Skip to content
Alabama Forward at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Public charity

Alabama Forward

ALABAMA FORWARD is a state-based 501 (c) (3) civic engagement coordinating table committed to advancing movement towards greater freedom and progressive, solution-oriented policy among a diverse coalition of alabama-based partner organizations, so that every alabamian can engage in the democratic process.

$1.0M
Granted FY2024still arriving
25
Grants FY2024still arriving
2
States reached
$140k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2021 to 2024.

Public Benefit$1.2MCommunity Improvement$511kCivil Rights$336kEnvironment$199kCrime & Legal$192kHousing & Shelter$110kHuman Services$82kFood & Nutrition$46kOther$0
02FY2024 · 25 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k1 grant · $9k
  • $10k–50k17 grants · $503k
  • $50k–250k7 grants · $512k
$30,650
Median grant
2
States reached
$3.5M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
TRANSFORM ALABAMA$139,606
GASP$70,500
NAACP ALABAMA$67,675
HOMETOWN ORGANIZING PROJECT$61,750
ALABAMA COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE$61,000
PROJECT SAY SOMETHING$60,000
ALABAMA JUSTICE INITIATIVE$51,000
UNITED WOMEN OF COLOR$49,430
SOUTH ALABAMA BLACK WOMEN'S ROUNDTABLE$46,000
BLACK BELT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION$46,000
AKEEP$40,000
ALABAMA RIVERS ALLIANCE$33,500
METRO MONTGOMERY COUNTY NAACP$30,650
SWEET ALABAMA$30,600
THE ORDINARY PEOPLE SOCIETY$30,500
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY23–24, $124k) land where the poverty rate runs at 15%, against an area that typically sits at 12%. 60% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 12%UNITED WOMEN OF COLOR: $49k → 11%THE ORDINARY PEOPLE'S SOCIETY: $35k → 17%THE ORDINARY PEOPLE SOCIETY: $31k → 17%ALABAMA POSSIBLE: $9k → 16%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
04

Where the work is directed

The same grants placed two ways: where each recipient sits, and where its stated purpose sends the money.

About 7% of Alabama Forward’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address.

Alabama Forwardlessmore of its giving
Placed by recipient address
How this is measured
Recipient view: each grant at its grantee’s ZIP, mapped to a county. Directed view: each grant at the county its stated purpose names, falling back to the recipient’s county when the purpose names no place; US grants only. A county shows only if it carries the top 95% of that view’s dollars. Purposes are read from the funder’s own 990 grant descriptions.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

88%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$2.4M · 22 repeat orgs$322k to everyone else

22 repeat relationships: 21 still active in FY2024, 1 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

22
10

Total granted

$2.4M
$216k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+15%
+20%

Still filing today

77%
50%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 89% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $106k went to new ones.

50%100%’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’21’22’23’24
EducationEnvironmentHuman ServicesCommunity ImprovementPublic BenefitCivil RightsOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • HA
    HISPANIC AND IMMIGRANT CENTER OF ALABAMA
    4× · 2021–2024 · $197k · revenue +42%
  • AJ
    ALABAMA JUSTICE INITIATIVE
    4× · 2021–2024 · $168k · revenue +24%
  • SW
    Sustainable Water Energy and Economic Transition in Alabama
    3× · 2022–2024 · $133k · revenue +202%

Funded once

  • NC
    National Coalition on Black Civic Partic
    one grant, 2021 · $45k · revenue -18%
  • SA
    SOUTH ALABAMA BLACK WOMEN'S ROUNDTABLE (FISCAL SPONSOR THE DUBOIS INSTITUT
    one grant, 2022 · $38k
  • FO
    FRIENDS OF WEST-END
    one grant, 2022 · $35k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Black Alabamians for Educational Options

Out mission is to equip, inform and empower Black families with information on accessing a high quality k-12 education

Education
2
Alabama Institute for Social Justice

To engage Alabamians by mobilizing communities, setting and acting upon a racial equity and social justice policy agenda, and creating peace through racial reconciliation and healing.

—
3
Alabama Impact Alliance

To build awareness about disparities for the underserved and underrepresented that exist across Alabama and the nation through advocacy and education.

Community Improvement
4
Alabama Values

A nonpartisan grassroots communication organization that works to raise awareness and increase engagement around community issues in alabama by working directly with civic organizations advocating civic participation in communities across…

Arts & Culture
5
Alabama Asset Building Coalition

The Mission of the Alabama Asset Building Coalition is to promote financial stability and self-sufficiency for low wealth individuals and families.

Human Services
6
Alabama for Healthy Families

To advocate for and promote access to health care for all alabamians.

—
7
Peoples Budget Birmingham

Our mission is to empower people across Birmingham through community education and organizing, ensuring neighborhoods have direct and democratic control over local resources and municipal spending while holding our government accountable…

Community Improvement
8
League of Women Voters of Alabama Education Fund Inc

Nonpartisan civic education and voter education

—
9
The Alabama Conference of Black Mayors

To implement programs that empower communities and increase the quality of life of alabama residents

Arts & Culture
10
Southern Black Policy & Advocacy Network

The mission of the Southern Black Policy and Advocacy Network is to improve health outcomes and to reduce social and economic disparities impacting Black communities living in the U.S. South.

—
11
Birmingham Urban League Inc

To assist all persons, particularly minorities and the economicallydisadvantaged, in the achievement of social and economic equality,implementing program services in the areas of employment education, housingand youth services

Human Services
12
Alabama Association of Nonprofits

Strengthen and support alabama nonprofits in serving their communities.

