Formed in 2017, give256 was created by a group of community leaders and the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville to unite, encourage, and inform emerging philanthropists to make a collective impact on Greater Huntsville. This innovative program allows members to pool their money and make a positive impact on our community.
Our Members
The give256 membership is a diverse group of individuals, couples, families, and friends who are united in their desire to pool their money with others and learn more about nonprofits in Huntsville. Members are in their 20s through 70s and live in neighborhoods across the Huntsville area.
How to Join
Join any time during the year by giving $256 to make our community better, and your membership will be good for 365 days. Your dollars are then pooled with others, and you decide together which local organizations you want to receive the money.
You can pay with a one-time donation or through monthly installments. Want to give more than $256? Donations above and beyond that amount are always welcome. You can also become a Lifetime Member.
Join give256 in one of three ways: monthly, yearly, or lifetime.
You may join or renew give256 and make monthly payments of $22 using Visa, MasterCard, or Discover.
You may join or renew give256 and make a one-time yearly payment of $256 using Visa, MasterCard, or Discover.
You may join give256 as a lifetime member by making a one-time donation of $2,560 using Visa, MasterCard, or Discover.
Please note that all credit card gifts are subject to a fee assessed by the credit card issuer. This fee has been added to the monthly donations. Your entire contribution is tax-deductible fully of the law. Once accepted by The Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville, all donations represent irrevocable contributions and are not refundable.
How are your dollars spent?
An important aspect of give256 is that 75% of all money contributed by members goes towards grants in the coming year and 25% goes into an endowment. An endowment is a way of investing that ensures a permanent source of funds for give256.
The principal of the endowment fund is never spent, and it can grow over time to generate an increasing stream of funding devoted to fulfilling the mission of give256. Earnings are used to make grants that meet community needs. Your gift—and all future income from your gift—is a permanent source of community funding that makes good works possible, forever.
Gifts are treated as follows:
Annual membership gifts, matches, and general donations from $256 to $2,559 may be paid as one-time gifts or installments. These are allocated 75/25 between the give256 annual grant fund and the give256 endowment fund.
Lifetime Membership gifts of $2,560 or more are allocated at 10% to the give256 annual grant fund in the year received, and 90% to the give256 endowment fund. Exceptions to this treatment may be made for gifts with restrictions, such as foundation grants.
How do you get involved?
Give256 membership is inclusive and flexible to fit your schedule and interest.
Once you become a member you can get involve by voting on your grantee choices. There will be a final event hosted in the spring. Where the finalist will give 3 minutes presentation. Then you will submit your top choice using a voting link that will be provided.
You will be able to see your money going towards a great cause. We will keep you updated on the impact and progress of the grant. You will also be invited to engage into different events with features grantees and other opportunity to have fun with fellow members.
"Incorporating generosity to my day to day life has been such a transformative experience. I'm so glad to be a philanthropist investing in the work of local nonprofits... and all in my twenties!"
Angela Lochen
2018 Grant Recipients
305 8th Street
The CAP & GOWN Project
2019 Grant Recipients
CAP & GOWN New Hope Children's Clinic NCAC Huntsville Community Drumline
For Nonprofits
give256's informed and aware membership makes grants to support nonprofits in the greater Huntsville area. Click here to access the give256 grant application and send your completed application to info@give256.com.
Please note the following eligibility criteria for submitting a give256 application:
Grants can only be made to 501(c)(3) organizations
So far, give256 plans to give grants to only nonprofits within Madison County limits. However, as our membership expands, we expect to make some grants beyond Madison County, provided the need is sufficiently compelling.
At this time, give256 plans to give grants ranging from $2,000 to $5,000. However, applicants may ask for more. The total amount available to grant out varies year to year, depending on membership levels.
