Alabama Power is an electric utility company that serves approximately 1.5 million customers in the southern two-thirds of Alabama. It is also a significant corporate funder in the state and has been pursuing philanthropy since 1989, having established its own grantmaking foundation. The foundation has a state-specific focus on Alabama and is committed to fighting inequity gaps to create a better Alabama for everyone.
Here are a few things to know about the Alabama Power Foundation (APF) and how it gives to organizations in local communities.
Five topics of interest
APF divides its grantmaking into five different categories: educational advancement, civic and community development, arts and cultural enrichment, health and human services, and environmental stewardship. Education grants help teachers be more engaged and prepared, while civic and community grants are geared toward creating a skilled workforce to drive economic growth. Arts and culture grants support diversity in the arts, and health and human service grants address the issues of poverty, physical activity and healthy food. Finally, environmental grants support the preservation of rivers, beaches, parks and trails.
Many active grant programs
Note that APF works through numerous grant programs. For example, there’s the ABC Trust Community Grant Program, which awards up to $500 for health and human services needs, and Elevate Grants, which help nonprofits expand their impact and deal with pressing needs. The Classroom Grants program helps teachers, Gateway Grants help Alabama towns attract new people, and Good Roots Grants support tree-planting and nature beautification efforts. Each of these programs, plus several others, have their own application processes and guidelines.
Other APF efforts include a scholarship program, professional development for teachers, conservation education through outdoor classrooms, and student participation in athletics and the arts. The main foundation grant program is the most versatile of them all and has four annual application deadlines in January, April, July and October.
Beyond just grantmaking
In addition to awarding grants to Alabama nonprofits, Alabama Power employees and retirees are encouraged to volunteer their time to assist local nonprofits. These workers typically clock in a collective total of over 90,000 volunteer hours each year. There’s also the ABC Trust Fund, through which the company collects money to help needy families pay for their energy bills. This fund has paid bills for over 100,000 households during the past 25 years.
Read more about this funder and others that give throughout the state in IP’s Alabama Grantmaking Guide.