Community Foundation of West Alabama Grants

Grants to charitable organizations for Arts and Humanities, Children and Youth, Education, Elder Care, Environment, Health & Medicine, Recreation and Social Welfare in the West Alabama area. The foundation prefers requests that address a critical community need and prefers partial funding of projects over full support. It offers two grant cycles a year, Spring and Fall. Eligible applicants: Charitable organizations (the foundation offers 2 grant cycles each year for charitable organizations).; Any application without an attached copy of a tax determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service showing the name of the organization, tax identification number, and the type of tax-exemption will not be considered for funding.; No grants are made to or for individuals.; No grants are made to or for religious organizations for religious purposes.; No grants are made to or for dinners, balls or other ticketed events.; No grants are made to or for political purposes.; No grants are made to or for lobbying activities.; No grants are made to or for replacement of government grants or funding.; No grants are made to or for endowments or other discretionary pools.; Ordinarily, no grants for operating expenses unless they are for the initial stages of a pilot project.; Ordinarily, no grants for program expenses that occur on a regular basis (e.g. annual workshop series, regularly needed medical equipment or patient care).; Ordinarily, no grants for regularly supported activities of fundraising organizations.; Applicants will not be funded on an ongoing annual basis unless the terms of the grant specifically provide for multi-year funding.; Preference for requests that address a critical community need, get at the root causes of a problem, do not duplicate existing services unless they serve a population not already being served, are pilot projects that, if successful, can be expanded to serve a wider population or be duplicated by other organizations, involve collaboration and cooperation with other organizations and agencies, and include an effective mechanism for measuring the impact of the Community Foundation's investment.; The requesting organization should demonstrate the expertise and experience necessary to accomplish the project, operate under sound financial principles, have a future funding plan, and have a solid base of community and financial support to ensure the future of the organization and program.; The foundation prefers requests for partial funding of projects rather than full support; plans for future funding and sound, realistic financial planning are critical.; Organizations that have received grants are advised to wait a year before submitting another request.; Applicants who are not successful in receiving funds should wait at least one year to reapply and should not reapply at that time unless the terms of the request have changed from the original request.; Submit 3 copies of: (1) a cover letter summarizing the purposes and anticipated benefits of the grant, a one-paragraph abstract or summary of the project, and the dollar amount requested; (2) the grant application form, with each question answered; (3) financial information: a line-item income and expense budget for the project (not the entire organization), including in-kind and cash support; a description of the funding contributed by the organization and a detail of other funding sources; a list of other foundations, corporations or individuals asked to fund the project, with the amounts requested from each and whether funds are committed, declined or pending; and the organization's current annual operating budget with an explanation of its funding sources; (4) additional information: one copy of the IRS Tax Determination letter and the Annual Report for the latest year.; Any grant received after the application deadline may be held until the next meeting date.; Applications are mailed to Glenn Taylor, Executive Director, Community Foundation of West Alabama, P. O. Box 3033, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403, or physically delivered to 700 Energy Center Blvd., #406, Northport, AL 35476.. Geography served: West Alabama area. Deadline: All grant requests must be submitted by April 1 and November 1 of each year..