The Black Belt Community Foundation was born from a merging of two separate efforts. One effort was led by Dr. Carol P. Zippert, who after learning about a community foundation in New River Valley, VA, decided that the Alabama Black Belt needed its own foundation. The other effort was led by David Wilson and Julian Smith, who conceived their own idea of a “Regional Foundation for the Black Belt.” Both of these efforts independently contacted the Ford Foundation in search of funding, and with the help of Senator Hank Sanders, these two groups were able to collectively meet with the Foundation in September 2002. After a recommendation from the Ford Foundation, the two groups came together as the “Black Belt Regional Foundation Coordinating Committee”, and in November, 2002, the committee was awarded a $100,000 grant to create a community foundation in the Alabama Black Belt. One of the first regional community meetings was held in November, 2002 to explain the vision of the new community foundation. The meeting was attended by approximately 100 people from across the Black Belt community.
Afterward, at least one public meeting was held in each of 11 counties to explore the concept of a community foundation and to map assets of each county. These gatherings generated strong support for self-help efforts and community empowerment. The Coordinating Committee adopted a vision and mission statement, and developed a grid to insure the foundation’s board of directors would be representative of the Black Belt population in terms of gender, race, age, background, and economic status.
In order for the Coordinating Committee to see first hand what each county considered to be their asset, nearly every member of the committee attended at least one county meeting. Most attended multiple meetings, and they met met regularly to discuss every element of forming a community foundation. In addition, the members availed themselves of training and other opportunities to learn the functions of a community foundation. Several members went to the Community Foundation of New River Valley near Blacksburg, VA, which was the foundation that had originally inspired Zippert. As the formation of the community foundation progressed, additional board members were added from other counties to insure that each county was represented equally. The affiliated groups came to be known as “community associates.” The official announcement of the Black Belt Community Foundation, and the initial board of directors was appointed on December 4, 2003.
Afterward, at least one public meeting was held in each of 11 counties to explore the concept of a community foundation and to map assets of each county. These gatherings generated strong support for self-help efforts and community empowerment. The Coordinating Committee adopted a vision and mission statement, and developed a grid to insure the foundation’s board of directors would be representative of the Black Belt population in terms of gender, race, age, background, and economic status.
In order for the Coordinating Committee to see first hand what each county considered to be their asset, nearly every member of the committee attended at least one county meeting. Most attended multiple meetings, and they met met regularly to discuss every element of forming a community foundation. In addition, the members availed themselves of training and other opportunities to learn the functions of a community foundation. Several members went to the Community Foundation of New River Valley near Blacksburg, VA, which was the foundation that had originally inspired Zippert. As the formation of the community foundation progressed, additional board members were added from other counties to insure that each county was represented equally. The affiliated groups came to be known as “community associates.” The official announcement of the Black Belt Community Foundation, and the initial board of directors was appointed on December 4, 2003.