Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama

What Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama does

The Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama (CFNEA) is a qualified 501(c)(3) public charity headquartered at 1701 Henry Road, Anniston, Alabama, serving as a regional philanthropic platform for nine Northeast Alabama counties (Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, DeKalb, Etowah, Randolph, St. Clair, and Talladega) and over 500,000 residents. Founded in 1999 when approximately $13 million in assets were transferred from the Susie Parker Stringfellow Charitable Trust, the foundation has since accumulated 305 distinct charitable funds across categories including Designated Funds, Donor Advised Funds, Field of Interest Funds, Agency Funds, Scholarship Funds, and Unrestricted Funds. CFNEA distributes approximately $2 million annually in grants, scholarships, and charitable expenses, sourced from $2-3 million in annual gift intake across thousands of donors (individuals, families, corporations, nonprofits, municipalities, state, and federal entities).

The foundation's underlying technology stack comprises the fcsuite.com donor management and fund administration platform (supporting online donations, the Fund Dashboard portal for fundholders, and transaction processing), the Caboose CMS public website (designed and hosted by The Nine of Tuscaloosa, AL since 2022), and the GrantInterface portal for scholarship and competitive grant applications. Security architecture includes 128-bit encryption and TLS 1.0 protocol for online transactions and secure messaging. The organization holds Guidestar Platinum Level certification (achieved by only ~8,000 of 2.7 million U.S. nonprofits) and maintains National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations compliance. Operating with 8-9 staff under a Board of Trustees governance model, CFNEA is led by President & CEO Matt Holdbrooks, EVP/CFO Deborah J. Pfledderer, and VP of Community Engagement Fred Smith (who holds the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy designation).

CFNEA's business model is donation-driven rather than fee-based: donors contribute cash, stocks, bonds, land, personal property, bequests, retirement plans, charitable trusts, and other vehicles; the foundation stewards these gifts in endowed and non-endowed structures and distributes proceeds through competitive grant programs (SUMMIT Grant, Stringfellow Health Fund, Farley Moody Galbraith Endowment Fund, Foothills Community Partnership Fund, Harland Jones Charitable Fund, Longleaf Fund), scholarship programs (serving students in nine Alabama counties plus select Georgia counties), individual assistance grants (City of Anniston Fund, Hobson City Council Fund, Helping Hands Foundation), and the differentiated E2 Program — a two-generational education-and-employment initiative delivered with Gadsden State Community College and East AlabamaWorks. Donor acquisition occurs through direct outreach, professional advisor referral partnerships (Bridge Builder Certificate program), annual scholarship banquets, the Anvil Society legacy giving program, and online channels; grants and scholarships are provided at no cost to recipients.

Name

Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama

Legal name

Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama

Website

https://cfnea.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama (CFNEA) is a 501(c)(3) public charity managing 305 charitable funds and distributing approximately $2 million annually in grants and scholarships across nine Northeast Alabama counties. It serves individual donors, nonprofit organizations, and students through endowment stewardship, competitive grantmaking, scholarship programs, and the E2 education-to-employment initiative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Foundation and Philanthropic Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), Fundraising & Annual Giving (EDALAOAB), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)

Keywords

• Community foundation
• Charitable fund management
• Donor advised funds
• Competitive grantmaking
• Scholarship administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Anniston, Alabama

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donor Contributions and Gifts: The foundation receives $2-3 million annually in gifts from thousands of donors including corporate partners, individuals, families, not-for-profit organizations, cities, the State of Alabama, and the federal government. Accepts various gift types including cash, checks, stocks, bonds, land, personal property, will bequests, retirement plans, life estate contracts, life insurance, Revocable Living Trusts, Trust Assets, Charitable Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts, Charitable Remainder Unitrusts, and Charitable Lead Trusts.
2. Investment Returns on Endowment Funds: The foundation grows donor gifts in permanent endowment funds that benefit the community forever. Investment returns on the $13+ million in initial transferred assets (from Susie Parker Stringfellow Charitable Trust in 1999) and subsequent fund additions generate ongoing grantmaking capacity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama is a 501(c)(3) public charity that pools and manages donor contributions across 305 charitable funds to deliver permanent endowments supporting nine counties in Northeast Alabama. It provides fund administration (designated, donor advised, field of interest, agency, scholarship, special project, unrestricted), competitive grantmaking to nonprofits, scholarship administration to students, and community programs such as the E2 education-and-employment initiative. The foundation accepts diverse gift vehicles, invests endowment assets, and distributes approximately $2 million annually in grants, scholarships, and charitable expenses.

