Racial Equity Fund

An initiative of the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville

Racial Equity Fund

We believe that this community has the resources to address our most pressing problems. The Community Foundation commits to do what we do best: mobilize generosity to address community needs. That’s why we, through the generosity of our Founding Donors, are launching the new Racial Equity Fund. This fund will provide discretionary grant funding for those nonprofit organizations who are on the front lines addressing the issue of racism and inequity in our community.

We believe all residents in our community should have the opportunity to fulfill their highest potential. When we tackle the existing gaps in racial equity, we will expand opportunities to many people across our community. Then, our community will experience the necessary change to be a place where all our residents can learn, work, and further contribute to a healthy, thriving and prosperous place to call home.

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Community Capital to Address Equity Issues

The Racial Equity Fund will support both current year grantmaking, as well as serve as a permanent source of funding to address the ongoing needs for racial equity. Fifty percent of all donations will be deployed for current year grants, and fifty percent of all donations will be added to the Racial Equity Endowment to provide a lasting legacy of support for this issue.

 

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Grantmaking

The Racial Equity Fund will provide grant funding to address equity gaps in the following areas that affect quality of life:

  • Criminal justice system
  • Education and job readiness
  • Health and wellness
  • Income and wealth creation
  • Neighborhoods and communities
2020 Grant Recipients:
  • AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | Targets medical providers and African-Americans individuals to increase the delivery of clinical preventive services, including awareness and education about early detection of lung cancer and tobacco cessation resources.
  • AUM FOUNDATION | Empowers participants, through an interactive class format, to consider their own identity and experiences and address stereotypes, biases, sexism, racism, homophobia, and classism to create a more inclusive society.
  • BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF NORTH ALABAMA | Prepares low-income teens to safely drive and ensures that they are equipped with a valid driver's license in order to face daily transportation challenges for employment and school.
  • FAMILY SERVICES CENTER | Provides credit, budgeting, housing, homelessness, rental, mortgage, and job skills counseling services for marginalized families seeking financial empowerment through home-ownership.
  • GIRLS INC. OF HUNTSVILLE | Offers opportunities for girls to receive academic support and enrichment activities that promote educational achievement and high school graduation as the catalysts for economic empowerment and positive life outcomes.
  • HABITAT OF HUMANITY OF MADISON COUNTY | Develops a new community of affordable housing in Northeast Huntsville, built by local volunteers, to create a safe haven for families and assists in resolving the issue of substandard and poverty housing in our community. 
  • HUNTSVILLE COMMUNITY DRUMLINE | Offers youth free year-round professional percussion instruction, instrument usage, tutoring, mentoring, performance
    opportunities, and the tools to compete for college scholarships while keeping them active and off the streets.
  • NOT ONE MORE ALABAMA | Creates a six episode series of podcasts to investigate issues related to substance use prevention, criminal justice, treatment, and recovery support which disproportionately affect minority members in our community.
  • ROCKET CITY CIVIL RIGHTS | Brings awareness to Huntsville 1960s civil rights history through access to primary documents, education about this history, assistance in diversity training, as well as archives and resources to engage the general public.
  • SAFE HARBOR YOUTH | Serves mostly youth of color who were homeless, abused, neglected, trafficked, or runaways, provides transitional housing, healthcare, mentorship, and life-long support to finish school, obtain jobs, and become self-sufficient.
  • THE BARTLEY BRIDGE | Launches and operates the BEAT program, an entrepreneurship training program for youth, which will address the gaps in available resources, funding, and activities for youth in the Northwood and neighboring communities.
  • THE CORNERSTONE INITIATIVE | Prepares the unemployed and under-employed for the workplace through the use of trained facilitators and mentors that provide each student with ongoing employment support through an 8-week soft skills job training course.
  • WEDC FOUNDATION | Supports local woman to achieve their goal of higher education through one-on-one mentoring, development workshops, and financial assistance to help break the cycle of poverty and diminish racial and gender wealth gaps.

These thirteen nonprofit organizations were awarded a total of $115,000 in grant funding by the Racial Equity Fund Grants Committee for programs and projects that span the five focus areas of the Racial Equity Fund.

Founding Donors

The Community Foundation recognizes with gratitude those Founding Donors whose gifts helped launch the Racial Equity Fund. Listed here are the donors who gave gifts of $5,000 or more to set up this fund.  All gifts to the Racial Equity Fund are appreciated. 

