The Community Grants Program awards approximately 40 organizations each year to community-based organizations based in and serving the region. Most grants are between $500 and $3,000. BBCF receives over 100 proposals per year and funds about 40. Here is information about our most recent awards.

Community Grants support community efforts that will contribute to the strength, innovation, and success of Black Belt citizens and communities. BBCF understands that all counties are not “created equal.” Therefore, the need in each county and community will be different. Grant proposals should engage Black Belt residents and Black Belt leaders in addressing community issues. These issues, and the proposed activities, can include but are not limited to: community economic development, education, environment, health and human services, youth, and/or other areas benefiting the community.

Erica Crenshaw is BBCF's Field Services Representtive and manages the Community Grants. She can be reached at 334-874-1126 or e-mail her at ecrenshaw@blackbeltfound.org.

2012 BBCF Community Grants

The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) invites groups and organizations based in and serving Alabama’s Black Belt to apply for one-year grants for community-led activities around the 12-county Black Belt region.  Grants will be awarded in the range of $500 to $3,000. The Black Belt Community Foundation has a total funding pool of $100,000 available for grants for the current round.  The Board of Directors will announce the 2012 Community Grant Awards in September. 

Headquartered in Selma, Alabama, the BBCF seeks to support community efforts that contribute to the strength, innovation, and success of Black Belt citizens and communities.  BBCF’s mission is to forge a collective stream of giving from the community and other sources so we, the people of the Black Belt, can enhance our continuing efforts to lift ourselves by taking what we have to make what we need.

The Black Belt Community Foundation seeks to support organizations engaging Black Belt citizens in addressing community issues.  In this round, grant awards are available for, but not limited to, projects addressing the following areas:

• Civic (empower the citizens to provide needed services, i.e., fire departments, libraries, etc.)
• Community and Economic Development (offer economic opportunities and/or  improve social conditions)
• Education (provide additional instructional resources and activities)
• Environment (protect, preserve, and/or enhance natural resources)
• Health Services (offer resources, educate, and address health needs)
• Youth Development (focus on youth enrichment, leadership  and exposure)
• Other areas benefiting the community (community organizing or organizational development) 

Regardless of the project, the most successful proposals will provide compelling and specific evidence of: 1. participation and leadership demonstrated by community residents, 2. use of community assets, and 3. the potential to transform the community and the Black Belt.

WHO MAY APPLY

The Black Belt Community Foundation only funds organizations based in and serving communities in our 12-county region:  Bullock, Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, and Wilcox.  We anticipate that grants will be awarded in each of the 12 counties.  Projects that cross Black Belt county boundaries must include a letter of support from a partnering organization within the county where they wish to conduct the project.
                                                                                                                          
Please note that grants will NOT be awarded to:

Deadline for the 2012 Community Grant Application Submission is May 15th, 2012. Announcement of the winners will be made in September.

Grant Applications are available to organizations who attended one of our Community Awareness Grant Seekers Workshops by CLICKING HERE.

Please call or e-mail Erica Crenshaw, Field Services Representative, for details at 334-874-1126 or by e-mail at ecrenshaw@blackbeltfound.org.

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