Product overview

Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama (CFNEA) operates as a philanthropic platform offering multiple fund types including Designated Funds, Donor Advised Funds, Field of Interest Funds, Agency Funds, Scholarship Funds, Special Projects, and Unrestricted Funds. The organization manages 305 charitable funds and distributes approximately $2 million annually in grants, scholarships, and charitable expenses. The product portfolio includes grant programs (SUMMIT Grant Program, Stringfellow Health Fund), the E2 Program for education and employment, individual assistance grants (City of Anniston Fund, Credit Union Partner's Helping Hands Foundation, Town of Hobson City Council Fund), and an Anvil Society legacy program. CFNEA also provides online platforms for donations and fund management, along with scholarship application processing through Grant Interface. The organization serves nine counties with various fund types designed to meet different donor and community needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Charitable Fund Types (Designated, Donor Advised, Field of Interest, Agency, Scholarship, Special Project, Unrestricted) CFNEA offers seven categories of charitable funds that donors can establish: Designated Funds (donor specifies beneficiary organizations), Donor Advised Funds (donor recommends grants over time), Field of Interest Funds (competitive grantmaking in donor-specified areas), Agency Funds (support for specific nonprofits or government agencies), Scholarship Funds (for student education), Special Projects (for Community Foundation-approved initiatives), and Unrestricted Funds (Board discretion responding to community needs).
• SUMMIT Grant Program Competitive grant program for not-for-profit organizations in the nine-county service area, structured as a grant cycle with pre-application, virtual workshops, and grantee presentations.
• Stringfellow Health Fund Grants Health-focused competitive grant program for not-for-profit organizations funded through the Susie Parker Stringfellow Health Trust, awarding grants across counties in the service region.
• E2 Program Two-generational strategy program for adults 18+ with at least one child age 5 or younger living in poverty, providing access to Associate Degrees, Short- or Long-Term Certificates, and Skills Training through Gadsden State Community College, combined with employment pathways via East AlabamaWorks.
• City of Anniston Fund Grants Charitable grants for individuals within Anniston city limits who are over 60, mentally or physically disabled, or low income, for residential property repairs addressing health or safety hazards. Maximum request of $2,500.
• Town of Hobson City Council Fund Charitable grants for homeowners within Hobson City limits who are disabled or low-income, for minor residential property repairs correcting health or safety hazards. Maximum grant of $3,000.
• Credit Union Partner's Helping Hands Foundation Fund Emergency or unmet needs assistance for individuals in credit union service areas who are over 60, disabled, low income, or mentally or physically challenged. Covers home repair, food, shelter, and immediate health care needs. Maximum grant of $2,500.
• Anvil Society Legacy giving program that honors individuals or families who commit to shaping a stronger community future through planned gifts via will, trust, or assignment of a contract. Members are recognized on columns in the foundation lobby with an anvil symbol representing the future.
• Scholarship Program Annual scholarship program for high school, college, and graduate students based on fund-specific criteria including academic achievement, financial need, community service, and field of study. Applications are processed through Grant Interface and recipients are celebrated at an annual scholarship banquet.
• Online Donation Portal Online donation platform accepting diverse gift types including cash, checks, stocks, bonds, land, personal property, will bequests, retirement plans, life estate contracts, life insurance, Revocable Living Trusts, Trust Assets, Charitable Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts, Charitable Remainder Unitrusts, and Charitable Lead Trusts.
• Fund Dashboard (Portal) Authenticated portal for fundholders to access and manage their charitable funds, view balances, and initiate transactions online.
• GrantStation Access CFNEA provides not-for-profit organizations in the nine-county region access to GrantStation, a grant search engine, by contacting Cassandra Norton.

