Mid-South RC & D

What Mid-South RC & D does

Mid-South RC&D Council, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit grant-making organization founded in 1993 and headquartered at 2740 Central Parkway, Montgomery, Alabama. Operating under the federal Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Program framework established by the Agriculture Act of 1962, the organization distributes grant funding to qualified public entities and 501(c)(3) nonprofits across an 8-county region in central Alabama: Autauga, Bullock, Butler, Elmore, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, and Montgomery counties. Its core products are two grant programs — Education Fund Projects (for initiatives with educational components such as classroom technology, FFA programs, libraries, and workforce training) and General Fund Projects (for community improvement, recreation, tourism, and emergency preparedness). Grant applications are accepted during an annual cycle from April 1 to June 30 through the GrantInterface online portal, with applications reviewed by county committees and approved by the board, taking effect October 1.

The organization is funded primarily through appropriations from the Alabama State Legislature, with which it maintains a 30+ year partnership covering both General Fund (since 1999) and Education Fund (since 2004) projects. After the federal RC&D Program was defunded in 2011 following the 2008 economic collapse, Mid-South RC&D pivoted to survive on state appropriations — a structural risk that persists given the single-source revenue concentration. Operations are run by a lean 3-person staff (Executive Director Pamela Hughes, Program Manager Krystal Ward, Communications Specialist Katie Smith) supported by 32 council representatives across the 8 counties, with a board including Chairman J.O. Norris (inducted into the AARCDC Hall of Fame in 2025) and William Hodge (NARCDC President).

In FY 2025, the organization disbursed over $405,000 in educational funding and over $338,000 in community/economic development funding across 78 projects (35 General + 43 Education), reaching more than 613,000 community members. A 2024 record of 128 grant applications, a 48% year-over-year increase in Education projects, and 9 new partnerships established in FY 2024 indicate growing demand and program throughput. Marketing is multi-channel and locally oriented, leveraging social media (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn), newsletters, website content, county commission meetings, and a Legislative Outreach Program (piloted in 2024 with The Cosby Company) covering 25 legislative districts.

Name

Mid-South RC & D

Legal name

Mid-South RC&D Council, Inc.

Website

https://midsouthrcd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mid-South RC&D is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit grant-making organization, founded in 1993 and based in Montgomery, Alabama, that distributes Education Fund and General Fund grants to public entities and nonprofits across an 8-county central Alabama region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Montgomery

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding from State Legislature: Mid-South RC&D receives funding allocations from the Alabama State Legislature to distribute as grants to qualifying organizations for educational, community improvement, and economic development projects. The organization acts as a financial intermediary, providing supplemental funds to meet unmet community needs.
2. Educational Fund Projects: Funding designated for projects with an educational component, including educational supplies, technology resources, training courses, and hands-on equipment for youth and adult education programs.
3. General Fund Projects: Funding for community improvement projects without educational components, including community facilities, outdoor recreation, tourism, emergency preparedness, and first responder support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mid-South RC&D is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit grant-making organization that distributes funding from the Alabama State Legislature to qualifying public entities and 501(c)(3) nonprofits across an 8-county region in Alabama. It operates two grant programs — Education Fund Projects (for projects with educational components) and General Fund Projects (for community improvement, recreation, tourism, and emergency preparedness) — through an annual grant cycle administered via the GrantInterface portal. The organization's purpose is to fill gaps in education, community improvement, and economic development that traditional funding sources do not address.

Product overview

Mid-South RC&D is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit grant funding organization that provides two primary grant programs: Education Fund Projects for initiatives with educational components and General Fund Projects for community improvement initiatives. The organization operates an annual grant cycle (April 1 - June 30) accessible through the Grant Interface Portal, with support resources including the Grant Cycle Guidebook and FY2027 Grant Policy. Funding priorities include community improvement and economic development, workforce development, emergency preparedness, youth programs, and adult programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Education Fund Projects Grant funding for projects that have an educational component, including educational supplies, technology resources, classroom materials, libraries, sports programs, workforce development, and continuing education initiatives. Available to qualifying public entities and 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the 8-county service region.
• General Fund Projects Grant funding for community improvement projects without educational components, including community facilities, outdoor recreation, tourism, emergency preparedness, and first responder support. Available to qualifying public entities and 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the 8-county service region.
• GrantInterface Portal Online portal for grantees to submit applications, manage grant documents, and track application status during the annual grant cycle (April 1 - June 30). Used by grant applicants across the 8-county service region.

Quantifiable outcome

• 613,000+ community members impacted in FY 2025 through 78 projects
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, regional and minor.

