Helping Build Stronger Communities

Mission

The Mission Statement of Vulcan Materials Company states that Vulcan “will be a good corporate citizen in each community in which we operate. We will support and take an active part in public and charitable projects.” Vulcan established the Vulcan Materials Company Foundation in 1988 to assist in carrying out that mission. Because contributions made by the Foundation are corporate-based business dollars, it is essential that they be made in a planned and consistent manner that best serves the combined interests of Vulcan and the communities in which we operate.

Vision

Helping Build Stronger Communities

Support Priorities

The Foundation supports many types of worthwhile organizations that enhance the quality of life in Vulcan’s communities. The Vulcan Materials Foundation focuses on three areas in particular:

• Working with schools;
• Supporting environmental stewardship; and
• Encouraging employee involvement.

Education

A major focus of the Foundation is to play a part in maintaining or improving the quality of life and standard of living through the support of education.

Elementary/Secondary Education

The Foundation will consider proposals that provide public education programs and projects that enhance the quality of learning for all students. The Foundation works to support efforts to improve educational systems and individual schools in Vulcan’s communities by partnering with public schools located in its operating areas. Vulcan has adopted 276 schools in its communities through support from the Foundation. It is Vulcan’s goal to increase the number of its school partnerships every year.

The Foundation is also interested in efforts to encourage young people to develop an interest in math, science and business. The Foundation, therefore, gives consideration to proposals designed to help maintain students’ curiosity and excitement about the world of math and science and to explore the world of industry and business. The Foundation is particularly interested in helping young people and their teachers understand the relevance of math and science to society, and supports efforts to link these subjects to their application in the workplace. The Foundation also will consider programs designed to educate our students about the vital role of business and industry in society.

Higher Education

Higher education will play an increasingly critical role in helping the economy effectively compete in the global market. The Foundation recognizes the invaluable contributions made by institutions of higher learning in educating the nation’s future workforce.

The Foundation will consider proposals from those institutions located in states where the Company has facilities, particularly proposals that focus on science and engineering or improving public education. Although proposals for capital improvements will be considered, the Foundation prefers to fund projects that directly affect the outcome of the educational process, such as scholarships and science and technology programs.

Environmental Stewardship

The Foundation supports the philosophy that economic development and environmental stewardship have common goals. Responsible economic growth provides the resources necessary to be a good steward of the environment, while this stewardship helps to sustain growth.

There are important links between industry, the environment and technological innovation. A society that is better informed about environmental issues will be able to participate more effectively in public policy debates. Grantmaking will focus on organizations and programs that seek to develop an understanding of the connection between environmental stewardship and sustainable development. 

The Foundation will consider supporting those environmental organizations that adhere to fact-based, balanced environmental principles.

Employee Involvement

Vulcan has a history of encouraging its employees to participate in volunteer activities in their communities. We recognize that our workforce offers a unique resource to provide leadership in the communities where we operate. Thus, high priority will be given by the Foundation to proposals from those organizations in which company employees are actively involved, especially in our focus areas of education and environmental stewardship.

Geographic Funding Priorities

In addition to the corporate headquarters, located in Birmingham, Alabama, there are eight Construction Materials divisions. Further, Vulcan has 400* active aggregates facilities located in 22 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, and Mexico and the Bahamas. Regarding proposals submitted to the Foundation, first consideration will be given to those organizations that will benefit the communities where Vulcan employees live and work. The Foundation’s giving program is decentralized to spread ownership of the program to a wider base. Because unit managers are directly involved with the communities where they do business, decentralization enables the Foundation to be more informed about, and to better address, local needs. Proposals submitted to the Foundation should be sent directly to the charitable contributions officer in the appropriate geographical area.

* Updated after the acquisition of U.S. Concrete

The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC) is a federal-state partnership authorized by Congress in the 2008 Food, Conservation, and Energy Act (“the Farm Bill”) to promote and encourage economic development in parts of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and all of Florida*. SCRC invests in projects that support basic infrastructure, business development, natural resource preservation and workforce development. SCRC is committed to supporting job creation, building communities and improving the lives of those who reside in the 428 counties of the seven-state region. SCRC will make $20 million[1] in grant funds available for awards through the competitive State Economic and Infrastructure Development (SEID) Grant Program.

