Better Place Foundation concentrates funding in Birmingham-area youth education, social services, and community organizing, favoring local nonprofits that provide alternative or supplemental K–12 learning, direct services for children and families, and grassroots advocacy. The foundation also supports targeted issue work — notably transgender rights and environmental stewardship of local waterways — and shows openness to both faith-linked social assistance and progressive community organizing. Many grantees receive repeated, modest-to-mid-sized awards, indicating sustained relationships with a core set of organizations rather than one-off large grants.
Better Place Foundation’s largest recent grants point to a steady commitment to Birmingham-area education and youth services: Alaquest Collaborative for Education received $80,000 in 2024 and $70,000 in 2025, while Gideons Army Grassroots Army for Children received $64,000 in 2025. Those awards sit alongside repeated support for local school and child-serving groups, showing a pattern of sustained funding rather than isolated gifts. The foundation also backs work that reaches beyond school walls, including community support, social assistance, and targeted advocacy. Recent grants show a mix of direct-service organizations and groups engaged in broader community change. Youth Towers in Birmingham received $50,000 in 2025 and $50,000 in 2024, and McRae Learning Center in Selma received $52,500 in 2023, $50,000 in 2024, and $45,000 in 2025. The foundation has also funded Transgender Advocates Knowledge Empowering in Washington, DC, with $62,500 in 2023 and $60,000 in 2024, indicating support for transgender advocacy alongside local Alabama priorities. Environmental stewardship appears as another thread through support for Cahaba River Society in Birmingham.
Education is the clearest theme in the grant record. Better Place Foundation gave $57,500 in 2023 and $80,000 in 2024 to Alaquest Collaborative for Education, and it also supported Empower Schools of Alabama with $50,000 in 2025. Spring Valley School Foundation in Birmingham received $48,000 in 2023, $42,500 in 2024, and $40,000 in 2025. Child and family services are another recurring area. Youth Towers Inc. in Birmingham was awarded $32,500 in 2023 and $50,000 in both 2024 and 2025. Oasis Counseling Center for Women & Children received $32,500 in 2023 and $35,000 in 2024, while Embrace Alabama Kids received $30,000 in 2024 and $35,000 in 2025. The foundation also supports environmental and social-justice work, including $62,500 to Cahaba River Society in 2025 and $62,500 to Transgender Advocates Knowledge Empowering in 2023.
Better Place Foundation gives at a modest-to-mid range: typical grants run from $5,000 at the 25th percentile to $10,000 at the median and $27,794 at the 75th percentile. The recent grant list shows repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years, including Alaquest Collaborative for Education, Youth Towers Inc., McRae Learning Center Inc., Spring Valley School Foundation, Oasis Counseling Center for Women & Children, and Embrace Alabama Kids. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time gifts. The foundation is a regular funder, not a donor-advised fund, and it does not make program-related investments.
$883K
$11.9M
$1.9M
$1.5M
Most grants fall between $5K and $28K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$28K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Better Place Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 145 | $2.5M | 99.3% |
| 2 | United Kingdom |
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Distributed across ~60 grants but concentrated in repeat support to a core cohort (many organizations received 2–3 grants). Grants are generally modest-to-mid sized rather than a few very large gifts, with a strong geographic focus on Birmingham/Alabama and occasional support for broader grassroots social justice partners.
Notable grantees: AlaQuest Collaborative for Education, McRae Learning Center Inc, Transgender Advocates Knowledge Empowering, Cahaba River Society, Oasis Counseling Center for Women & Children
Grantmaking is regional, but it is heavily anchored in Alabama: 53% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Birmingham appears often, with awards to Alaquest Collaborative for Education, Cahaba River Society, Youth Towers Inc., Spring Valley School Foundation, Oasis Counseling Center for Women & Children, and Mcwane Science Center. Other Alabama recipients include Selma, Bessemer, Montgomery, and Weogufka. Outside Alabama, the foundation has also funded organizations in Nashville, Clarksdale, Lawrence, New Market, and Washington, DC; most grants in the dataset are to US recipients, with one UK grant.
The grant record centers on alternative and supplemental K–12 education, youth shelters and child-focused social assistance, and community organizing. It also includes targeted support for transgender advocacy and local environmental work, alongside faith-linked social services and community development organizations.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Alaquest Collaborative for Education, Youth Towers Inc., McRae Learning Center Inc., Spring Valley School Foundation, Oasis Counseling Center for Women & Children, and Embrace Alabama Kids. The repeated awards range from single grants to multi-year support.
Typical grants are relatively modest: the 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $27,794. The recent list also includes larger recurring awards in the $40,000 to $80,000 range for specific organizations.
