HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville announces $73,250 in grants from the 2024 Racial Equity Fund. These funds support seven nonprofit award recipients working to improve quality of life by addressing racial equity gaps in the Greater Huntsville community.
“We believe that our entire community benefits when we come together to address equity gaps based on race,” says Melissa Thompson, CEO/President of the Community Foundation. “Because of the generosity of our donors, the Racial Equity Fund helps level the playing field so that all members of our community can thrive.”
The Community Foundation's Racial Equity Fund was launched in 2020 to provide community capital to address equity issues gaps based on race. Now in its fifth grant cycle, cumulative grants have totaled over $450,000. Each grant supports local programs and projects that span the Community Foundation’s Quality of Life Framework:
- Arts & Culture
- Basic Needs
- Economic Opportunity
- Education
- Environment
- Health & Wellness
- Neighborhoods & Community
- Recreation
This year, the Community Foundation received 49 grant applications for projects totaling nearly $775,000. After an extensive review of all grant applications, the Grants Committee, comprised of a diverse group of community members with more than half of the members representing racial and ethnic minorities, awarded the following projects grants:
- Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater & Academy - $15,000, Partnership with Alabama A&M University to Create Workforce Development Opportunities for Young Black Theatre Artists
- Village of Promise - $15,000 Precious Promises Early Childhood Development Program
- The CAP & GOWN Project - $10,000 2024 STEM Summer Institute
- Huntsville Community Drumline - $10,000 Beating the Odds Project
- The Schools Foundation - $10,000 Patrons and Players
- Habitat for Humanity of the River Valley - $8,250 Community Education Programs
- Huntsville Learning Center - $5,000 Growth Camp
“In order for the Greater Huntsville community to continue to thrive, we must provide equitable access to opportunities for growth,” says Nancy Washington Vaughn, Racial Equity Fund Leadership Team Chair. “The Racial Equity Fund is propelling us toward a future of inclusivity and betterment for all.”
For more information about this fund, the grant process, or to donate, visit here.
