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Women’s Foundation of Alabama has relocated its headquarters as the final phase of the organization’s statewide expansion strategy. The Foundation now boasts a renovated stand-alone office at 2213 1st Avenue South overlooking Birmingham’s iconic Rotary Trail. As Alabama’s sole statewide public foundation investing with a gender lens and foremost advocate for women’s issues, the move paves the way for unparalleled opportunities for women’s economic advancement and is a pivotal milestone in the Foundation’s history.
“For us this is more than a building. It’s part of a 27-year legacy and five-year strategy to build the most powerful philanthropic and leadership voice for women in Alabama,” said Melanie R. Bridgeforth, MSW, president and chief executive officer of Women’s Foundation of Alabama. “This expanded and community-facing office space is a physical manifestation of our evolution and commitment to partnering with a statewide village to eliminate economic inequity for women at scale.”
Since the adoption of its new strategic direction in 2018, the Foundation has doubled grantmaking, produced groundbreaking research, and secured nine policy wins advancing women’s health, wage equality, and critical work supports. “We are proof that women-centered community grantmaking backed by sound research and non-partisan public policy interventions increased the pace of change for women. Our new office home is another notch in that line-up of mission milestones.” Bridgeforth notes.
Previously housed in the LIV on Fifth loft building, the new headquarters is more than 5,000 square feet with eight offices, four private workspaces, three collaborative areas, and an open floor plan. Another highlight includes Women’s Foundation of Alabama’s signage, featuring the organization’s logo on the external facade of the building. In 2021, as part of its statewide expansion announcement, the Foundation unveiled new visual branding. “Our logo illuminated next to Birmingham’s iconic Rotary Trail, is a symbol of progress. Progress of women leading this organization nearly three decades ago, today, and 30 years from now. We are the face of change and our new space meets the needs of the communities we serve today.” said Bridgeforth.
Women’s Foundation of Alabama’s Chief Operating Officer, LaShundra Pinkard, emphasizes that the intentional renovation will give community partners and stakeholders abundant space to convene and amplify the Foundation’s mission of accelerating economic opportunities for women.
“The new office empowers us to build more community. Imagine hosting grantee partners, learning best practices from local and national leaders, and collaborating with innovative funders and partner organizations all under one roof,” said Pinkard. “Our expanded team, including our staff in Birmingham, Montgomery, and Huntsville now have adequate space to create. This headquarters truly expands our capacity for collaboration and progress.”
Additional features include personalized naming opportunities for key benefactors, open floor plan for community forums and small gatherings, and wall dedications honoring the legacy of trailblazing women.
The Foundation will host an official ribbon-cutting ceremony and community open house in June.