Quantifiable outcome

• 305 charitable funds managed
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• The NinesupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Website design, development, and hosting company based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama that designed, built, and hosts the CFNEA website. Described as prompt, proficient, and dynamic with multiple perspectives for maximizing website potential.
• Gadsden State Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerE2 Program partner providing postsecondary education opportunities including Associate Degrees, Short- or Long-Term Certificates, and Skills Training. Students from the program have earned degrees in Electronic Engineering Technology, Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN), Commercial Driver's License (CDL), and Computer Science.
• East AlabamaWorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerE2 Program partner providing employment pathways upon completion of education programs. Connects students with job opportunities and career services through the Gadsden Career Center.
• Gadsden-Etowah County Head StartsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerE2 Program partner for early childhood education component, supporting the two-generational strategy by providing services for children of participating parents.
• Family Success CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerE2 Program partner providing early childhood education, counseling, and economic support services to participating families.
• United Way of Etowah CountysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerE2 Program partner contributing social capital through volunteering and community engagement initiatives.
• YMCA of Coosa ValleysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerE2 Program partner contributing health and well-being services to participating families.
• Nature SacredsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization whose goal is to provide opportunity for deeper human experience by inspiring and supporting creation of public green spaces (Open Spaces Sacred Places). Fred Smith, VP of Community Engagement, serves on the Nature Sacred board.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee: Large regional community foundation operating across 40 Middle Tennessee counties with multi-billion-dollar assets. Comparable as a multi-county community foundation with broad fund types and grant programs, but operates at significantly larger scale than CFNEA.
• The Columbus Foundation: Major central Ohio community foundation widely cited as a benchmark for community foundation practice. Comparable operating model with hundreds of funds, donor services, and competitive grant programs, though operating at substantially greater scale.
• The Dayton Foundation: The Dayton Foundation is the explicit institutional model CFNEA emulated. A multi-county Ohio community foundation with donor-advised funds, competitive grants, and scholarships — the archetype that CFNEA was designed after.

Direct peers

• Walker Area Community Foundation: Small Alabama community foundation serving Walker and surrounding counties. Comparable as a rural Alabama community foundation with similar fund-management model, scholarship programs, and competitive grant cycles.
• Foundation for the Mid-South: Regional foundation serving Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas with a poverty-reduction focus analogous to CFNEA's E2 Program. Highly comparable donor base and grantmaking priorities in distressed Southern communities.
• Black Belt Community Foundation: Alabama community foundation serving a rural, economically distressed multi-county region. Highly comparable mission profile (poverty reduction, education access, community partnerships) and rural endowment-building model, making it the closest peer in scope and donor-segment dynamics.
• Marshall County Community Foundation: Small community foundation in neighboring Marshall County, Alabama. CFO Deborah Pfledderer previously worked at Marshall County Community Foundation, establishing direct operational and scale comparability to CFNEA's footprint and staffing model.

Regional players

• Central Alabama Community Foundation: Alabama-based community foundation serving multiple central Alabama counties with donor-advised funds, scholarships, and competitive grants. Directly comparable as an in-state peer competing for the same Alabama philanthropic donor pool.
• Community Foundation of Huntsville/Madison County: Alabama community foundation serving the Huntsville/Madison County region with donor-advised funds, competitive grants, and scholarships. Same institutional model and donor services as CFNEA, but anchored in a higher-income, technology-driven economy.
• Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham: One of the larger Alabama community foundations serving the Birmingham metro area. Directly comparable as a regional 501(c)(3) public charity that aggregates donor funds and awards competitive grants, but operates in a wealthier urban footprint adjacent to CFNEA's nine-county service area.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-foundation-of-northeast-alabama

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama