Looking Forward.
Giving Back.
ABOUT CACF
Central Alabama Community Foundation was established in 1987 by a group of local civic leaders. Their vision was to create a permanent charitable foundation to support various opportunities and needs in the Montgomery area.
CACF has grown to hold over $96 million in charitable assets while distributing over $70 million to organizations that serve the community. CACF serves several counties including Autauga, Coffee, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lowndes, Macon, and Montgomery.
Through its 230+ funds, CACF addresses a wide variety of concerns, supporting projects and programs in education, health, human services, cultural arts, recreation, historic preservation and other civic concerns. Each year, the Foundation distributes over $5 million through hundreds of grants and scholarships.
Board Members
President: Burton U. Crenshaw
Chairman: Mark Hope
Vice -Chairman: Lisa Free
Treasurer: Amanda Hines
Eric Boykin
Ken Burton
Suzanne Davidson
Barrie Harmon
James “Jamie” Loeb, Jr.
D.J. Lowe
Larnetta Moncrief-Harvey
Laurie Rygiel
Clay Torbert
Raley Wiggins
Rev. Richard Williams
Tonya Scott Williams
Staff Members
Ella Biles, EACF Affiliate Manager
CACF Co-Founder Fred Richard
In 1987 long-time Montgomery citizen Fred A. Richard, Jr. and a group of civic leaders had a vision that would provide lasting support for their community. They started the Montgomery Area Community Foundation (MACF) and in its first year $106,565 in grants were distributed to area charitable organizations. At the end of that inaugural year the MACF held $616,000 in assets.
Richard had a history of philanthropic giving and interest in civic affairs, beginning with his service in WWII as a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army. His dedication to the community continued during his years as an accountant and founding member of Richard, Harris, Ingram, and Bozeman, P.C., and was evidenced through his involvement on the boards of the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and the Montgomery Ballet, as well as in his active memberships in both the Kiwanis Club of Montgomery and the Capitol City Club.
In 1997 in celebration of its 10th anniversary, MACF changed its name to the Central Alabama Community Foundation (CACF) to reflect its regional growth.
Richard died in 2002, leaving CACF a bequest of over $5,000,000 to provide grants made from the Richard Estate Fund. This unrestricted fund has been used to support dozens of nonprofits over the years such as Impact Alabama, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Bridge Builders Alabama, Renascence, Inc., Montgomery Area Food Bank and Hospice of Montgomery.
As a tribute to his passion and contributions to the Foundation, he was named “Chairman Emeriti” of the CACF Board of Directors.
City of Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange
Years ago, City of Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange sold his successful car dealership and wanted to put aside some of the proceeds for charitable purposes.
“I knew the benefit of a tax deduction that year would be helpful, but I wanted to be able to support several different charities over a period of years. A donor advised fund allowed me the option of making a donation when I wanted to while remaining active with the fund by suggesting recipients,” said Mayor Strange.
Why create a Donor Advised Fund for your family?
It provides a convenient and flexible tool for families who want to be personally involved in suggesting grant awards made possible by their fund. Families with a range of community interests find that it’s an ideal vehicle for fulfilling their charitable wishes. Donor Advised Funds are typically less costly and easier to administer than other forms of philanthropic giving (such as private foundations).
Philanthropist Sarah Cabot Pierce
Sarah Cabot Pierce was born and raised in Wetumpka, Alabama. After graduating from the University of Alabama and the Pulitzer School of Journalism at Columbia University in 1933, she worked for various newspapers and taught journalism at the University of Alabama. She later married and moved to Montgomery where she spent most of her adult life. Mrs. Pierce was active in many organizations, especially the State League of Women Voters which she helped form.
Mrs. Pierce used the community foundation to support programs that were important to her. Over the years, she established several funds. First, was the Lucy Brook Lull Library Fund to provide books and other materials for the library at Wetumpka High School. During an era of dwindling school budgets, the $25,000 that has been distributed to the library since its first grant in 1998 has provided new books and other tools of learning. Mrs. Pierce also funded the Charles Horatio McMorris Fund to provide similar grants to the libraries of Wetumpka Elementary and Intermediate Schools.
Mrs. Pierce’s interest in preserving Wetumpka’s small town beauty led her to start the Clara Lull Robison Beautification Fund. Grants from this fund have provided Wetumpka’s Welcome signs, restored the gates to the city cemetery, and provided new lights for Wetumpka’s signature bridge. Mrs. Pierce also established the Clara Robson Caskie Community Trust Fund which provides grant funds each year to a wide variety of programs serving Elmore County.
