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. Community Grants support community efforts that will contribute to the strength, innovation, and success of Black Belt citizens and communities. In this 2018 cycle, grant awards will be awarded to support organizations engaging Black Belt citizens in addressing community issues through projects focusing on Community Economic Development(offer economic opportunities and/or improve social conditions), Education(provide additional instructional resources and activities), Health Services(offer resources, educate, and address health needs).

The 2018 Community Grants Program will award approximately 40 grants to community-based organizations serving within the 12-county Black Belt Community Foundation service region. BBCF typically receives over 100 proposals each community grant funding cycle. Normally, community grants are awarded in the range of $500 to $3,000. This year, each local community associates group in collaboration with a local county review grants committee will decide the range of grants for their respective county.  Potential grantees will learn the range of grants for their county at the required grant seekers workshop.
The Black Belt Community Foundation Board of Directors have agreed to match up to $5000 raised by Community Associates in each county and other local contributions by board members and supporters. This year’s total available funding pool is between $100,000 to $120,000. The Board of Directors will announce the 2018 Community Grant Awards on June 30th.
states,” “This year we are excited to support outstanding community efforts across our 12-county BBCF service area. The fact that our community grants cycle is a community-driven process being spear-headed by our BBCF community associates is further testament to BBCF’s central belief that the Black Belt communities know what is best for them. We look forward to supporting economic development, education-based, and health services related efforts that are there to strengthen our communities.”
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.