Foundation Grants

The Alabama Power Foundation’s Foundation Grants program is a versatile funding opportunity supporting initiatives that align with one or more of the Foundation’s five focus areas: Educational Advancement, Civic and Community Development, Arts and Cultural Enrichment, Health and Human Services, and Environmental Stewardship. This broad program is designed to fuel permanent, scalable improvements across Alabama communities, with particular emphasis on projects that involve cross-sector collaboration and the potential for duplication in other areas. Offered on a semiannual basis, the program operates two grant cycles per year. For the first cycle of 2026, applications are due by December 19, 2025, with notifications expected in March 2026. The second cycle deadline is June 19, 2026, with awards announced by September 2026. All applications are evaluated on criteria including the project's alignment with Foundation priorities, potential for long-term impact, replicability, fiscal management, and the organization’s ability to leverage support from multiple sources. Eligible applicants must operate within Alabama Power's service territory and hold IRS-recognized tax-exempt status. The Foundation will not consider applications from private primary or secondary schools, fraternal or athletic programs (unless they support disadvantaged populations), political groups, or organizations already receiving multiyear funding. Funding is not provided for salaries, utility payments, or projects led by groups acting on behalf of individuals. Religious organizations may only apply if their project is secular and has broad public benefit. Applicants should prepare a range of materials in advance of submission, including organizational and project descriptions, EIN/tax ID, staff contacts, project budget details, and information about additional funders. Required uploads include a detailed project budget showing the specific use of grant funds, three years of financial statements (audited or IRS Form 990), a current operating budget, and a board of directors list with employment affiliations. Grant requests may vary in amount, and the Foundation does not impose a maximum limit; however, it typically does not serve as the sole funder and may only partially fulfill requests. Organizations seeking $10,000 or less should contact a regional division representative before applying. Applicants can expect a decision approximately three months after the cycle deadline. Repeat applications are allowed after the grant period ends, but new awards are not guaranteed. Questions about content or process should be directed to Melissa Black at mablack@southernco.com.

Prepare all documents before starting application portal; login required to save; contact division rep if seeking <$10K; demonstrate fiscal discipline and multiple funding sources.