Lastly, the Sarah Cabot Pierce Fund was established to provide annual support to the Meals on Wheels program in Montgomery. The program, which is run by the Montgomery Area Council on Aging, was dear to her heart, and her daughter Judy is a volunteer for the program. Sarah Cabot Pierce’s legacy will live on in the places and programs that she loved.
Todd Webb
In August 2015, WSFA News Video Editor Todd Webb passed away unexpectedly at the age of 26. His parents, Rhonda and Jeff Webb, established the Todd Webb Scholarship Fund housed within CACF which will annually award $2,000 to a high school senior in Alabama.
Todd was a Montgomery native and graduate of LAMP High School and the University of Alabama. He loved talking about the Crimson Tide. He went to work with Raycom Media’s WSFA Channel 12 in September 2011, as a Video Editor and Photojournalist.
His family and friends recently commemorated the anniversary of his passing by hosting a giving campaign raising thousands toward his scholarship fund on social media and with the help of his former employer WSFA.
FAQs
A community foundation is a collection of individual funds and resources given by local citizens to enhance and support the quality of life in their community. It is a tax-exempt public charity that allows many individuals, through gifts and bequests, to establish permanent endowment funds under the umbrella of one large foundation. Money generated by these funds is distributed to the local community in the form of grants to other nonprofit organizations and agencies to address needs and opportunities.
CACF was founded in 1987 to provide simple, flexible, and effective ways for permanent endowment funds to be established and managed. The foundation works with donors to help achieve their personal, financial and philanthropic goals and to establish endowments for a variety of purposes. CACF is completely autonomous and all decisions are made locally.
CACF is one of the over 650 community foundations nationwide. CACF is a member of the Council on Foundations, an association that represents all types of charitable giving programs. Community Foundations are the fastest growing vehicle for giving in the United States.
The foundation’s funds come from individuals and businesses who recognize the need for a permanent base of charitable capital to support nonprofit activities. Endowments are built by pooling contributions from many donors.
Community foundations offer a variety of options for making donations. By combining your resources with those of others who share your interests, you can maximize the impact of modest contributions with minimal costs. The Foundation also welcomes honorariums and memorial gifts.
Yes. CACF is recognized as a 501(c)3 organization by the Internal Revenue Service.
A diversified investment portfolio is managed by Edward Jones, Jackson Thornton Asset Management, Merrill Lynch Private Wealth Management, and CapTrust. Investment guidelines emphasize the protection of the corpus with the generation of income. The investment committee seeks total return with minimum risk over the long term. Members review investment performance quarterly and the foundation’s staff oversees the distribution of income to more than 200 nonprofit entities located predominantly in central Alabama.
To date, more than $65 million has been given to nonprofit organizations and individuals. In addition, the Foundation administers scholarship funds that benefit students in Autauga, Coffee, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lowndes, Montgomery and Pike Counties.
The foundation uses an application portal, which can be accessed through the Grants section of our website.
Both are important resources to the community. Both are necessary and compatible. Some have described the differences by suggesting the United Way is more like a community checkbook (raising and distributing money annually), while a community foundation is more like a savings account (distributing interest from long-term funds in perpetuity). An additional difference is the foundation’s broad scope of funding (including arts, religion and scholarships; not just health and human services) and its greater base of grantees.
PHONE
FAX
(334) 263-6225
Questions?
East Alabama Community Foundation Celebrated New Location with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
East Alabama Community Foundation (EACF) announced the grand opening of its new location at 216
ABOUT AACF
For 20 years, the Autauga Area Community Foundation has distributed grants that provide critical funds for food banks serving people who are currently down on their luck, for libraries and art programs that entertain and educate a city and for social service programs offering various types of hope and help to individuals.
AACF is an affiliate of the Central Alabama Community Foundation. Representatives from Autauga County serve on the CACF Board of Directors. Our staff is here to answer any questions and make the most of your giving needs.
Staff Members
Ella Biles, EACF Affiliate Manager
FAQs
A community foundation is a collection of individual funds and resources given by local citizens to enhance and support the quality of life in their community. It is a tax-exempt public charity that allows many individuals, through gifts and bequests, to establish permanent endowment funds under the umbrella of one large foundation. Money generated by these funds is distributed to the local community in the form of grants to other nonprofit organizations and agencies to address needs and opportunities.
CACF was founded in 1987 to provide simple, flexible, and effective ways for permanent endowment funds to be established and managed. The foundation works with donors to help achieve their personal, financial and philanthropic goals and to establish endowments for a variety of purposes. CACF is completely autonomous and all decisions are made locally.