  • Ability Plus

  • ADTRAN

  • Pam and Joe Alexander

  • Aruna and Amit Arora

  • Tommy and Eula Battle

  • BB&T, now Truist

  • The Boeing Company

  • Cynthia Gay Brooks

  • Bobby Bradley and Charley Burruss

  • Bridgeworth Community Fund

  • J.R. and Kakki Brooks

  • Ana and Jim Byrne

  • CADENCE Bank Community Reinvestment Fund

  • CenterState and South State Bank

  • City of Madison

  • BG (R) Philip and Mrs. Sharlene Coker

  • Karren and Roger Crowson

  • Mike and Theresa Durboraw

  • ERC Helping Hands Fund

  • Facebook

  • Dr. James and Violet Gilbert

  • Google Fiber

  • Dr. Gregory Gum

  • H204Christ Foundation Fund

  • Jane and Brian Hinson

  • Jim and Lynn Hudson

  • Huntsville Hospital Health System

  • KBR

  • Little Drummer Girl Fund

  • Larry and Amanda Lowe

  • Mike and Patty Lowe

  • Todd and Zara Lowry

  • LSINC Corporation

  • Bob and Cindi Ludwig

  • Doug and Lauren Martinson

  • Jim and Holly McCarty

  • Jean McCrady

  • The Omega Select Investment Group and other Omega Men

  • Redstone Federal Credit Union

  • Andree Reeves

  • Thomas and Anne Marie Reidy

  • Dianne and Jim Reynolds

  • Chris Russell and Sharon Doviet

  • Ryan Family Foundation

  • Woody, Myra, and Sam Sanderson

  • Sangeeta and Ashok Singhal

  • Tommy and Susan Siniard

  • Synovus

  • Richard and Wanda Tucker

  • Torch Technologies

  • Toyota Alabama

  • Joe and Lynne Berry Vallely

  • Hunter and Nancy Washington Vaughn

  • Vector Wealth Strategies

  • Wells Fargo Foundation

  • The Widener Family Fund

  • Frank Williams and family

  • Mariceli Ming Li Wu, Miguel Si Chiang Wu, Magali Rivera, and Ernie Wu

  • Wendy Yang, Dr. Richard Myers, and Susannah Myers

  • Yulista

  • Other anonymous donors

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can donate?

Any member of our community can contribute to the Racial Equity Fund!  We believe that we are #StrongerTogether.  When our community comes together to solve our most pressing problems, we are stronger and more impactful than any individual, company, or organization can be on its own.

Who decides where the money goes?

The Racial Equity Fund Grants Committee will review all grant applications and make grant awards from the fund.  This Grants Committee is comprised of a diverse group of community members with more than half of the members representing racial and ethnic minorities.  It is critical that the groups being supported have a strong voice in the process and in the grants that are made.

What types of projects?

The Racial Equity Fund will be used to address equity gaps in the following areas:

  • Criminal justice system
  • Education and job readiness
  • Health and wellness
  • Income and wealth creation
  • Neighborhoods and communities

All grants from this Fund must be made for charitable, religious, scientific, literary, or educational purposes to any organization that is described Code Section 170(c)(2), 501(c)(3), 2055(a)(2) or 2522(a)(2) (except for private foundations as defined by Code Section 509(a)) ("qualified organization"). Qualified organizations include schools, religious institutions, or government agencies located in the United States.

How is the Racial Equity Endowment different from other local fundraising efforts to help issues surrounding racial equality?

The Greater Huntsville community is very generous, and so it is no surprise that there are a number of worthwhile organizations, projects, and programs that support equity in our community.  

The Racial Equity Fund is different than other fundraising efforts in that it will support both current year grantmaking, as well as serve as a permanent source of funding to address the ongoing needs for racial equity.  Fifty percent (50%) of all donations will be deployed for current year grants, and fifty percent (50%) of all donations will be added to the Racial Equity Endowment to provide a lasting legacy of support for this issue.

What portion of donations to the Racial Equity Endowment will be available for grants each year?

Half of all donations to the Racial Equity Fund will be used for current grantmaking, and the balance will be used to grow the Racial Equity Endowment to address equity issues in our community for years to come.

If there are community needs, why create an endowment instead of spending all donations now?

An endowment provides a stable source of income to address the concerns of racial equity  forever, and contributions to the Racial Equity Fund provide a lasting legacy of the donors who support it. The impact of these investments will continue to benefit the community long after the donations have been made. Additionally, our community is growing and changing each year, and the needs of tomorrow may be different from our needs today. The Racial Equity Fund will be here to meet the needs of the community both now and forever.

How does the Community Foundation publicize the grant opportunity?

The Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville promotes grant opportunities from the Racial Equity Fund through its website, through social media channels, and through targeted e-mail correspondence.

Can I make an honorary or memorial gift to the Racial Equity Endowment?

Yes! Because equity is an issue that should be important to all of us who call the Greater Huntsville area "home," an honorary or memorial donation to the Racial Equity Fund  is a perfect way to honor those who are committed to creating a better community for all of us.

Can I donate assets other than cash to the Racial Equity Endowment?

Yes! The Community Foundation can accept not only cash and credit cards, but also non-cash gifts such as stocks and bonds. Assets such as real estate and other personal property may also be accepted, but are subject to Board approval.

To make a credit card donation to the Racial Equity Fund, please click the Donate button above. If you would like more information about making a non-cash gift to the Racial Equity Fund, please contact Melissa Thompson at melissa@communityfoundationhsv.org for simple transaction instructions.

Will any fees be taken from donated amounts?

The Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville has waived its administrative fees for the management of the Racial Equity Fund.

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