The SEID Grant program includes funding from SCRC’s annual appropriations and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). SCRC’s authorizing statute, 40 U.S.C., Subtitle V, §15501 (b)(c)(d), indicates how much and where grant funds must be spent. At least 50% of grant funds must be allocated to distressed counties and isolated areas of distress. At least 40% of grant funds must be allocated to infrastructure projects tackling basic public infrastructure, telecommunications and transportation. Infrastructure projects and goals are outlined in the BIL. Click here to access BIL information. The SEID program is SCRC’s flagship grant program designed to encourage and support economic and infrastructure development activities across the Southeast Crescent region. In FY 2023, the inaugural grant program will invest $20 million in projects that align with the priorities identified in the authorizing statute, Five-Year Strategic Plan and State Economic Development Plans. 

* Florida has opted out of the 2023 funding cycle.

NOTE:  Round 1 applications are due March 3, 2023. Select applicants will be invited to join the second- and third round RFPs.

Background

The national housing shortage continues to make headlines. Estimates on the number of homes needed to close the gap run in the millions. But one thing is clear: without a stable, affordable place to call home, it’s impossible to thrive.

In an effort to scale needed housing solutions, Enterprise and the Wells Fargo Foundation have teamed up to launch a new $20 million competition. The Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge will identify and propel implementation-ready innovations that transform current practices and reimagine access to affordable homes.

Eligible applicants will compete for individual grants of $1 million, $2 million and $3 million to scale ideas that lay the groundwork for system-wide change. Winners also will receive two years of technical assistance to turn their ideas into real-world programs.

Focus Areas

The Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge aims to meet the nation’s affordable housing challenges across Native, rural, suburban, Tribal and urban communities.

Proposals must encompass one or more of three focus areas:

Construction

• Construction innovations must introduce transformative practices, processes or new materials that will create construction efficiency, streamline supply chains, bolster climate resiliency, or reduce building costs.
• Construction approaches can include but are not limited to:
  • Creation and use of innovative, environmentally sustainable materials 
  • Streamlining the construction supply chain (e.g., materials production, purchasing, delivery, assembly) 
  • Innovative development in the affordable housing construction workforce to accelerate production 
  • New economies of scale through efficiencies in building design
• Construction technologies can include but are not limited to deployment of enhanced building practices and new building technologies.

Financing

• Financing innovations must introduce new tools or strategies to transform or offer alternatives to current practices, broadening access to capital, unlocking or leveraging financial resources, and creating a more equitable housing market for renters and homebuyers.
• Financing approaches can include but are not limited to:
  • New investment strategies
  • New funding sources to support acquisition, development, or building operations
  • New financing mechanisms for acquisition, construction, or permanent financing
  • Improved efficiencies in financing and underwriting
  • Risk mitigation through new investment approaches
  • New credit enhancement strategies
  • Unique ownership structures
  • New approaches that reduce the cost of capital
• Financing technologies can include but are not limited to deployment of technology that accelerates the financing process, development of tools that reduce timelines for approval, and development of tools that facilitate efficient, equitable access to capital.

Access and Resident Support

• Access and Resident Support innovations must introduce new processes or models that improve the housing experience for residents, such as housing access, choice, and stability, advancing fair housing, promoting personal agency and creating pathways for upward mobility.
• Access and Resident Support approaches can include but are not limited to:
  • New models that increase housing choice for renters and homebuyers, such as:
    • Improved housing search process
    • Expanding acceptance of renter subsidies
    • Ensuring equitable access to capital to support homeownership
    • Identifying and addressing discrimination or differential treatment against protected classes
  • Services that connect residents with resources to support upward mobility
• Access and Resident Support technologies can include but are not limited to development and deployment of technology to improve access to housing options, resident experience and resident housing stability.

Innovations across all three focus areas must demonstrate how they center racial equity and, where applicable, integrate environmental sustainability.

Mission

The mission of the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) is to advance the progress of medicine and improve the public's health by providing U.S. researchers, health professionals, the public health workforce, educators, and the public with equal access to biomedical and health information resources and data.

Purpose

The Health Information Outreach Award provides funding for projects that seek to improve health information literacy by either increasing the public’s ability to find and use health information, or by improving health professionals’ access to, awareness of, and ability to locate high quality biomedical health information.  