CACF is one of the over 650 community foundations nationwide. CACF is a member of the Council on Foundations, an association that represents all types of charitable giving programs. Community Foundations are the fastest growing vehicle for giving in the United States.
The foundation’s funds come from individuals and businesses who recognize the need for a permanent base of charitable capital to support nonprofit activities. Endowments are built by pooling contributions from many donors.
Community foundations offer a variety of options for making donations. By combining your resources with those of others who share your interests, you can maximize the impact of modest contributions with minimal costs. The Foundation also welcomes honorariums and memorial gifts.
Yes. CACF is recognized as a 501(c)3 organization by the Internal Revenue Service.
A diversified investment portfolio is managed by Edward Jones, Jackson Thornton Asset Management, Merrill Lynch Private Wealth Management, and CapTrust. Investment guidelines emphasize the protection of the corpus with the generation of income. The investment committee seeks total return with minimum risk over the long term. Members review investment performance quarterly and the foundation’s staff oversees the distribution of income to more than 200 nonprofit entities located predominantly in central Alabama.
To date, more than $65 million has been given to nonprofit organizations and individuals. In addition, the Foundation administers scholarship funds that benefit students in Autauga, Coffee, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lowndes, Montgomery and Pike Counties.
The foundation uses an application portal, which can be accessed through the Grants section of our website.
Both are important resources to the community. Both are necessary and compatible. Some have described the differences by suggesting the United Way is more like a community checkbook (raising and distributing money annually), while a community foundation is more like a savings account (distributing interest from long-term funds in perpetuity). An additional difference is the foundation’s broad scope of funding (including arts, religion and scholarships; not just health and human services) and its greater base of grantees.
PHONE
FAX
(334) 263-6225
Questions?
East Alabama Community Foundation Celebrated New Location with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
East Alabama Community Foundation (EACF) announced the grand opening of its new location at 216
ABOUT ECCF
For 20 years, the Elmore County Community Foundation has distributed more than $2 Million in grants to nonprofit organizations in Elmore County. Each year ECCF awards $50,000 in college scholarships through its 25 different scholarship funds.
ECCF is an affiliate of the Central Alabama Community Foundation. Representatives from Elmore County serve on the CACF Board of Directors. Our staff is here to answer any questions and make the most of your giving needs.
Staff Members
Ella Biles, EACF Affiliate Manager
FAQs
A community foundation is a collection of individual funds and resources given by local citizens to enhance and support the quality of life in their community. It is a tax-exempt public charity that allows many individuals, through gifts and bequests, to establish permanent endowment funds under the umbrella of one large foundation. Money generated by these funds is distributed to the local community in the form of grants to other nonprofit organizations and agencies to address needs and opportunities.
CACF was founded in 1987 to provide simple, flexible, and effective ways for permanent endowment funds to be established and managed. The foundation works with donors to help achieve their personal, financial and philanthropic goals and to establish endowments for a variety of purposes. CACF is completely autonomous and all decisions are made locally.
CACF is one of the over 650 community foundations nationwide. CACF is a member of the Council on Foundations, an association that represents all types of charitable giving programs. Community Foundations are the fastest growing vehicle for giving in the United States.
The foundation’s funds come from individuals and businesses who recognize the need for a permanent base of charitable capital to support nonprofit activities. Endowments are built by pooling contributions from many donors.
Community foundations offer a variety of options for making donations. By combining your resources with those of others who share your interests, you can maximize the impact of modest contributions with minimal costs. The Foundation also welcomes honorariums and memorial gifts.
Yes. CACF is recognized as a 501(c)3 organization by the Internal Revenue Service.
A diversified investment portfolio is managed by Edward Jones, Jackson Thornton Asset Management, Merrill Lynch Private Wealth Management, and CapTrust. Investment guidelines emphasize the protection of the corpus with the generation of income. The investment committee seeks total return with minimum risk over the long term. Members review investment performance quarterly and the foundation’s staff oversees the distribution of income to more than 200 nonprofit entities located predominantly in central Alabama.
To date, more than $65 million has been given to nonprofit organizations and individuals. In addition, the Foundation administers scholarship funds that benefit students in Autauga, Coffee, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lowndes, Montgomery and Pike Counties.
The foundation uses an application portal, which can be accessed through the Grants section of our website.
Both are important resources to the community. Both are necessary and compatible. Some have described the differences by suggesting the United Way is more like a community checkbook (raising and distributing money annually), while a community foundation is more like a savings account (distributing interest from long-term funds in perpetuity). An additional difference is the foundation’s broad scope of funding (including arts, religion and scholarships; not just health and human services) and its greater base of grantees.
