To connect generosity with opportunity by managing charitable funds and awarding grants and scholarships that strengthen communities across the River Region, the Wiregrass, and East Alabama.
endowment support / endowment paymentsprogram-related expense funding (operational support)
About Central Alabama Community Foundation
Central Alabama Community Foundation Inc. combines donor-advised fund activity with a broad mix of operating support, endowment payments, and scholarships. In 2025, its largest listed grant was $7,665,175 distributed through 135 donor-advised fund grants maintained by CACF, showing that a major share of its grantmaking moves through donor-directed giving rather than only direct institutional awards. Beyond that pooled activity, the foundation also supports organizations through endowment payments and program-related expenses.
The recent grants list shows recurring support for Montgomery-based nonprofits such as Medical Outreach Ministries, Family Sunshine Center, and Alabama Shakespeare Festival, alongside education-oriented funding through scholarship programs and reading support. Its active programs include the Barrett Family Scholarship, Central AlabamaWorks Scholarship, and a set of affiliate scholarship portfolios for high school seniors and college students. The foundation also administers field-of-interest grants and competitive community trust grants through affiliate foundations serving Central Alabama, East Alabama, Autauga Area, and Southeast Alabama.
This pattern points to a community foundation that funds both immediate service delivery and long-term charitable infrastructure across the River Region and nearby Alabama communities.
What Central Alabama Community Foundation Funds
Education appears in both scholarship administration and school-based grants. CACF’s active programs include the Barrett Family Scholarship for Elmore County graduates headed to Auburn University, the Central AlabamaWorks Scholarship for seniors entering career, community college, vocational, or technical training, and the Mary L. & Eugene C. Vann Reading Fund Grants for reading programs in Montgomery Public Schools.
Health and human services are also visible in recent program-related expense grants. The foundation gave $48,882 to Child Protect for competitive grant and endowment payment support, $28,528 to Family Sunshine Center for program-related expenses and endowment payment, and $23,200 to Southeastern Diabetes Education Services for program-related expenses.
Arts and community-building support show up through both grant programs and recent awards. Field of Interest Grants – CACF supports arts and community building, while grants to Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts Association and Alabama Shakespeare Festival connect the foundation’s funding to cultural institutions in Montgomery.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$8.5M
Total Assets
$106.8M
Total Revenue
$19.7M
Total Expenses
$11.3M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $6K and $12K, with a median of $9K.
25th Percentile
$6K
Median
$9K
75th Percentile
$12K
Geographic Reach
Local4 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
BURTON CRENSHAW
Deep Analysis
Unlock Deep Analysis
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
financial sustainability of grantees (through endowment/endowment payments)direct support for program operating costsadministration of donor-advised fundscompetitive grants as a funding mechanism
How Central Alabama Community Foundation Gives
Typical grant size is modest: the 25th percentile is $5,595, the median is $8,700, and the 75th percentile is $12,000. The recent grants list also includes a much larger donor-advised fund total, which indicates that CACF administers a sizable volume of donor-directed distributions alongside its direct grantmaking.
Recurring support is present in the grant record. Medical Outreach Ministries appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Family Sunshine Center appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Southeastern Diabetes Education Services appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Rebuilding Together Central Alabama appears in 2024 and 2025. The foundation’s structure includes donor-advised funds, competitive grants, endowment support, and scholarship administration.
Where Central Alabama Community Foundation Makes Grants
Grantmaking is highly concentrated in Alabama: 97% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and the top state by grant count is Alabama. The recipient cities in the recent grants list are led by Montgomery, with additional awards reaching Hoover, Auburn, Fitzpatrick, Fort Deposit, Mobile, and other Alabama communities.
The active program list also extends across Central Alabama, East Alabama, the Autauga Area, Southeast Alabama, Butler County, and Elmore County, showing a local footprint that reaches beyond Montgomery while remaining in-state.
Frequently Asked Questions About Central Alabama Community Foundation
What kinds of organizations or purposes does Central Alabama Community Foundation Inc. support?
The foundation supports education, health, human services, cultural arts, recreation, historic preservation, family wellness, food security, medical assistance, shelter, community building, and social services. Its active programs also include scholarships, reading grants, field-of-interest grants, and competitive community trust grants.
Does the foundation make grants outside Alabama?
The grant record is entirely in the United States, and 97% of grants go to recipients in Alabama. The recent grants list includes Alabama recipients in Montgomery, Hoover, Auburn, Fitzpatrick, Fort Deposit, and Mobile.
What is the typical grant size?
The typical award is relatively small: the 25th percentile is $5,595, the median is $8,700, and the 75th percentile is $12,000. That distribution sits alongside a much larger donor-advised fund total in the recent grants data.
Does Central Alabama Community Foundation Inc. support the same grantees over multiple years?
Yes. Medical Outreach Ministries appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Family Sunshine Center appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Southeastern Diabetes Education Services appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Rebuilding Together Central Alabama appears in 2024 and 2025.
Are there open scholarship or grant programs listed?
Yes. Active programs marked as accepting unsolicited applications include Barrett Family Scholarship, Field of Interest Grants – CACF, CACF and affiliate scholarship portfolios, Central AlabamaWorks Scholarship, Butler County Scholarship, Mary L. & Eugene C. Vann Reading Fund Grants, and the Community Trust Grants programs for East Alabama, the Autauga Area, and Southeast Alabama.
Current and upcoming funding from Central Alabama Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowRolling / open intake
Montgomery City Council Contingency Fund
Services for Montgomery residentsCommunity needs
Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations providing services in Montgomery. Required documents include current and prior-year operating budgets, nonprofit operating standards, business license or exemption letter, IRS determination letter, W-9, E-Verify documentation or exemption, minority questionnaire, and board list.
Deadline: December 31, 2026; CACF accepts applications all year.
Community-driven initiativesEmergency servicesWorkforce training+3 more
Who can apply: Applicants must be eligible nonprofits, public service providers, governmental entities, or community-focused organizations operating in or serving Lowndes County. 501(c)(3) public charities, tax-exempt churches, governmental entities, and organizations with verifiable nonprofit status are eligible.
Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations may submit one SACF Community Trust Grant application. Funding is not available for individuals, fundraising drives, endowments, political advocacy, regular operating support, capital projects, religious purposes, research, fundraising-event sponsorship, or start-up costs.
Deadline: Applications eligible November 30, 2026 through January 29, 2027; awards in May.
Community Trust Grants - ECCF (Family, Food, Medical; Education)
FamilyFoodMedical+1 more
Who can apply: Applications eligible January 2 through February 6, 2026; intended for Elmore County nonprofit organizations in family, food, medical, and education categories.
Deadline: Applications eligible January 2 through February 6, 2026.
Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations in the East Alabama area. The page states that nonprofit organizations may submit one EACF Community Trust Grant application. Individuals, endowments, research, and start-up costs are excluded.
Deadline: Applications eligible February 1 through April 2, 2027; awards in June.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Recent Grants
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
Recipient
Location
Amount
Year
Purpose
135 GRANTS FROM DONOR ADVISED FUNDS MAINTAINED BY CACF
—
$7,665,175
2025
DONOR ADVISED FUNDS
MONTGOMERY MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS ASSOCIATION
MONTGOMERY, AL
$85,389
2025
ENDOWMENT PAYMENT
MONTGOMERY HUMANE SOCIETY
MONTGOMERY, AL
$50,000
2025
ENDOWMENT PAYMENT
CHILD PROTECT
MONTGOMERY, AL
$48,882
2025
PROGRAM RELATED EXPENSES (COMPETITIVE GRANT AND ENDOWMENT PAYMENT)
