[Daniel Foundation of Alabama](https://www.danielfoundationofalabama.org)

Rolling (LOIs reviewed monthly; decisions quarterly)

No fixed maximum; multi-year grants possible; typical funding varies by project.

Supports projects and programming in Alabama's rural Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties, prioritizing those with greater need.

Preference given to Tier 1 counties; only 501(c)3 public charities eligible; projects must serve designated rural counties.

--- ## Description The Rural Grants initiative from the Daniel Foundation of Alabama provides funding to support projects and programming that address the unique needs of rural communities within specific counties in Alabama. The program is designed to improve outcomes in areas with smaller populations, higher poverty rates, and lower child well-being rankings, as identified by the Alabama Kids Count Data Book. The initiative distinguishes between Tier 1 (highest priority) and Tier 2 counties, with a strong preference for Tier 1. Funding is available to eligible nonprofits for projects that directly serve these rural areas. --- ## Due Dates - Letters of Intent (LOIs) accepted on a rolling basis; reviewed monthly. - Board decisions are made quarterly: - LOIs submitted December–March: decision in June - LOIs submitted April–July: decision in October - LOIs submitted August–November: decision in February --- ## Funding Amount - No strict maximum or minimum award amount is specified. - Multi-year funding is possible and considered on a case-by-case basis for rural initiatives. - Funding can be partial or for specific components of a project; full project budgets are rarely funded. - Only one grant can be awarded per organization within a calendar year (no "sit-out" period for rural grants). --- ## Eligibility - Applicants must be a 501(c)3 public charity. - Projects must serve one or more of the designated Tier 1 or Tier 2 rural counties in Alabama. - **Tier 1 counties** meet all of: population under 50,000; poverty rate greater than 15%; Kids Count ranking below top 25%. - **Tier 2 counties** meet one or two of these criteria. - Organizations based outside an eligible county may apply if project delivery is 100% within a Tier 1 or Tier 2 county. - Projects drawing residents from eligible counties into excluded counties are **not eligible**. - No other major eligibility restrictions (unlike the Operating Grant cycle). - Only one grant per organization per year. **Tier 1 Counties** (examples, not exhaustive): Barbour, Bibb, Bullock, Butler, Chambers, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Conecuh, Covington, Dale, Dallas, Escambia, Fayette, Franklin, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Lamar, Lawrence, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Marion, Monroe, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Sumter, Tallapoosa, Washington, Wilcox, Winston. **Tier 2 Counties** (examples): Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Cleburne, Coffee, Colbert, Coosa, Crenshaw, De Kalb, Houston, Jackson, Marshall, Russell, Talladega, Walker. --- ## Application Process - Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) through the [online grants management portal](https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=daniel). - LOIs are reviewed monthly; applicants are notified of status. - If invited, submit a full proposal by the specified deadline for the relevant quarterly board meeting. - Site visits may be conducted as part of the review process. - Contact the foundation’s grants manager for questions or support with the application system. --- ## Additional Information - The program is open year-round and is not subject to a sit-out period between grants for rural projects. - Multi-year funding is considered for rural grants. - The foundation rarely funds an entire project budget; partial funding is common. - Changes implemented in February 2026 require all rural applications to begin with an LOI through the online system (not by email). --- ## External Links - [Rural Grants Program Page](https://danielfoundationofalabama.com/rural-grants) - [Daniel Foundation of Alabama Home](https://www.danielfoundationofalabama.org) - [FAQs](https://danielfoundationofalabama.com/faqs/) - [Online Grant Portal (LOI submission)](https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=daniel) - [Alabama Kids Count Data Book](https://alavoices.org/2024-alabama-kids-count) --- ## Contact Information | Role/Contact | Details | |-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | Grants Manager (Joyce) | (205) 874-3523, [joyce@df-al.com](mailto:joyce@df-al.com) | | General Contact | [Contact Form](https://www.danielfoundationofalabama.org/contact/) | ---

Rural Grants

Sign in to see full grant listing