• Alabama Association of RC&D Councils (AARCDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level association coordinating Alabama RC&D Councils. Mid-South RC&D participates in AARCDC events, professional development training, and annual conferences. The association provides legislative advocacy and program development support.
• Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLand-grant university partnership providing educational resources and programming support to communities across Alabama.
• Tall Timbers Research and Land ConservancymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit specializing in fire ecology and land management. Partnered on Central Alabama Wildland Fire Training Course for Veterans and First Responders, providing certification through Alabama Forestry Commission.
• USDAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner for the RC&D Program established under the Agriculture Act of 1962. Provides national coordination and support for RC&D Councils across the country.
• Alabama Forestry CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency providing certification for prescribed burn managers and wildland fire training. Partnered on fire training courses for veterans and first responders.
• Southeastern RC&DregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional coordination among RC&D Councils in the southeastern United States for program alignment and best practices sharing.
• Alabama Association of County CommissionersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with county-level government associations to facilitate community projects and county commission engagement.
• The Cosby CompanymajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting firm led by Noopie Cosby that developed and implemented the Legislative Outreach Program pilot to help meet local needs across 25 legislative districts through collaboration with legislators and partnering organizations.
• AHERO (Alabama Heroes Organization)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting Alabama veterans that partners on veteran-focused workforce development and training programs.
• Central Alabama Prescribed Burn AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation coordinating prescribed burn training and certification for veterans and first responders in Alabama.
• National Association of RC&D Councils (NARCDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization providing leadership, coordination, and awards recognition for RC&D Councils across the United States.
• Urban Agriculture in AlabamaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative providing urban agriculture workshops and education programs in Montgomery in partnership with EAT South.
• EAT SouthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization hosting urban agriculture workshops including Composting & Worm Bin Workshop in downtown Montgomery.
• Montgomery Whitewater FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded $50,000 grant for Swift Water Rescue Training Program Phase Two, enabling first responders to receive life-saving water rescue certification at Montgomery Whitewater facilities.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Association of RC&D Councils (NARCDC): NARCDC is the national body for all RC&D councils, providing coordination, leadership, and awards recognition. Mid-South RC&D's leadership (William Hodge) serves as NARCDC President, and NARCDC awarded Mid-South the 2024 Council Project of the Year, making it a closely linked peer organization.
• Black Belt Community Foundation: Black Belt Community Foundation is a regional grantmaking foundation focused on Alabama's Black Belt region, overlapping heavily with Mid-South RC&D's 8-county service area. Both organizations fund community improvement, education, and economic development in similar rural Alabama communities.
• Alabama Association of RC&D Councils (AARCDC): AARCDC is the state-level umbrella association for Alabama RC&D councils, providing legislative advocacy, training, and program support. Mid-South RC&D partners with AARCDC on events and professional development, and AARCDC awards shape Mid-South's competitive positioning.
• Southeastern RC&D: Southeastern RC&D is a fellow Alabama-based RC&D council directly partnering with Mid-South RC&D on regional coordination and best-practice sharing. It operates the same grantmaking model serving different counties in Alabama, making it the most direct analog.

Broad incumbents

• Delta Regional Authority (DRA): DRA is a federal-state regional development authority funding infrastructure, workforce, and community development in the Mississippi Delta region, which includes Alabama Black Belt counties. It shares Mid-South's rural community and economic development focus but operates at federal scale.
• Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC): ARC is a federal-state regional economic development commission funding community and economic development projects in Appalachian regions, including parts of Alabama. It shares Mid-South's mission of filling gaps in underserved regions but operates at a much larger federal scale.
• Alabama Power Foundation: Alabama Power Foundation is a corporate foundation making grants statewide for education, community development, and environmental stewardship. While much larger and broader, it funds similar project categories as Mid-South RC&D across Alabama's eight-county region.

Regional players

• East Alabama Community Foundation: East Alabama Community Foundation is a regional grantmaking foundation serving east Alabama counties, with overlapping service area with Mid-South RC&D. It supports education, health, and community development projects through donor-advised and competitive grants.
• Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham: A larger Alabama community foundation that administers grants, scholarships, and donor-advised funds across central Alabama. While it operates in a different region and at a larger scale, it shares the same nonprofit grantmaking intermediary model and partially overlapping geographic footprint.
• United Way of Central Alabama: United Way of Central Alabama is a regional grantmaking and fundraising nonprofit serving the broader central Alabama area that includes Mid-South RC&D's Montgomery and surrounding counties. Both organizations distribute funds to community nonprofits and emergency services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7oOIa2LKoWOvFUXybMvMOA
• Facebookfacebook.com/midsouthrcdcouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mid-south-rcd-council
• Instagraminstagram.com/midsouthrcd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Mid-South RC & D