2025 Share Your Story Grant

The Share Your Story 2025 Video Grant Challenge is an initiative of the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville designed to support and uplift small nonprofit organizations within the Greater Huntsville area. This annual grant challenge centers around a specific theme each year and invites eligible nonprofits to showcase their impact through a short video. The Community Foundation, a trusted local philanthropic organization, administers this grant to promote generosity and highlight community-focused nonprofit work in Northern Alabama. To participate in the challenge, organizations must produce a 60-second or shorter video that captures their mission and impact story. The video must include a clear demonstration of how the organization is making an outsized impact on the community, using specific examples and storytelling techniques. After completing the video, applicants are required to submit a brief application through the Community Foundation's online grant portal and post their video on Facebook. Videos must be tagged with @CFHuntsville and include the hashtag #ShareYourStoryHSV. While social engagement is encouraged, the selection of grant recipients will be based on alignment with fund priorities rather than social media popularity. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with an operational budget of $500,000 or less. They must also qualify as a 501(c)(3) public charity, school, religious institution, or government agency. Only entities serving the counties of Jackson, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, and Morgan in Alabama are eligible. Applicants must adhere to strict video guidelines, including time limits and copyright compliance, and are encouraged to clearly articulate their purpose and community impact. Once applications and videos are submitted, the Share Your Story Grants Committee, under the governance of the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors, evaluates entries. Selected videos are featured in the Share Your Story Donor Catalog, from which donors are invited to co-invest. Grants are awarded after the donor catalog closes, based on donor interest in the featured organizations. The submission deadline for the 2025 cycle is Thursday, July 31, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. CT. Both the video post and the application submission through the online portal must be completed by this time to qualify. For additional guidance or questions, applicants are encouraged to contact Ann Kvach at 256.489.3525 or via email at [email protected]. Applicants are also provided with recommendations for creating effective videos. Tips include shooting horizontally, using microphones to enhance sound quality, avoiding copyrighted materials unless properly licensed, and conveying impact through both visuals and storytelling. Importantly, applicants are reminded that professional videography is not necessary—effective videos can be made using basic tools such as smartphones and video editing apps.