Arts & Culture Competitive Grant

The Community Foundation of South Alabama is a regional philanthropic organization that provides competitive grant opportunities to local nonprofits in southern Alabama. For 2025, the foundation is making funding available through designated funds, allowing for support in specific priority and geographic areas as determined by donors. The foundation's competitive grant process is designed to allocate resources to organizations serving the counties of Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, Monroe, Conecuh, Choctaw, Clarke, and Washington. All funding is distributed based on the merit of the proposal, the potential impact on the community, the need addressed, and the resources available for distribution. Applicants are encouraged to submit high-quality proposals as not all projects can be funded due to limited resources, but the foundation emphasizes that an unsuccessful application does not reflect the project's overall worth. The foundation’s 2025 grantmaking priorities for arts and culture focus on expanding access to high-quality arts education and cultural experiences, particularly for K-12-aged students and underprivileged communities. It aims to support arts experiences both inside and outside schools, with an emphasis on culturally diverse programming led by professional artists and educators. Projects must ensure equitable access, highlight community engagement, and reflect the cultural diversity of the regions served. Proposals are reviewed for their ability to increase exposure to arts and culture, their measurable outcomes, sustainability, and how well they address community challenges and service gaps. For the 2025 grant cycle, applicants must submit a full proposal electronically via the foundation’s online system. The process begins with an invitation to submit on June 2, 2025, and all proposals are due by July 31, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. Central Time. Late or hard copy submissions will not be considered. The evaluation period runs from August 1 to September 24, 2025, during which applicants may be contacted for phone interviews or site visits, depending on the volume of applications received. All applicants will be notified of the final funding decision by September 25, 2025. Only program grants are available for 2025, with awards typically ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. The foundation prefers requests that do not exceed 50% of the program’s total budget, as this demonstrates a diversified base of support and community buy-in. Funding is restricted to expenses directly or indirectly related to the project, with a cap of 20% for indirect or administrative costs. Grants cannot be used for general operating support, capacity building, individuals, religious or political activities, fundraising expenses, conferences, capital projects, or debt reduction. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations, government entities, educational institutions, and religious organizations; fiscal sponsorships are permitted with proper documentation. The foundation prioritizes proposals that are innovative, collaborative, and leverage additional financial or human resources. Strong leadership, community support, a realistic budget, and demonstrated fiscal health are important evaluation criteria. Successful applicants are required to sign a grant agreement, attend an orientation, and adhere to reporting requirements as outlined by the foundation. For additional questions about the application process, contact Jena Berson at jberson@communityfoundationsa.org.

Demonstrate community support, use data and best practices, collaborate where possible, ensure the budget is realistic, and describe measurable outcomes.