Potential Project Ideas

• Training health professionals in the use of electronic health information resources, with an emphasis on NLM databases and NNLM resources.  
• Placing internet-accessible computers in locations where they can be used to research health information needs such as free clinics, community health centers, etc.  
• Improving access to health information and information technology for groups without adequate access to library and information services.  
• Evaluating health information and training needs of a target audience and implementing a training plan for that audience.  
• Creating programs on locating and evaluating consumer health information found on the Internet.  
• Incorporating NLM resources into new or existing health programs.   
• Developing educational materials using NLM resources for educators/teachers.  
• Starting train-the-Trainer projects that enhance the skills of library/organization staff to train a target population on locating and evaluating health information.

Mission

The mission of the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) is to advance the progress of medicine and improve the public's health by providing U.S. researchers, health professionals, the public health workforce, educators, and the public with equal access to biomedical and health information resources and data.

Purpose

The Innovation Impact Award supports new projects that involve creative program improvement and seek to enhance health information outreach. These innovative projects may not fit squarely into the other award categories for Region 2. However, projects awarded in this category will still align with our larger funding objectives of enhancing the community’s access to health information resources, improving defined health literacy skills, and building community members’ confidence to make informed decisions regarding their health. The approach to these projects may be unique but will have the potential to make a large impact from their distinctive project design.

Potential Project Ideas

• Purchase software or hardware to improve operations in community organizations, health service organizations, libraries, or academic institutions in order to serve their constituents better.
• Pilot a reading group using the materials from the NNLM Reading Club about a prevalent health topic.
• Develop a more accessible and/or culturally inclusive collection of materials (ex: Spanish language, books by diverse authors, graphic novels about health issues, large print books).
• Form a mentoring group and schedule a professional development week for young people related to health issue. This program could integrate an educational component. Recruit adult mentors to support the program. 

NOTE: To begin, you must first register. Once you have completed our registration, you will be directed to a screen to register your organization, or request access to become a grant administrator. Applications for approval as a grants administrator (pre-proposal deadline) must be received 7 days before a deadline (full proposal deadlines).

Purpose

Since it was founded nearly 60 years ago, Turner Industries has grown to be one of the nation’s leading heavy industrial contractors. Founder Bert S. Turner (now deceased) and his wife, Sue, and their children have taken an interest from the very beginning in steadily investing charitable dollars back into the communities in which the company works. As the company has grown in size and number of locations across the country, so have the number of recipients the company has been able to assist. Turner Industries benefits workforce development and community improvement as it relates to health and education.

The Turner Industries Fund at the Baton Rouge Area Foundation invites you to apply for grant funding for your organization through this process. The Fund committee meets on a semi-annual basis to review grant requests and will look forward to reviewing your submission.

Values

Organizations eligible for funding should have values consistent with those of Turner Industries:

• A top priority of everyone is to honor commitments, both personally and professionally. 
• The workplace atmosphere is one of openness and fairness where everyone communicates directly and honestly, and is governed by the same rules.
• A goal of everyone is to grow, personally and professionally, and to contribute to the achievement of the organization.
• The importance of innovation is recognized and peak performers are rewarded.
• The value of excellence in produce quality, customer service and financial performance is stressed.

Alabama Power

We are a POWERFUL SOURCE of GOOD. Formed with donations from Alabama Power shareholders, the Alabama Power Foundation spreads good to Alabama residents through a number of different initiatives.

In fact, that’s our mission – to spread good throughout Alabama to the people who need it most. 

• Educational Advancement
• Civic & Community Development
• Arts & Cultural Enrichment
• Health & Human Services
• Environmental Stewardship

Elevate Grants

Lifting up the state one organization at a time

The Elevate grant program empowers nonprofits – helping them expand their impact and address pressing needs. Our goal is to strengthen these organizations, helping provide tools and resources so they can help elevate the people and communities of Alabama.

Elevate Grants support needs and initiatives that are not addressed through our other grant programs.

Elevate Grant Focus Areas

Educational Advancement – Supporting equitable programs to advance learning for adults, children, families and communities, capacity-building for nonprofits through professional development or certifications that help equip staff with skills to operate programs more efficiently and effectively.

Civic & Community Development – Supporting programs that promote workforce development, criminal justice, economic empowerment, and quality of life.

Arts & Cultural Enrichment – Supporting cultural programs and expressions of creativity.

Health and Human Services – Supporting the well-being of Alabamians by advancing equitable programs in health, medicine and social welfare.