Recipients in Alabama make up 53% of grants, and Birmingham is the most visible city in the recent grant list. Outside Alabama, the foundation has also funded groups in Tennessee, Mississippi, Kansas, Washington, DC, and one recipient in the UK.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 1 |
| $1K |
0.7% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALAQUEST COLLABORATIVE FOR EDUCATION | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $70,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE |
| GIDEONS ARMY GRASSROOTS ARMY FOR CHILDREN | NASHVILLE, TN | $64,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| CAHABA RIVER SOCIETY | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $62,500 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| YOUTH TOWERS INC | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $50,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| EMPOWER SCHOOLS OF ALABAMA | BESSEMER, AL | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| MCRAE LEARNING CENTER INC | SELMA, AL | $45,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| SPRING VALLEY SCHOOL FOUNDATION | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $40,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| EMBRACE ALABAMA KIDS | MONTGOMERY, AL | $35,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| MCWANE SCIENCE CENTER | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $32,500 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| H3W INC | BESSEMER, AL | $30,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| OASIS COUNSELING CENTER FOR WOMEN & CHILDREN | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $30,000 | 2025 | HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES |
| SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE EDUCATION FUND | BUFFALO, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL JUSTICE |
| HEARTS OF WHEELS | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $25,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| YMCA JUNIUS WARD JOHNSON MEMORIAL | VICKSBURG, MS | $22,500 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| HIGHLANDER RESEARCH & EDUCATION CENTER | NEW MARKET, TN | $22,500 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ALABAMA ONCOLOGY FOUNDATION | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $20,100 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| YOUTH SERVE INC | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $20,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| EKVNV YEFOLECVLKE | WEOGUFKA, AL | $20,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL/ENVIRONMENTAL |
| UNDER HIS WINGS INC | ROBERTSDALE, AL | $20,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| VICKSBURG CATHOLIC SCHOOL | VICKSBURG, MS | $20,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ECUMENICAL MINISTRIES INC | FAIRHOPE, AL | $20,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| BESSEMER REDEVELOPMENT CORP | BESSEMER, AL | $17,500 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT |
| THE CENTER FOR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $10,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND EDUCATION |
| TRANSGENDER ADVOCATES KNOWLEDGE EMPOWERING | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL JUSTICE |
| CENTRAL BREVARD HUMANE SOCIETY INC | COCOA, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| INDIANAPOLIS MONUMENTAL MARATHON | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $10,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| EDGE YOUTH LEADERSHIP | SAN LEANDRO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| HAITIAN BRIDGE ALLIANCE | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL JUSTICE |
| HOLCOMB MINISTRIES | VESTAVIA HILLS, AL | $7,500 | 2025 | HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| TENNESSEE BREAST CANCER COALITION | FRANKLIN, TN | $7,500 | 2025 | HEALTH SUPPORT |
| SPRINGMONT SCHOOL INC | ATLANTA, GA | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| CITY PARKS FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| CITYLAX INC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| FPC ACTION FOUNDATION | LAS VEGAS, NV | $5,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL JUSTICE |
| BERKSHIRE HILLS MUSIC ACADEMY INC | SOUTH HADLEY, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $5,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL JUSTICE |
| MARANATHAN FAMILY LEARNING CENTER AND ACADEMY | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| PURPOSE BUILT COMMUNITIES | ATLANTA, GA | $4,400 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| LIFELINE ANIMAL PROJECT INC | ATLANTA, GA | $4,000 | 2025 | HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| THE TENDER FOUNDATION | ATLANTA, GA | $3,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| MARION MEDICAL MISSION | MARION, IL | $3,000 | 2025 | HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| HAND IN PAW INC | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $2,500 | 2025 | HEALTH AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| RAHAB'S SISTERS | PORTLAND, OR | $2,500 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| ALABAMA INITIATIVE FOR INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $2,500 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| GREATER BIRMINGHAM HUMANE SOCIETY | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $2,500 | 2025 | HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| BUILDING PEACE INC | LAWRENCE, KS | $2,500 | 2025 | SOCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| THE PENNY FOUNDATION | LA MARQUE, TX | $2,500 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| CAMPUS OUTREACH BIRMINGHAM | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $1,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| SAMEYOU FOUNDATION | LO | $1,000 | 2025 | HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| NOVA UKRAINE | SAN JOSE, CA | $100 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT |
ALAQUEST COLLABORATIVE FOR EDUCATION
$70,000EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
GIDEONS ARMY GRASSROOTS ARMY FOR CHILDREN
$64,000SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
CAHABA RIVER SOCIETY
$62,500ENVIRONMENTAL
YOUTH TOWERS INC
$50,000SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
MCRAE LEARNING CENTER INC
$45,000EDUCATIONAL
H3W INC
$30,000ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
HEARTS OF WHEELS
$25,000SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
YMCA JUNIUS WARD JOHNSON MEMORIAL
$22,500COMMUNITY SUPPORT
ALABAMA ONCOLOGY FOUNDATION
$20,100MEDICAL RESEARCH
YOUTH SERVE INC
$20,000SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
UNDER HIS WINGS INC
$20,000SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
VICKSBURG CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$20,000EDUCATIONAL
CENTRAL BREVARD HUMANE SOCIETY INC
$10,000HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
INDIANAPOLIS MONUMENTAL MARATHON
$10,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
EDGE YOUTH LEADERSHIP
$10,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
HOLCOMB MINISTRIES
$7,500HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
TENNESSEE BREAST CANCER COALITION
$7,500HEALTH SUPPORT
SPRINGMONT SCHOOL INC
$5,000EDUCATIONAL
CITYLAX INC
$5,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
BERKSHIRE HILLS MUSIC ACADEMY INC
$5,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER
$5,000SOCIAL JUSTICE
MARANATHAN FAMILY LEARNING CENTER AND ACADEMY
$5,000EDUCATIONAL
PURPOSE BUILT COMMUNITIES
$4,400COMMUNITY SUPPORT
THE TENDER FOUNDATION
$3,000SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
HAND IN PAW INC
$2,500HEALTH AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
ALABAMA INITIATIVE FOR INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM
$2,500EDUCATIONAL
BUILDING PEACE INC
$2,500SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
THE PENNY FOUNDATION
$2,500COMMUNITY SUPPORT
CAMPUS OUTREACH BIRMINGHAM
$1,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
SAMEYOU FOUNDATION
$1,000HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT