Catalyze Birmingham Challenge Launches Track-Based Grant Structure in Round Three to Accelerate Career-Connected Learning
New “Tracks” empower both emerging partnerships and high-quality expansions; organizations invited to apply for up to $250,000 in funding
Birmingham, Ala., AUGUST 13, 2025 — Catalyze Birmingham Challenge today announced the launch of Round Three of its transformative grantmaking initiative, introducing a redesigned funding structure that elevates both innovative strategic partnerships and the expansion of proven career-connected learning programs across the Birmingham Region.
For the first time, applicants will apply under two distinct Tracks:
Track 1: Cross-Sector Partnerships — designed for local organizations to build new, collaborative programs by joining forces with employers, community-based groups, service providers and other stakeholders. Organizations are invited to submit applications as formal partnerships and may receive a funded planning period (up to six months) to further develop their ideas.
Track 2: High-Quality Expansions — designed for local or national organizations with a proven track record to partner with community-based organizations and bring high-quality scalable models to Birmingham at scale.
Each track offers up to $250,000 in funding for planning and implementation. This shift reflects key learnings from earlier rounds, addressing the need to both seed new local collaborations and amplify what works through structured growth opportunities.
“We heard clearly from our community that we needed a flexible approach to grant-making, allowing organizations to either collectively plan new ideas or expand what’s already working,” said Carlisha Harris, Catalyze Birmingham Challenge Specialist.
“This new track-based approach helps us be more intentional—supporting local visionaries who need time and space to plan, while also enabling proven innovators to expand thoughtfully with real community partnership.”
The application window will open in September 2025, with the goal of producing compelling case studies that shape future investment in career-connected learning in Birmingham.
Workshops and Technical Assistance for Prospective Applicants
To support a broad and diverse applicant pool, an in-person informational workshop will be held in St. Clair County Thursday, August 28 at 11:30am CST, and a virtual workshop will be held on Wednesday, September 17 at 1pm CST. These sessions will cover the new track structure, application guidance, and grant writing best practices.
“The Catalyze Birmingham Challenge lines up perfectly with the mission of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham — to serve as a catalyst for transformational change — and it really showcases the power of nonprofit partners joining forces to create positive change. We're proud to be part of this collective effort and to invest in lasting progress across our region." — Christopher Nanni, President & CEO of Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
Organizations with bold ideas that help youth explore careers, connect with employers, and access meaningful work-based learning opportunities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Register for workshops at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/R3-workshops
About Catalyze Birmingham Challenge
The Catalyze Birmingham Challenge builds on the national Catalyze Challenge, a bold philanthropic initiative fueling innovation and expanding access to high-quality career-connected learning for young people across the United States. Birmingham was the first community selected to pilot Catalyze’s regional approach.
Eligible applicants must serve learners who live, learn, or work in the Birmingham Region, defined as Jefferson, Shelby, Walker, Bibb, Blount, St. Clair, and Chilton Counties. Selected organizations will receive up to $250K in funding and access to the #CatalyzeBirminghamChallenge network of funders, nonprofits, and corporations.
Five organizations were selected in March 2024 for the first round of funding. Four organizations were selected in January 2025 for the second round of funding. Catalyze Birmingham Challenge is a collective effort. In addition to the national grant from Catalyze Challenge and the Walton Family Foundation, funding for the challenge was matched by the local philanthropic and business community including the Mike & Gillian Goodrich Foundation, Protective Life Corporation, Regions Foundation, The Caring Foundation of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, Alabama Power Foundation, the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, the Altec/Styslinger Foundation, and Innovate Alabama. The City of Birmingham and EmpowerED Birmingham serve as critical partners with Prosper to help develop the challenge contours to best serve the community.
