The Community Foundation of Huntsville/Madison County (now Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville) was incorporated
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Our History
It started with two generous people.
In 2008, a group of community leaders incorporated the Community Foundation of Huntsville/Madison County with a simple conviction: our region needed a permanent home for local generosity. The next year, Founding Benefactors Joe and Pam Alexander made the initial donation that brought that vision to life. Their gift was more than the Foundation’s first; it was an invitation for an entire community to give together.
The community answered.
What began with a single gift has grown into the largest donor network in our region. Individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits established charitable funds of every kind, and in 2017 we became the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville to reflect a philanthropic footprint spanning five counties. Today, more than 400 charitable funds and over $159 million in gifts have generated more than $95 million in grants to the causes our donors love. Every milestone on the timeline below began the same way the Foundation did: with a generous person deciding to act.
The story is still being written.
The Alexanders’ first gift made everything that followed possible. Yours can do the same. Wherever our community goes next, the Community Foundation will be here, simplifying giving, amplifying impact, and working alongside generous people like you to make more possible.
Pam & Joe Alexander
Founding Benefactors
Timeline
2008
2009
Joe and Pam Alexander made the initial donation to Community Foundation of Huntsville/Madison County
2010
Hosted first Summit on Philanthropy to celebrate and inspire generosity
2011
Received over $3 million from Dynetics employees through an ESOP transaction
2012
Created the first corporate giving fund for a company now known as Vector Wealth Strategies
2013
Launched annual nonprofit conference, now called NAVIGATE Nonprofit Network Conference, to provide professional development for nonprofit leaders
2014
Launched first discretionary endowment, now called Compass Endowment, with a generous gift from Torch Technologies
2015
Published first edition of Vital Signs report
2016
Awarded the Huntsville/Madison Chamber of Commerce’s Nonprofit of the Year
2017
Changed name to Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville to reflect a five-county philanthropic footprint
2018
First Women’s Philanthropy Society grant was awarded.
2019
Celebrated 10th anniversary of 501(c)(3) letter of determination; charitable donations exceeded $30 million
2020
Launched the Emergency Relief Fund
2021
The City of Huntsville opened Community Foundation Park in downtown Huntsville
2022
Achieved milestone year with over $14.5 million in donations and $12 million in grants
2023
The Community Foundation celebrates its 15th year since incorporation; cumulative charitable donations topped $85 million
2024
Received a record $23.7 million in gifts in a single year
2025
Surpassed $100 million in cumulative grants
2026
Launched five-year strategic plan