Environmental Stewardship – Supporting conservation, beautification and sustainable practices benefiting Alabama’s biological diversity and the environment.

AARP Foundation Grantmaking Overview

Our Unique Approach

As a charitable affiliate of AARP, AARP Foundation works to end senior poverty by helping older adults build economic opportunity. Through our grantmaking, we collaborate with organizations to advance projects that can become sustainable solutions to the challenges facing older adults living with low income.

AARP Foundation focuses on achieving equitable outcomes for older adults who are struggling, with specific objectives of increasing income and earnings, securing benefits, and helping older adults gain access to refunds for which they’re eligible. Our work prioritizes equitable strategies and services that address systemic barriers, racial and ethnic disparities, and other biases that perpetuate economic instability.

AARP Foundation is currently concentrating its efforts in 22 U.S. states and territories with high rates of senior poverty: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico.

Advancing Economic Opportunity Among Older Adults – Field Building

AARP Foundation invites organizations to submit a pre-application for field-building projects that advance economic opportunity and financial stability for older adults on a systemic level. AARP Foundation is interested in established organizations that are exploring systems-level change, assessing the effectiveness of existing interventions, and answering questions about how to best serve older adults with low income.

Questions we are looking to answer include:

• How (or to what extent) are public benefits changing the financial health of older adults with low income?
• What outreach strategies for various programs are most effective for older adults?
• What are the reasons for participant “drop-off” during program implementation? For instance, what happens when somebody is reached, shows interest in applying for benefits or participating in a workforce program, but does not continue?

Other potential topics aligned with this opportunity include:

• Identifying improvements in the collection and sharing of data across organizations or systems with regard to older adult populations
• Addressing systems that create conditions in which senior poverty takes hold and proposing solutions to improve or disrupt these systems
• Furthering solutions that lift seniors out of poverty — for example, the evaluation of an intervention addressing senior poverty

We are open to receiving proposals for relevant projects that are not explicitly described above, but projects must focus on sharing insights and learnings for systems-level change that ultimately leads to increased income or decreased expenditures for older adults with low income.

Our Mission: Why we exist

We enable and promote philanthropy that inspires, facilitates and fosters a vibrant and engaged Chattahoochee Valley.

Vision: How we accomplish our mission

We are the premier center for thoughtful philanthropy for people who want to make their Chattahoochee Valley communities better, both during and after their lifetimes.

We:

• Help a multitude of donors easily and effectively achieve their charitable interests with a wide range of financial assets.
• Invest assets responsibly to preserve and increase grantmaking capital.
• Know the needs of our communities and share that knowledge to empower engagement, leadership and improvement.
• Lead conversations and collaborate to shape effective responses to community needs and opportunities.

Community Impact Grant

The Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley, Inc. was formed in 1998 as a philanthropic resource for the people and charitable organizations of our area and currently holds assets of more than $280 million in more than 330 different Funds. Our mission is to enable and promote philanthropy that fosters, facilitates and inspires a vibrant and engaged Chattahoochee Valley.

Funds may be contributed to the Community Foundation from individuals and organizations for unrestricted use or for designated charitable purposes. The Community Foundation’s ability to respond to community needs is directly tied to the growth of the charitable assets under its control.

During this year, the Community Foundation will make awards from the Funds listed below. 

• The Community Endowment Fund and its named sub-funds:
  • The Fred and Catalina Aranas Family Fund
  • The Susan and Butch Cochran Family Fund
  • The Moselle W. and H. Quigg Fletcher, Jr., Endowment Fund
• The Chattahoochee Valley Fair Fund

CFCV acknowledges and supports Columbus 2025, the Greater Columbus Region’s framework for reducing poverty, increasing prosperity, and enhancing quality of life. Though CFCV’s geographic focus is larger than that addressed by Columbus 2025, these funding guidelines align with 2025’s plans and priorities for improving communities.

Funding

The Community Foundation has committed up to $100,000 in unrestricted grant funds and grants awarded will range in size from $10,000-$25,000. In addition, 50% of all funds awarded by the Community Foundation must be matched with cash or in-kind donations. (For example, a $10,000 grant must be matched with at least $5,000 from an additional source or sources.) Although in-kind contributions may be counted as part of a match, volunteer hours may not be included in the project budget or counted as part of a match.