GRANT GUIDELINES

Grant applications stacked for review

Community Funds
and Field of Interest Funds of The Community Foundation provide a set amount for grants each year, according to a spending policy approved by our Board of Directors. Twice a year, we accept proposals from nonprofit organizations in Jefferson, Shelby, Blount, St. Clair and Walker counties.  We review these proposals carefully as part of a competitive process, since we always receive more proposals than we can fund.  The final decision is made by the Board of Directors.

Print out and read the grant guidelines and supporting documents below to make sure you have everything you need before submitting a grant.  The information also is available in the list to the right.

Who should attend an Overview Session?
Before every round of competitive grantmaking (deadlines March 15 and September 15 each year), our staff offers sessions to explain how the process works.

If your nonprofit organization has never applied for a grant from The Community Foundation before or if your last application was submitted more than a year ago, you should send a representative to attend one of the regularly scheduled overview sessions to find out more about our grant guidelines.  If sessions are currently scheduled, they will be listed on the calendar at right.

Click here to fill out a contact form to reserve your spot for an upcoming session

Click here to contact us with additional questions or comments or call 205-327-3813.

Grant guidelines and supporting documents
Print Full Grant Guidelines


Print Capital Application


Print Program Application


Interest areas and priorities


More about your proposal

Acceptable proposals

Elements of a good proposal

Interest areas and priorities

Limitations and restrictions

Questions to ask before you apply

What you need to complete your application

Deadlines

What happens after you apply?

Other funding sources

Additional services for nonprofits

On the calendar

2008 overview sessions
Nonprofit organizations in our five-county area can learn more about our competitive grant process and priorities. Sessions are held in the early winter and late summer leading up to March and September grant application deadlines each year. more

Grant guidelines