Closing the Opportunity Gap Grant

From Community Foundation of South Alabama

The Community Foundation of South Alabama aims to close the opportunity gap for youth in southwest Alabama by strengthening the early childhood education system, supporting underserved and rural families, and facilitating workforce training and higher education for opportunity youth (ages 16-24 not in school or employed). Their collective impact agenda fosters strategic partnerships across sectors to build thriving, capable children who contribute to a prosperous community.

Type of Support

Overview

The Closing the Opportunity Gap Grant focuses on combatting unequal access to education and opportunities for youth in southwest Alabama. The grant supports initiatives in six key areas: parenting education, workforce training for well-paying jobs, preschool education access, extracurricular activity access for youth, advancement in racial equity emphasizing assistance for underprivileged youth, and equitable access to arts, culture, and mental and behavioral supports. With a commitment to funding program grants only for the current year, the grants, ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, are intended for the expansion, refinement, or initiation of projects promising efficiency and sustainability, while emphasizing a cap on indirect expenses. This grant program prioritizes applications that promise meaningful community impact within its key focus areas.

Eligibility

Organization's Location
USA
Program Location
AL (Baldwin County, Choctaw County, Clarke County, Conecuh County, Escambia County, Mobile County, Monroe County, Washington County)
Organization Type
Organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
Government entities
Educational institutions
Religious organizations
Organizations with a fiscal sponsor
Other
  • Serve a portion of the eight-county region: Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe, and Washington.
  • Funding must benefit residents in the CFSA’s eight-county region.
  • Focus on work aligned with CFSA’s priority areas to Close the Opportunity Gap.
  • Exhibit the potential for meaningful results or impact in one or more of the priority areas.
  • Address community challenges, underserved populations, and/or service gaps.
  • Articulate measurable outcomes, effective approaches, and plans for ongoing efforts.
  • Demonstrate strong community support, capable leadership, and involvement in the communities served.
  • Include a realistic project budget and organizational financial information that demonstrates fiscal health.

Ineligibility

Individuals
Fundraising expenses
Religious activities
Conference or seminar expenses
Lobbying or political activities
Political organizations or candidates for public office
Budget deficit or debt reduction
Scholarship or endowment funds of another charity
Tickets for charity benefits
Capital projects and campaigns
5k – 15k

Submission

Review Criteria

CFSA favors funding requests for programs, projects, or activities where the amount sought does not surpass half of the total budget. Proposals that stand the best chance include those that:

  • Employ new and inventive methods grounded in research, practical experience, and recognized success strategies within the sector.
  • Utilize cooperative tactics to enhance efficiency, amplify impact, and foster leadership in driving wider community benefits.
  • Combine the potential CFSA grant with additional monetary and personnel resources to maximize the overall support.