Burton U. Crenshaw, President

Clare Johnson, VP, Community Services

Dana Hess, Financial Officer

Eleanor Lucas, Donor Services 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.