MartinConnects Fund

The MartinConnects Fund 2025 is a philanthropic initiative sponsored by MartinFed and administered by the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville. This grant program is a reflection of MartinFed’s internal culture of service and commitment to social impact, focusing on enhancing communities where their employees live and work. Driven by their core values—Be Driven, Be Curious, Be Humble, and Pursue Excellence—MartinFed actively supports nonprofit organizations through targeted grantmaking that aligns with these principles. The Fund serves as an extension of MartinFed’s mission to not only invest in employee development but also to build meaningful connections with local nonprofit efforts that create positive change. The MartinConnects Grant Program specifically funds initiatives within four focus areas: homelessness, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), veterans, and women and children. The geographic reach of the fund is limited to specific localities where MartinFed maintains a presence, namely: Huntsville/Madison County, AL; Little Rock/Pulaski County, AR; Central Maryland/Washington, DC; Starkville, MS; Oak Ridge & Knoxville, TN; and Houston/Harris County, TX. Grants awarded typically range from $2,000 to $8,000 and may support both new and ongoing programs. The funding is intended for programmatic expenses, including direct project costs and associated staff or volunteer training and time. However, funds may not be used for debt reduction, capital or endowment campaigns, political activities, individual grants, or event-related costs like fundraisers or galas. Eligible applicants must qualify as a 501(c)(3) public charity or be a school, government agency, or religious institution using the funds for public benefit. Organizations must also demonstrate a strong reputation for integrity, fiscal responsibility, and alignment with MartinConnects’ thematic priorities. Ineligible organizations include those without IRS-qualified status or those pursuing purposes inconsistent with the Fund’s focus or prohibited activities. A key eligibility requirement is that proposals must clearly align with one of the four designated focus areas and articulate measurable outcomes. The application process is facilitated through an online portal, with all submissions due by 5:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. There is no pre-application or letter of intent phase, and the portal serves as the sole submission method. All applications are reviewed by the MartinConnects Grants Committee, which makes final award decisions. Selected grantees will enter into a Grant Agreement that outlines expectations for use of funds and reporting on outcomes. The grant application includes fields for organization information, a project summary, service area alignment, scope and impact, budget, participant demographics, and quantitative goals. Applicants must complete questions related to mission alignment, geographic fit, impact narratives, and budgetary needs. There is a required upload of the proposed project budget, especially if the request covers only part of a larger initiative. Grantees are expected to report measurable outcomes related to project success. The primary contact for inquiries is Ann Kvach, reachable at 256.489.3525 or via email at ann@GiveHSV.org. Submission confirmations will be sent by the grant portal system upon completion, and applicants are encouraged to monitor their email or portal status to ensure submission was successful. The program appears to run annually, with similar deadlines likely in future years.

Submit before 5:00 p.m. CT; confirm portal submission via email; copy/paste plain text to avoid formatting errors