Non-profit organizations in the Birmingham Region may apply for grants through Catalyze Birmingham, an innovation challenge that will rethink the connections between K-12 education, higher education and careers. Catalyze Birmingham, which launched Sept. 25, is the first regional grant program under the national Catalyze Challenge, which has awarded $10 million in grant funding to date and funded great ideas such as HopeWorks and Hack the Hood, among others.
Catalyze Birmingham has received commitments of more than $2 million to date, and this funding will be awarded in two rounds in 2023 and 2024 to organizations with innovative, career-connected learning ideas for Birmingham area students aged 11-22 years. Applications for the program will be accepted until Nov. 3, 2023, and grant writing assistance will be available to interested organizations. Applicants should pitch early-stage ideas and not programs currently underway. Applications will be evaluated on Innovation, Potential for Impact, Team, Feasibility, Partnership and Growth.
Catalyze Birmingham is working in partnership with the national Catalyze Challenge to make this challenge successful. According to Catalyze Executive Director Michelle Cheang, “The Birmingham region is at the forefront of this work, where recent successes like the Good Jobs Challenge and other strong local initiatives have garnered national attention. We are excited that the Birmingham region will be our first regional partner.”
In addition to the national Catalyze Challenge and the Walton Family Foundation, Catalyze Birmingham is made possible by the City of Birmingham, Prosper, the Mike & Gillian Goodrich Foundation, Protective Life Corporation, Regions Foundation, The Caring Foundation of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, Alabama Power, the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham and EmpowerED Birmingham.
Visit Catalyze Birmingham to learn more or apply for a grant or reach out to [email protected] with questions.
