The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham has announced $1,277,00 in grants to 42 area nonprofits in Jefferson, Blount, Shelby, St. Clair and Walker counties. This is the second round of grants awarded under the Community Foundation’s new strategic plan that was launched in 2019.
A total of $2.8 million has been awarded through the Community Funds competitive grant making program in 2021, including $1,524,000 in May to 63 area nonprofits. All of these grants are made possible by discretionary funds entrusted to the Foundation by generations of donors with additional support coming from current Donor Advised Fundholders through the Community Foundation’s Giving Together program. (A complete list of grants is included below)
“These grants mark an important milestone for the Foundation,” said Christopher Nanni, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. “This was the first year that we focused our grantmaking on the five priorities that were identified by the community during our strategic planning process: Economic Opportunity for All, Fostering Equity and Inclusion, Nurturing Thriving Communities, Driving Regional Cooperation and Overcoming Persistent Poverty.”
“In 2020 we pivoted our focus to the evolving pandemic, awarding almost $5 million in grants for COVID relief and recovery,” said Nanni. “As we close this year, we remain focused on and committed to working with our donors, nonprofit partners and residents to address the current and long-term challenges that face our community to achieve our shared vision of a region that is stronger for all who live here.”