Reviewed by: Nathan Watson
New Birmingham foundation lets residents vote on which community ideas get funded
Reading time: 2 minutes
A new giving circle in Birmingham is inviting big ideas from locals, and putting real dollars behind them.
The Other Foundation Birmingham has officially launched its first community grant cycle, opening applications for monthly awards ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 for projects that make the city a better place.
By the community, for the community
Here’s how it works: members each contribute $100 per month to a shared fund that totals about $10,000 in grants every month. Then, members vote on which community ideas get funded—making the process more grassroots and community-driven than many traditional grant programs.
What’s especially cool? You don’t have to run a nonprofit to apply. The foundation is open to both organizations and individual Birmingham residents with ideas that improve neighborhoods, spark creativity or solve local problems.
“Birmingham is full of people with creative and brilliant ideas for making their neighborhood, their community, our city better— they just need access to the resources to bring their visions to life. We created the Other Foundation to quickly provide those resources and to help foster an ecosystem of civic innovation and inspiration.”
Max Rykov, Chair of the Other Foundation
The group behind the foundation previously ran the local chapter of the Awesome Foundation from 2017–2020, giving away monthly microgrants to creative projects around the city.
One standout example: a Girl Scout used funding to build a bus shelter in Woodlawn where riders previously had to wait by a lone signpost with no protection from the weather.
Applications open now
According to chair Max Rykov, the goal is simple: help Birmingham residents turn great ideas into real projects that benefit the community.
Applications for the first grant cycle are open now and will be accepted through April 10. Community members can also apply to become contributing members of the giving circle.
Grant applications are now open at otherfoundationbham.org.
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