OVERVIEW: This corporate funder supports K-12 education, STEM programs, workforce development, environmental conservation, arts & culture and human services in Alabama.
IP TAKE: There are many funding programs for grant seekers to consider with the Alabama Power Foundation, so it is worthwhile to take some time getting to know them. The Foundation’s website clearly indicates grantmaking initiatives with sub-programs, application instructions and deadlines noted within. This is a relatively accessible corporate funder that limits its giving to the state of Alabama. In recent years, the Foundation has given over one thousand individual grants to local nonprofits. It accepts applications online from grantseekers and provides a helpful resource page with sample applications, an in-depth mission. Overall, The Alabama Power Foundation is an asset-rich, accessible corporate funder that should be on the radar of Alabama-based nonprofits, especially education and human services-oriented outfits. This is a great funder to know for large discretionary grants, though it will be necessary to discuss in-depth with the staff.
PROFILE: The Alabama Power Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Alabama Power Company, an electric company headquartered in Birmingham. It is “committed to empower communities, bridging the gaps of inequity and improving the quality of life for all Alabamians. This corporate foundation was established in 1989 and has made over $200 million in grants in Alabama since then. The foundation was created with funds donated by Alabama Power shareholders and additional donations. Overall, it has five funding areas: Educational Advancement, Arts and Cultural Enrichment, Environmental Stewardship, Health and Human Services and Civic and Community Development. Competitive grant programs exist within each initiative, some of which are unique per initiative, while others accept applications from nonprofits across all areas of funding, like Foundation Grants and Elevate Grants. In recent years, K-12 education and poverty alleviation programs have received the most support from the Foundation.
Grants for Early Child Education, K-12 Education, Higher Education, STEM Education, College Access and Workforce Development
The Alabama Power Foundation “serves children through a number of initiatives designed to improve their education,” and tends to contribute the highest percentage of annual funding toward local schools and educational programming through the Educational Advancement Initiative.
This is a funder concerned with improving education through STEM programs, workforce development, conservation education and early childhood education. Alabama Power Foundation grants have helped create over 90 education programs in the state.
- The foundation’s Students to Stewards grant program awards conservation education grants to schools in Alabama, meant to support “dynamic stewardship initiatives to schools through conservation education and outdoor classrooms.”
- These grants award up to $2,500 per school, although this number can increase based on need.
- Funds can be used for conservation-related learning and provide outdoor learning spaces for students.
- Through its Power to Play program, the Alabama Power Foundation has awarded grants to high school arts and athletics programs. It started as an athletics-focused program, and in 2016, expanded to include the arts. This program awards up to $2,500 to schools or nonprofits building arts, music and athletics extracurricular activities.
- The Alabama Power Foundation also runs several smaller grantmaking and scholarship programs including its Classroom, Gateway, Scholar and Champion programs. Application eligibility, guidelines and due dates vary by program.
- Recent grantees include Alabama Blackbelt Scholars Incorporated, College Admissions Made Possiboe, Empower Schools of Alabama and Leeds Middle School, among many more.
Additionally, Alabama Power Foundation occasionally makes large discretionary grants to universities and university foundations, for instance, a $400,000 general operating support grant to the Crimson Tide Foundation in 2024. It remains unclear whether these grants are given via the Foundation Grant program or other avenues.
Grants for Health and Human Services
The Alabama Power Foundation’s Health and Human Services impact area addresses “the lack of healthy food alternatives, sedentary living and crippling poverty” in the state. Tax records indicate support for food banks, victims of domestic violence, housing solutions and youth services. Additionally, the Foundation supports public health institutions, large and small, through this initiative. Health and Human Services funding comes via:
- Foundation Grants, which can offer upwards of $10,000 to health and service-oriented nonprofits.
- Elevate Grants, which offer $5,000 to nonprofit-led workforce development training, including populations who are underserved, sick and disabled.
- ABC Community Trust Grants, which awards up to $500 annually to nonprofits and faith-based organizations working to address the health and human needs of low-income Alabamians.
- Recent grantees include the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB, Brother Bryan Mission for homeless populations and Children’s First Alliance of Alabama Inc.
Grants for Community and Economic Development
Through the Civic and Community Development initiative, Alabama Power Foundation “support those who work to create a more knowledgeable and skilled workforce that drives economic growth.” Tax records indicate consistent funding of community beautification, workforce development programs, infrastructure improvement projects and projects seeking to increase local tourism.
