Dear Donors, Partners, and Friends,

Since its 1959 founding, the Community Foundation has invested more than half a billion dollars back into the greater Birmingham community. In 2023, our impact continued with more than $28 million in gifts and more than $35 million in grants. The millions of dollars raised each year from hundreds of generous donors, whether through donor advised funds or legacy endowments, all go directly to supporting the wonderful institutions strengthening our community.

The 2023 annual report highlights the ways our unique giving platform allows donors to give to our endowment, to give through donor advised funds, to give with the Foundation, and to give for the future. On behalf of everyone at the Foundation, thank you for joining us as we spark change now and build a legacy that will benefit generations to come.

Total Community Investments 2023

Donor gifts strengthen our community

Gifts in 2023:
Grants in 2023:

Giving Through

Donors direct their giving through the Foundation to fulfill community needs.

Donor Directed Grants

THROUGH DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS:

Donors use their funds to
invest in the community

Through their Donor Advised Funds, donors granted more than $27 million to support a range of organizations, from arts and culture to family and social services and more.

 

 

 

Giving With

Donors can co-invest with the Foundation
via our Giving Together program.

Donor Directed Grants

THROUGH DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS:

Grantee spotlight: Four Donor-Advised Funds co-invested in InToto Creative Arts, funding weekly art programs for men from Firehouse Shelter, women from Pathways Shelter, and two public showcases, providing creative outlets and income opportunities.

“When we share with each other, when we learn about each other through our artistic expressions, we are building empathy for each other. And we feel like we matter in that community and we’re not going through this alone.” Dani Parmar, InToto Creative Arts program director

Donors use their funds to
invest in the community

Through Foundation-directed grants, the Foundation contributes $8.7 million to support a range of organizations.

 

 

 

Giving For

Our community’s priorities guide our grantmaking

Our Priorities

Our five priorities, identified based on feedback from residents across our five-county region, guide us in our shared pursuit of a just, prosperous, and unified region where every person is empowered to reach their full potential. In 2023, the Foundation invested $2,691,000 in these priorities through 93 grants.

Nurturing Thriving Communities

39 grants—$1,141,000

Grantee Highlight:

Mother’s Milk Bank received $50,000 over three years to expand donor outreach and education programs. Projects include a strategic marketing campaign, expanding the Milk Bank’s donor recruitment department, creating a rural hospital onboarding program, and promoting certifications for lactation consultants in rural communities.

Learn more →

Overcoming Persistent Poverty

26 grants—$658,000

Grantee Highlight:

Restoration Academy received $70,000 over three years to support the building of a cafeteria and creation of a school lunch program. Currently, students must bring lunch from home, and 90% of students live at or below the poverty line.

Learn more →

Creating Economic Opportunity for All

15 grants—$549,000

Grantee Highlight:

InToto Creative Arts received $8,000 to support their weekly work with men from Firehouse Shelter, women from Pathways Shelter, and two public showcases. This funding will provide high-quality art opportunities for individuals facing hardships, allowing them to generate income through art sales.

Learn more →

Driving Regional Cooperation

2 grants—$125,000

Grantee Highlight:

Create Birmingham received $45,000 over two years to support Film BHM in creating effective film policies across Jefferson County. The funds will help hire consultants to conduct research, engage with municipal leaders, identify policy gaps, and craft new policies to strengthen the local film industry. Film BHM has already launched several resources, including location and crew databases, free production registration, and film industry workshops.

Learn more →

Fostering Equity and Inclusion

11 grants—$218,000

Grantee Highlight:

Alabama Symphonic Association, Inc. received $31,000 to support the Alabama Symphony Orchestra’s pilot program, Intersections: A Symposium for Future Music Professionals. The program aims to prepare collegiate music students from diverse backgrounds for careers in music by providing mentorship, skill-building, and connections to help break down barriers of elitism in the arts.

Learn more →

Giving for our Future

Before she passed away, Peggy Hair carefully considered the lasting impact she wanted to
have on the greater Birmingham region. A lifelong nonprofit professional, Peggy knew well the power of philanthropy to preserve and protect. With the help of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, her financial advisor, and her estate planning attorney, Peggy created two funds in 2022: The Alabama Historic Preservation Fund, established through an estate gift upon her death in 2023, and the Alabama Butterfly Conservation Fund, which received gifts in her memory upon her death. She named advisors who have expertise in the area of interest each fund supports.

READ MORE

Since 1959, hundreds of donors have partnered with the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham to make a lasting impact beyond their lifetimes. Visit cfbham.org/legacy to learn more about leaving a legacy.

2023 Board of Directors

Brian Hamilton – Chair
Rob Blalock
Gregory P. Butrus
Myla Calhoun
Daniel Coleman
Kate Danella
Nancy Goedecke

Dave Gray
Rashada LeRoy
Edgar Marx
Vivian Mora
Shegun Otulana
G. Ruffner Page
Guin Robinson

Sanjay Singh, Ph.D.
Lissa Tyson
Jared Weinstein
Mechelle Wilder
Cathy Wright
DeLynn Zell

Christopher Nanni
President and CEO

Learn How You Can

Start Investing In Giving.

Giving
Impact
Grants

View Previous Annual Reports