Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham (formerly the Greater Birmingham Foundation) is a tax-exempt public charity which pools private donations for a wide variety of grants supporting projects in the Birmingham metropolitan area. It was founded on May 5, 1959 by a committee headed by A. J. Bowron. The first advised fund managed by the foundation was donated by Mervyn and Dorah Sterne. The first grant made from that fund was for $100 to the Fairhaven Methodist Retirement Home. Peggy Spain McDonald was appointed the foundation's first executive director in 1964. The foundation adopted its current name in 1998. The current president is Kate Neilsen.
In its 50-year history the organization has awarded over $200 million in grants and currently manages assets in excess of $130 million held at several area financial institutions. The largest single gift, of $20 million, was made to the foundation in 2001. The largest single fund, now worth over $27 million, was initiated with a $3 million bequest from the estate of Margaret Cameron Spain in 1972.