Harvard Club of Alabama

The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham

Tour and high-level discussion with Alabama's largest community foundation.

The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham was built on, and continues to thrive on, the idea that together, we have the power to create transformational change. We work every day to take on the fundamental issues that challenge the growth and success of the people in our communities, supporting those in need in our five-county region (Jefferson, Blount, Shelby, Walker and St. Clair Counties) and supporting those who support others. The Community Foundation was founded in 1959 by a group of generous, dedicated leaders, and though the issues facing our community change over time, our commitment remains the same. We are here to empower people, ignite passion and pursue our vision of a brighter future and a Greater Birmingham.  The Foundation, with over $212 million in assets and over 500 funds, is undergirded by the support of many visionary donors and is the oldest and largest community foundation in the state.  We made over $18 million in grants in 2018, including $4 million in grants from unrestricted dollars that fuel our two annual competitive grant cycles and our proactive initiatives where the Foundation serves as a convener and leader in driving collaborative change efforts.  Our current initiatives focus in areas such as payday lending reform, regional cooperation, inclusive economic opportunity, children’s mental health, 2020 census participation and more.  In 2018, we conducted a broad set of community conversations across the five-county area that informed a new, ten-year strategic plan for the Foundation.  Announced in April 2019, the strategic plan is centered on five new priorities that will guide all our work: 1) Nurturing Thriving Communities; 2) Fostering Equity and Inclusion; 3) Driving Regional Cooperation; 4) Creating Economic Opportunity for All; and 5) Overcoming Persistent Poverty.   

Our Hosts

Gus Heard-Hughes is Vice President of Programs for the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham.  He leads the Programs Team’s work on competitive grants, special RFPs and initiatives as well as the team’s transition to the new ten-year strategic plan.  Gus serves as point for the Community Foundation’s Mental Health Initiative, coordinating strategic partnerships to expand mental health supports in the region, and for the Building It Together Initiative, focused on growing economic opportunity and workforce readiness.  In his previous role as Senior Program Officer, Gus managed the Foundation’s Tornado Recovery Initiative, which provided nearly $4 million in grants to help over 700 families return to safe, secure homes, and its work with the Health Action Partnership.  Gus also managed grants and partnerships around nutrition, physical activity, public green space and the natural environment. 
Before coming to the Community Foundation, Gus served for ten years as a Senior Field Coordinator with Heifer International. Gus holds a BA in Sustainable Food Systems from Hampshire College and a MSW in Social Policy and Administration from Florida State University.  He was a member of the 2018 class of Leadership Birmingham and the 2013 class of the Alabama Leadership Initiative.  He serves on various committees related to mental health, addiction prevention and recovery, and community revitalization. Gus will be joined by key staff, including Katie Dean, Kim Rogers, Carlos Torres, Chief Financial Officer Terri Epting, Vice President of Philanthropic Services Lora Terry, and Director of Marketing and Communications Ginger Jefferson.

Metered street parking requires quarters!