PHONE
FAX
(334) 263-6225
Questions?
East Alabama Community Foundation Celebrated New Location with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
East Alabama Community Foundation (EACF) announced the grand opening of its new location at 216
ABOUT SACF
Established in 1995 by community leaders, South Alabama Community Foundation serves the five-county Wiregrass region of Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston counties. SACF became an affiliate of the Central Alabama Community Foundation in 2010. Through its 26 funds, SACF addresses a wide variety of concerns, supporting projects and programs in education, health, human services, cultural arts, recreation, historic preservation and other civic concerns. Each year, the Foundation distributes $30,000 in community trust grants and more than $15,000 in scholarships. SACF’s Advisory Board of area citizens oversees an annual grantmaking program that determines the best investment of these community dollars.
Advisory Committee Members
Stanley Davis
Fox Fleming
Josh Haisten
Chris Harper
David (Mit) Kirkland
Kelli McQueen
Hayley Northey
Mark O’Mary
Staff Members
Ella Biles, EACF Affiliate Manager
FAQs
A community foundation is a collection of individual funds and resources given by local citizens to enhance and support the quality of life in their community. It is a tax-exempt public charity that allows many individuals, through gifts and bequests, to establish permanent endowment funds under the umbrella of one large foundation. Money generated by these funds is distributed to the local community in the form of grants to other nonprofit organizations and agencies to address needs and opportunities.
CACF was founded in 1987 to provide simple, flexible, and effective ways for permanent endowment funds to be established and managed. The foundation works with donors to help achieve their personal, financial and philanthropic goals and to establish endowments for a variety of purposes. CACF is completely autonomous and all decisions are made locally.
CACF is one of the over 650 community foundations nationwide. CACF is a member of the Council on Foundations, an association that represents all types of charitable giving programs. Community Foundations are the fastest growing vehicle for giving in the United States.
The foundation’s funds come from individuals and businesses who recognize the need for a permanent base of charitable capital to support nonprofit activities. Endowments are built by pooling contributions from many donors.
Community foundations offer a variety of options for making donations. By combining your resources with those of others who share your interests, you can maximize the impact of modest contributions with minimal costs. The Foundation also welcomes honorariums and memorial gifts.
Yes. CACF is recognized as a 501(c)3 organization by the Internal Revenue Service.
A diversified investment portfolio is managed by Edward Jones, Jackson Thornton Asset Management, Merrill Lynch Private Wealth Management, and CapTrust. Investment guidelines emphasize the protection of the corpus with the generation of income. The investment committee seeks total return with minimum risk over the long term. Members review investment performance quarterly and the foundation’s staff oversees the distribution of income to more than 200 nonprofit entities located predominantly in central Alabama.
To date, more than $65 million has been given to nonprofit organizations and individuals. In addition, the Foundation administers scholarship funds that benefit students in Autauga, Coffee, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lowndes, Montgomery and Pike Counties.
The foundation uses an application portal, which can be accessed through the Grants section of our website.
Both are important resources to the community. Both are necessary and compatible. Some have described the differences by suggesting the United Way is more like a community checkbook (raising and distributing money annually), while a community foundation is more like a savings account (distributing interest from long-term funds in perpetuity). An additional difference is the foundation’s broad scope of funding (including arts, religion and scholarships; not just health and human services) and its greater base of grantees.
PHONE
FAX
(334) 263-6225
Questions?
SACF Awards $46,000 in Grants to Local Nonprofits and Holds Fundraising Event
DOTHAN, AL – The Southeast Alabama Community Foundation (SACF) awarded $46,000 in grants to local
ABOUT EACF
Established in 2007 by community leaders, the East Alabama Community Foundation is dedicated to fostering positive change through philanthropy, collaboration, and community engagement, serving Lee, Chambers, Russell, and Tallapoosa counties. EACF became an affiliate of the Central Alabama Community Foundation in 2024. This partnership strengthens our ability to support local initiatives, grantmaking, and community programs that address the unique needs of East Alabama.
EACF addresses a wide variety of concerns, supporting projects and programs in education, health, human services, cultural arts, recreation, historic preservation and other civic concerns. EACF’s Advisory Board of area citizens determines the best investment of these community dollars.
Our staff is here to answer any questions and make the most of your giving needs.