- Gateway Grants offer up to $2,500 to those working “unlock the economic and cultural value within our communities by helping our towns invite new visitors, new industries, and new neighbors to their little part [the state of Alabama].”
- Applicants must be cities, towns, or communities. Awards are paid to municipalities.
- The Foundation recommends funds be used for the purchase of new signage, renovation of existing signage, website development or upgrades, and marketing materials for town/city or for town/city event promotion.
- Other competitive grants programs relevant to community and economic development that overlap with other Foundation initiatives include Good Roots, Foundation Grants and Elevate Grants.
- Recent grantees include the Freshwater Land Trust, Black Belt Community Foundation and Alabama Power Service Organization.
Grants for Environmental Conservation
Alabama Power Foundation’s Environmental Stewardship initiative “supports those who teach environmental responsibility, work to protect natural resources, and imagine new ways to preserve access to our state’s rivers, beaches, trails and parks.” Nonprofits and schools whose work involves environmental education, biodiversity in Alabama, preservation of natural resources, and animal welfare tend to receive the most support.
- Good Roots is a foundation program that provides up to $1,000 per grant to plant trees around the state. In a recent year, the foundation gave out 38 of these grants, totaling over $32,000.
- Environmental conservation funding, at times, overlaps with educational initiatives, such as Students to Stewards, which awards grants to conservation education at Alabama-based K-12 schools.
- Recent grantees include the Alabama Wildlife Federation, the Birmingham Zoo and the Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium.
Grants for Arts and Culture
The Arts and Cultural Enrichment initiative, while smaller in grantmaking scope than other focus areas of the foundation, still funds dozens of Alabama-based arts nonprofits and cultural programs annually. Tax records indicate significant support for cultural festivals, arts education, museums, music programs, performing arts and community arts projects that tie into tourism and economic vibrancy.
- As with the Educational Advancement initiative, nonprofits and arts programs can apply for Arts and Cultural Enrichment funding through Power to Play, Classroom Grants, Foundation Grants and Elevate Grants.
- Recent grantees include Red Mountain Theatre Company, Birmingham Museum of Art and the Historic Restoration Society in Mobile, AL.
Grants for Nonprofits and Other Opportunities
Two of the foundation’s largest grantmaking programs are Foundation Grants and Elevate Grants, both of which operate across all of the Foundation’s initiatives.
- Foundation Grants award nonprofits at least $10,000 for projects that address a need related to any of the Foundation’s five key initiatives: Educational Advancement, Civic and Community Development, Arts and Cultural Enrichment, Health and Human Services and Environmental Stewardship.
- Alabama Power Foundation prefers applicants can demonstrate multiple streams of support for their projects, and that they serve some segment of Alabama’s underserved communities.
- In recent years, the Foundation has hosted two application cycles with deadlines in mid-winter and mid-summer.
- Applicants seeking less than $10,000 should contact the many divisional representatives listed on the Foundation Grants overview page.
- Elevate grants fund nonprofits in support Alabama’s workforce development with awards of up to $5,000, intended to aid capital development and operational support, along with workshops to help nonprofits grow and expand their impact. Elevate has an annual conference for nonprofits to network, as well. Applications close November 1.
The Alabama Power Foundation has a sister organization, the Alabama Business Charitable Trust Fund, which “helps pay energy bills, conduct weatherization projects and support basic human needs” in collaboration with Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA).
- The ABC Trust Fund assists vulnerable Alabamians in paying energy bills, while also hosting a handful of grants in the areas of energy efficiency, weatherization efforts, rental assistance, food security and human services.
- Learn more here.
Important Grant Details:
Each year, this foundation supports more than 700 community organizations. In a recent year, this funder gave over $18 million.
- For additional information about past grants, see the foundation’s recent annual reports.
- Applications should be submitted online via the Foundation’s recently updated Application Portal.
- The Foundation has multiple sets of application windows and deadlines for competitive grants programs within each initiative, so be sure to explore individual program pages via the grants hub.
- This funder accepts unsolicited applications from nonprofits.
- The Foundation offers sample applications for all of its competitive grantmaking programs on its resource page.
- Direct general inquiries to the staff at info@powerofgood.com or (205) 257-0231, and direct application-specific questions to Mary Claire McDougald, Charitable Giving Specialist at g2apcgrantprogram@southernco.com.
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