Greene County Democrat

Tag: The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF)

  • Applications starting January 20 to February 6, 2026 Black Belt Community Foundation announces Arts and Community Grants Cycle

    SELMA, AL (January 8, 2026) – The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) announces the opening of its 2026 Arts and Community Grants Cycle, with applications opening January 20, 2026, and closing February 6, 2026, at 5:00 PM (CST).
    Through this annual grant cycle, BBCF will award Arts Grants ranging from $500 to $3,500 and Community Grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 to support community-led projects across the foundation’s 12-county service area: Bullock, Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, and Wilcox counties in Alabama’s Black Belt region.
    These grants support projects that strengthen, uplift, and empower communities across Alabama’s Black Belt. Eligible nonprofit and community-based organizations are encouraged to apply.
    New organizations that have not previously applied for BBCF arts or community grants are required to attend a Grantseekers Workshop prior to submitting an application. Returning grantees may apply directly through the online grants portal. These Zoom sessions are scheduled for January 20 and 22, 2026, with both days offering the convenience of an early afternoon session at 12pm and an evening session at 7pm
    “These grants are a key part of how we support community-led work across the Black Belt,” said Chris Spencer, President and CEO of the Black Belt Community Foundation. “Opening the cycle early gives organizations the time and flexibility they need to plan thoughtfully and put resources to work in ways that reflect local priorities.”
    Applications will be submitted online through BBCF’s website here: https://blackbeltfound.org/grants/ , by clicking the “Apply Now” tab, once applications open on January 20, 2026.
    Following the application deadline, proposals will undergo a review process, with final funding decisions approved by the BBCF Board in early spring. All applicants will be notified once decisions are finalized.
    The 2026 grant cycle will conclude with an Arts and Community Grants Awards Ceremony on April 25, 2026, in Selma.

     

  • Greene County receives $41, 263 in BBCF grants Black Belt Community Foundation awards over $300,000 in community and arts grants

    Shown above are representatives of Greene County groups awarded BBCF community and arts grants. At far left are: Dr. Carol P. Zippert, a BBCF Founder; Ms. Darlene Robinson, BBCF Greene County Board Member and Ms. Felecia Lucky, BBCF President.
    BBCF presents grant award to the Society of Folk Arts & Culture which is sponsoring the 50th Celebration of the Black Belt Folk Roots Festival, August 23-24, 2025 in Eutaw, AL.

    L to R: Felecia Lucky, BCF President; Darlene Robinson, BBCF Board Member, Carol P. Zippert, Festival Coordinator and Aaron Head, BBCF Arts Coordinator.

    The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) awarded $344,447.20 to 141 community and arts projects across its 12 county service area in the Alabama Black Belt Region, including Bullock, Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter and Wilcox. The presentations were made at its 2025 Arts and Community Grant Ceremony held Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Wallace Community College Selma. “As we continue to celebrate BBCF’s 20th anniversary through May, the Black Belt Community Foundation is proud to award these funds in 141 different grants to community and arts organizations across the 12 counties we serve,” said BBCF President Felecia Lucky.
    Greene County received 13 grants for community and arts projects, in the amount of $41,263.24, awarded to the following organizations: Alabama Art Casting, Boligee Senior Center, Boss Ties LLC, Broader Horizons, Bundle of Joy Praise Team, Eutaw Elderly Village Inc., Greene County Human Rights Commission, Mount Pleasant Home Protection Society, Operations Taking Back Our Community (TBOC), Release the Earth, Society of Folk Arts and Culture (Black Belt Festival Grant,) United Purpose Inc. The 2025 arts grants, including the Black Belt Folk Roots Festival, totaled $14,125; community grants totaled $27, 138.24.
    Ms. Darlene Robinson, BBCF board member representing Greene County, stated that each of the 12 counties has a group of volunteers, known as Community Associates, who raise funds for the Foundation and these resources, which receive a percentage match from BBCF, are allocated in grants to the respective county. “We hold a lot of fundraising activities in Greene County, but that money can only be spent in Greene County through grants,” she said.
    “We continue our focus on empowering local initiatives by first listening and responding to the very needs voiced by the communities themselves — all while fostering growth and impacting the entire Black Belt region,” stated President Lucky.

  • Black Belt Community Foundation Launches Community Grants Cycle

    BBCF

    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.