Advisory Committee Members
Chair: Clay Torbert
Ashley Aaron
Laurel Buckalew
Chris Busby
Vanessa Echols
Bill Ham
Fred Kam
Shirley Lazenby
Joe Turnham
Staff Members
Ella Biles, EACF Affiliate Manager
FAQs
A community foundation is a collection of individual funds and resources given by local citizens to enhance and support the quality of life in their community. It is a tax-exempt public charity that allows many individuals, through gifts and bequests, to establish permanent endowment funds under the umbrella of one large foundation. Money generated by these funds is distributed to the local community in the form of grants to other nonprofit organizations and agencies to address needs and opportunities.
CACF was founded in 1987 to provide simple, flexible, and effective ways for permanent endowment funds to be established and managed. The foundation works with donors to help achieve their personal, financial and philanthropic goals and to establish endowments for a variety of purposes. CACF is completely autonomous and all decisions are made locally.
CACF is one of the over 650 community foundations nationwide. CACF is a member of the Council on Foundations, an association that represents all types of charitable giving programs. Community Foundations are the fastest growing vehicle for giving in the United States.
The foundation’s funds come from individuals and businesses who recognize the need for a permanent base of charitable capital to support nonprofit activities. Endowments are built by pooling contributions from many donors.
Community foundations offer a variety of options for making donations. By combining your resources with those of others who share your interests, you can maximize the impact of modest contributions with minimal costs. The Foundation also welcomes honorariums and memorial gifts.
Yes. CACF is recognized as a 501(c)3 organization by the Internal Revenue Service.
A diversified investment portfolio is managed by Edward Jones, Jackson Thornton Asset Management, Merrill Lynch Private Wealth Management, and CapTrust. Investment guidelines emphasize the protection of the corpus with the generation of income. The investment committee seeks total return with minimum risk over the long term. Members review investment performance quarterly and the foundation’s staff oversees the distribution of income to more than 200 nonprofit entities located predominantly in central Alabama.
To date, more than $65 million has been given to nonprofit organizations and individuals. In addition, the Foundation administers scholarship funds that benefit students in Autauga, Coffee, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lowndes, Montgomery and Pike Counties.
The foundation uses an application portal, which can be accessed through the Grants section of our website.
Both are important resources to the community. Both are necessary and compatible. Some have described the differences by suggesting the United Way is more like a community checkbook (raising and distributing money annually), while a community foundation is more like a savings account (distributing interest from long-term funds in perpetuity). An additional difference is the foundation’s broad scope of funding (including arts, religion and scholarships; not just health and human services) and its greater base of grantees.
What is the Butterfly Project?
The Butterfly Project is a collaborative effort funded by the Community Foundation of East Alabama, that seeks to advance reading proficiency in schools across East Alabama. We have partnered with generous donors and representatives from Amira Learning to provide schools across our five counties with advanced modern technology and resources to help improve reading proficiency among elementary-aged students. The Butterfly project is inspired by the “Butterfly Effect” theory. This theory suggests that a small and seemingly inconsequential event, such as the flap of a butterfly’s wings, can set off a chain reaction of events that, over time, leads to significant and unpredictable changes. The term emphasizes the interconnectedness of phenomena and highlights how even minute changes in one part of a system can magnify, ultimately influencing the system’s behavior in profound and unexpected ways. It is our belief that through this project we can be the ripple that begins powerful change throughout the East Alabama community. One’s ability to read is central to their ability to take hold of opportunities. That is why it is essential that students across East Alabama have every opportunity to grow in their reading skills. Learn more below about the Amira learning software and how to donate to support the “Butterfly Project”.What is Amira Learning?
Amira is the world’s first intelligent reading assistant that provides personalized tutoring to students at school, after school or at home. This product provides students with online resources and lessons that help them develop their reading skills while also receiving real-time feedback to help them improve. This software was developed not only to help develop the reading proficiency of students, but also provide teachers and tutors with a valuable resource that can actually produce real results.
After conducting extensive research into the “science of reading”, the Amira team developed this software that aligns with the principles set forth in this body of knowledge. The Amira learning platform was developed by a collection of reading scientists helping to ensure that the program was grounded in data and sound theory. This dedication to the “science of reading” has allowed Amira to have astounding results in the development of reading proficiency.
According to data produced by Carnegie Mellon University, Amira is as effective as a certified human tutor and more effective with English Language Learners in producing reading achievement outcomes. Learn more about the Amira learning software by clicking “learn more” below.
PHONE
FAX
(334) 263-6225
ADDRESS
Physical: 216 S. 8th Avenue, Opelika, AL 36801
Mailing Address: PO Box 775 Opelika, AL 36803
Questions?
East Alabama Community Foundation Celebrated New Location with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
East Alabama Community Foundation (EACF) announced the grand opening of its new location at 216