Reviewed by: Cindy Hatcher
How this local business owner invests in Birmingham’s future—and you can, too
Reading time: 4 minutes
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When business leaders invest in their communities, they help shape a brighter future for everyone. Danny McKinney, cofounder and partner at McKinney Capital, is doing just that with his involvement with corporate advised funds through the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham.
We sat down with Danny to talk about the local organizations he’s passionate about and why he invests in Birmingham’s future.
A smarter way to give
Through his corporate advised fund—a charitable giving account managed by the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham—McKinney supports a variety of local nonprofits like Jones Valley Teaching Farm and the Historic Bethel Baptist Church.
So, how do corporate advised funds differ from donations? Companies can establish a corporate advised fund for as little as $15,000. There are no limits for maximum fund size, unlike corporate foundations that generally require substantial assets from the get-go.
This flexible philanthropic tool allows donors to contribute assets and recommend grants to nonprofits over time, meaning donors are directly involved in the causes they care about.
“Philanthropy is really something I enjoy doing. A lot of the opportunities that my family and I work on together are supporting the core institutions in Birmingham that make the city special.
When you partner with the Community Foundation, you get access to a very knowledgeable, thoughtful and professional team. So you know those funds are going to be invested well and wisely. Then, when you’re ready to make a grant for a cause that you feel passionate about, they’re there to support you.”
Danny McKinney, Co-founder + Partner, McKinney Capital
Help fuel the next generation
An alumnus of the University of Alabama and Harvard Business School, McKinney is a passionate advocate for education and economic mobility.
He serves as chairman of Birmingham Promise, a nonprofit which places Birmingham City Schools students in business apprenticeships and offers financial assistance for college tuition to graduates. Since its inception in 2019, Birmingham Promise has distributed $9 million in scholarships to more than 1,300 local students.
“The secret sauce with the Birmingham Promise is the success coaches, which are there to support our scholars throughout the college experience. We have a lot of first time college students who have questions or need extra support, whether it’s academic or personal.
We also work with a lot of businesses in town on internships and apprenticeships, because it’s really about setting up young people for long term success and finding great jobs. There are a lot of ways to do that—it doesn’t always have to be a traditional four year degree program.”
Danny McKinney, Co-founder + Partner, McKinney Capital
He also serves on the board of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra (ASO), one of Birmingham’s most cherished and longstanding institutions. While ASO is celebrated for its prestigious concert series, it also plays a vital role in local education.
“The Alabama Symphony Orchestra has been around for over 100 years. People know them for performances at the Alys Stephens Center, but a significant part of ASO’s work is in education, introducing students to orchestral music for the first time.
It also plays a role in economic growth by helping attract businesses to Birmingham—many companies look for cultural assets like a symphony when choosing a community, making ASO an important part of the city’s appeal beyond its music.”
Danny McKinney, Co-founder + Partner, McKinney Capital
How you can invest in Birmingham’s future
If you’re an individual or business owner looking to invest in the future of Birmingham, here’s your sign. It’s not just good karma, it’s good for business.
“I think in addition to being a good thing to do in your community, it’s a smart thing to do as a business owner because we want to see Birmingham be successful for a lot of reasons. From a business standpoint, having Birmingham be successful is what’s going to attract great talent and help make our city’s businesses thrive.
One of the things that I love about Birmingham is we have very talented people here. I would take the talent level in Birmingham compared to any city.”
Danny McKinney, Co-founder + Partner, McKinney Capital
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