Funding SAIL Programs

SAIL funders do far more than write checks; most choose to become active members of the SAIL collective impact network. Traditional barriers between grant maker and grant recipient dissolve as the community collaborates to:

  •    ♦ remove roadblocks,
  •    ♦ resolve problems, and
  •    ♦ grow stronger together. 

Funder contributions of financial, intellectual, and social capital are the “wind in the SAILs” of our summer learning community. 

SAIL Funding Partners

How SAIL Funding Works

    • ♦ Alabama Power Foundation
    • ♦ Altec/Styslinger Foundation
    • ♦ Better Place Foundation
    • ♦ The Caring Foundation | Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama
    • ♦ Charles and Estelle Campbell Foundation
    • ♦ Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
    • ♦ Daniel Foundation of Alabama
    • ♦ Independent Presbyterian Church Foundation
    • ♦ Mike and Gillian Goodrich Foundation
    • ♦ James Milton and Sallie R. Johnson Foundation
    • ♦ Junior League of Birmingham
    • ♦ Mission LLC Fund (Mike & Suzanne Graham)
    • ♦ Regions Bank
    • ♦ United Way of Central Alabama, Inc.

    SAIL invites other grantmakers to join our collective; please contact Suzy Harris link.

  • SAIL Professional Partners

    • ♦ Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA) provides support to  SAIL through program evaluation and access to research.
    • ♦ Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama is SAIL’s fiscal sponsor.

SAIL-Birmingham Collective Funding Model

  • ♦ Funders support SAIL programs through a common grant cycle (see timeline below).
    • → Programs submit one grant application which is shared among all funders.
    • → Programs submit one report at the end of the summer.
  • ♦ Funders retain control over the amounts and recipients of their grants.
  • ♦ Funders have access to the operating results of all programs and the insights of other funders to inform their grant decisions.
  • ♦ Funders who wish may ask SAIL to allocate their grants.

SAIL-Birmingham Common Grant Cycle Timeline

Early October: Grant applications for the following summer are submitted and shared electronically among all SAIL funders.

Mid October: Funders meet (optional) to review prior summer program results and hear an overview of new grant applicants.

Early November: Funders meet to review applications and make preliminary grant awards. One or two follow-up conference calls may be required to resolve questions.

November → mid-December: Funders finalize grant awards and obtain  approval from their grants committee and/or board.

Mid-December: Grant decisions are communicated to applicants.

December → March: Grants are disbursed to SAIL programs.

To learn more about the programs we fund, select a region below.

→ Birmingham

→ Black Belt

SAIL Welcomes Donations from Individuals and Donor-Advised Funds

Donations to Support SAIL’s Network of Programs in Birmingham and the Black Belt

  •     ♦ To discuss a donation, contact Suzy Harris link.
  •     ♦ Donations in any amount are gratefully accepted. Donations of $1,000 and more can be directed to specific SAIL programs or projects if desired.

  Donations by Check

  •         Make check payable to: SAIL Fund
  •         Mailing Address
  •         Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama
  •         1130 Quintard Avenue, Suite 100
  •         Anniston, AL 36201

  Donations by Credit Card

  All Other Donations

Please contact the CFO of the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama, Deborah J. Pfledderer

  •         Telephone: 256-231-5160 x28
  •         Email: dpfledderer@cfnea.org

Donations to Support SAIL’s Work as We Grow Across Alabama

To discuss a donation, contact Jim Wooten link, or

  •     Send a check payable to: SAIL
  •        Mailing Address
  •           SAIL
  •           24 Cross Creek Drive
  •           Birmingham, AL 35213