Alabama

The Central Alabama Community Foundation (CACF) in Montgomery has announced a collaboration with entertainer Lionel Richie, Lowe’s Hometowns, and several other partners to establish Hello Park, a community green space in Tuskegee. Hello Park came to fruition from a collaboration between Richie and Lowe’s Hometowns, the company’s five-year, $100 million commitment aimed at revitalizing community spaces nationwide. CACF managed the Lowe’s Hometowns grant, distributing funds to cover expenses pivotal in bringing the park to life.

Arizona

The Santa Cruz Community Foundation (SCCF), a geographic affiliate of the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, has awarded a total of $90,500 in grants to 20 local and regional nonprofit organizations working to improve the quality of life in Santa Cruz County. Recipients include Angel Heart Pajama Project, Crossroads Nogales Mission, Literacy Connects, and Valley Assistance Services.

Connecticut

The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven (CFGNH) has announced that its Great Give initiative raised $3,843,475 for 550 nonprofit organizations serving the region—both record numbers. The 36-hour online giving event presented by the foundation is a community-wide celebration of nonprofits on social media and beyond, with many organizations hosting both virtual and live events for supporters. This year’s Great Give was held May 1st to 2nd and featured $242,000 in matching pools and prize draws sponsored by businesses and organizations across the region along with CFGNH and the Derby-based Valley Community Foundation. Now in its 15th year, the Great Give has raised $28.6 million since it began.

Florida

The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida in Jacksonville has announced that its LGBTQ Community Fund has awarded $67,500 in grants to promote a welcoming and inclusive community for local LGBTQ people. Established a decade ago, the fund has now made a total of $1.1 million in grants since its inception as a collective giving initiative of the foundation in 2014. Recipients include the Equality Florida Institute, CampOUT Florida Corporation, PFLAG Jacksonville, and House of Prism.

Indiana

The Indianapolis Foundation, an affiliate of the Central Indiana Community Foundation, has appointed Grace Findley chief development and partnerships officer. A longtime fundraiser, Findley most recently served as vice president of philanthropic partnerships at the Indianapolis-based Strada Education Foundation and previously as director of development at the Indiana University Foundation.

Iowa

The Quad Cities Community Foundation in Bettendorf has announced the 74 recipients of scholarship awards totaling $578,600. More than half the awards are renewable, meaning students will receive ongoing financial support throughout their academic careers. Awards were granted to students of all ages and educational paths, from community colleges and four-year universities to trade and technical schools.

Nebraska

The Omaha Community Foundation has announced that it is refining the focus of its Fund for Omaha. For 2024, its funding priorities will align more closely with the foundation’s overall focus areas: mental and behavioral health, maternal health and birth outcomes, housing and neighborhoods, and economic opportunity. The fund will open for applications on July 1.

South Carolina

The Central Carolina Community Foundation in Columbia has announced the selection of Georgia Mjartan as its next president and CEO, effective July 1. Since 2017, Mjartan has served as South Carolina First Steps’ executive director. Mjartan also leads the state’s Early Childhood Advisory Council, where she and her team developed a technology platform that streamlines eligibility and enrollment in more than 40 early childhood programs.

Tennessee

The Nashville-based Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT) has announced the appointment Adnan Karim as vice president of community impact and Katie Marchetti as vice president of philanthropic services. A longtime nonprofit official, Karim previously served as a program manager at City Year. Marchetti, who has more than two decades of experience in international finance and law, spending 15 years in London. Most recently, she served as managing director and chief growth officer at a Nashville-based private equity startup.

Texas

The San Antonio Area Foundation has announced that it awarded a total of $4 million in scholarships to 100 area high school students through its Legacy Scholarship program and through the generosity of an anonymous donor. The scholarships cover $10,000 in academic costs for each of the four years of college for all Legacy Scholars. The foundation received 557 applications during 2021-22 for 50 scholarships, before seeing applications nearly double to 1,004 for 2023-24. In turn, the foundation was able to double the number of scholarships to 100.

Wisconsin

The Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region in Appleton has announced an anonymous gift of $150,000 from a donor-advised fund to Pillars, a nonprofit which provides shelter and affordable housing and other basic needs in the community.