Human Services
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Transform Alabama; the most unlike its peers is Hale County Community Enrichment Society Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
05the grantee network

26 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 26 of the 36 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

2
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
4
Early backer (in before they grew)
26/26
Grantees still filing
16/26
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE: $167,125 · OtherNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF …ALABAMA COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE: $109,000 · OtherALABAMA COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICEGreater Birmingham Ministries: $87,675 · OtherGreater Birmingham MinistriesMETRO MONTGOMERY COUNTY NAACP: $40,650 · OtherFORTITUDE FOUNDATION: $39,450 · OtherSOUTH ALABAMA BLACK WOMEN'S ROUNDTABLE (FISCAL SPONSOR THE DUBOIS INSTITUT: $37,500 · OtherCHURCH WOMEN UNITED: $37,150 · OtherFAITH IN ACTION ALABAMA: $117,070 · OtherFAITH IN ACTION ALABAMAProject Say Something: $81,000 · OtherProject Say SomethingALABAMA ARISE: $60,750 · OtherALABAMA ARISENational Coalition on Black Civic Partic: $45,250 · OtherALIEEP / Alabama International Education & Economic Partnership: $77,500 · OtherALIEEP / Alabama International Education & E…PLANNED PARENTHOOD SOUTHEAST INC: $43,000 · Other+8 more: $168,796 · Other+8 moreTRANSFORM ALABAMA: $283,667 · EducationTRANSFORM ALABAMAALABAMA JUSTICE INITIATIVE: $168,250 · EducationALABAMA JUSTICE INIT…DUBOIS INSTITUTE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP: $46,000 · EducationDUBOIS INSTITUTE FOR…+1 more: $15,000 · EducationHOMETOWN ORGANIZING PROJECT: $215,661 · Community ImprovementHOMETOWN ORGANIZIN…HISPANIC AND IMMIGRANT CENTER OF ALABAMA: $196,747 · Community ImprovementHISPANIC AND IMMIG…BAY AREA WOMEN COALITION INC: $61,500 · Community ImprovementBAY AREA WOMEN COA…Gasp: $146,100 · EnvironmentGaspAlabama Rivers Alliance Inc: $77,000 · EnvironmentAlabama R…ENERGY ALABAMA: $9,000 · EnvironmentUNITED WOMEN OF COLOR: $122,780 · Human ServicesUNITED WO…THE ORDINARY PEOPLE SOCIETY TOPS: $65,500 · Human ServicesTHE ORDIN…ALABAMA POSSIBLE: $39,125 · Human ServicesALABAMA P…THE BLACK BELT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC: $138,900 · PhilanthropySustainable Water Energy and Economic Transition in Alabama: $132,860 · Housing & Shelter
Other$1,111,916Education$512,917Community Improvement$473,908Environment$232,100Human Services$227,405Philanthropy$138,900Housing & Shelter$132,860

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetTRANSFORM ALABAMA: $283,667 over 3y, 71% of budgetHOMETOWN ORGANIZING PROJECT: $215,661 over 4y, 13% of budgetHISPANIC AND IMMIGRANT CENTER OF ALABAMA: $196,747 over 4y, 3.7% of budgetALABAMA JUSTICE INITIATIVE: $168,250 over 4y, 18% of budgetGasp: $146,100 over 3y, 9.2% of budgetTHE BLACK BELT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC: $138,900 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetSustainable Water Energy and Economic Transition in Alabama: $132,860 over 3y, 12% of budgetUNITED WOMEN OF COLOR: $122,780 over 3y, 24% of budgetFAITH IN ACTION ALABAMA: $117,070 over 3y, 13% of budgetGreater Birmingham Ministries: $87,675 over 3y, 2.9% of budgetProject Say Something: $81,000 over 2y, 16% of budgetALIEEP / Alabama International Education & Economic Partnership: $77,500 over 2y, 5.3% of budgetAlabama Rivers Alliance Inc: $77,000 over 4y, 5.4% of budgetTHE ORDINARY PEOPLE SOCIETY TOPS: $65,500 over 2y, 2.6% of budgetBAY AREA WOMEN COALITION INC: $61,500 over 2y, 16% of budgetALABAMA ARISE: $60,750 over 3y, 1.1% of budgetDUBOIS INSTITUTE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP: $46,000 over 1y, 8.2% of budgetNational Coalition on Black Civic Partic: $45,250 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetPLANNED PARENTHOOD SOUTHEAST INC: $43,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetALABAMA POSSIBLE: $39,125 over 3y, 2.6% of budgetOMEGA MEN OF NORTH ALABAMA INC: $30,000 over 1y, 28% of budgetSTAND UP MOBILE A BLUEPRINT FOR US: $30,000 over 1y, 16% of budgetJOBS TO MOVE AMERICA: $22,600 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetUNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY: $15,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetENERGY ALABAMA: $9,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Bvm Capacity Building…Amalgamated Charitabl…The Community Foundat…The Daniel Foundation…The Community Foundat…Alabama Power Foundat…The Black Belt Commun…Mary Reynolds Babcock…Tides FoundationThe Ford FoundationAlabama Alliance Netw…Arlington Partners Ch…
Bvm Capacity Building Institute IncGA26.7× affinity11 shared granteesties to 10 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Bvm Capacity Building Institute Inc · Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Inc · The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta Inc · The Daniel Foundation of Alabama · The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham · Alabama Power Foundation Inc · The Black Belt Community Foundation Inc · Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation Incorporated · Tides Foundation · The Ford Foundation · Alabama Alliance Network · Arlington Partners Charitable Foundation Inc

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Alabama Forward funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Alabama Forward. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%5%19%42%75%funder's share of their income ↑0%10%20%30%40%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    8report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–40%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 36 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Alabama Forward’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home