’ for everyone.
While research shows that cooperation does not always lead to greater efficiency, the right kind of cooperation can deliver more effective, community-responsive services at a similar or lower cost. By consolidating government services, Charlotte, NC has reduced duplication, increased savings on buildings and other assets, and leveraged economies of scale. Birmingham-area Riverkeepers have lowered costs and increased quality and consistency of water quality programs through collaboration.
Regions that focus on cooperation have shown they can be highly successful at expanding high quality, regional amenities. For example, Denver has built an extensive regional transit system and dedicated $50 million in annual arts funding that flows to large institutions and grassroots organizations alike. It is important that philanthropy sits within a community of public-private partnerships that seeks creative funding solutions to build and sustain regional amenities.
The Impact We Seek
By supporting regional cooperation between organizations, municipalities, and communities, we aim to:
- Increase regional, equitable economic growth
- Increase the efficiency and effectiveness of public and private entities
- Improve the quality of regional amenities and developments
Learn More About Our Priorities
Grantee Stories
Community Foundation Awards $1.6 Million in Grants
The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham has awarded more than $1.6 million in grants to 66 area nonprofits serving Blount, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, and Walker counties. These grants are focused on the five priorities identified in our 10-year strategic plan: Thriving Communities, Regional Cooperation, Overcoming Persistent Poverty, Equity and Inclusion, and Economic Opportunity for All. (Explore our Priority Areas.)
The Philip A Morris Fund for the Design Arts: Building a Better Birmingham
Kathryn Harbert and Philip Morris at Railroad Park Anyone who has ever enjoyed an afternoon with family and friends at Railroad Park, a place often called Birmingham’s living room, has Philip A. Morris to thank for those memorable moments. Though not a trained designer, Morris was a visionary. He not only served on the planning committee for Railroad Park but also for Linn Park and Red Mountain Park. He was chair of Operation New Birmingham (now REV Birmingham), Birmingham Historical Society, and Mountain Brook Villages Design Review Committee. He was co-chair of the Vulcan Park renovation planning committee and served on the boards of the Vulcan Park Foundation, Birmingham Botanical Society, and Friends of Linn Park. He was also a founding board member of Design Alabama and Horizon 280 Association.
Giving Together, Growing Together
Each year, the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham receives an increasing number of applications for our spring and fall grant cycles, and existing funds are never enough to cover all the grants approved. So, in 2008, the Giving Together program was born to accompany the grant cycles.
How Innovation and Collaboration Can Empower Students in Walker County and Beyond
Hundreds of high school students in Walker County will soon have access to a state-of-the-art facility offering high-quality career and technical education, equipping them with credentials and skills aligned with Alabama’s workforce needs.