The Compass Society is established for "the love of Huntsville." A society for the innovators and pioneers in this community, it serves as a catalyst for Huntsville's future by implementing visionary projects that will have a significant and sustainable impact on all eight areas of our community's quality of life.
We mobilize generosity to find innovative the solutions that guide our community to a bright future. Our future generations depend on those with a strategic vision for the future and the generosity to make a gift today.
Grantmaking
The Compass Society supports current year grantmaking, as well as serves as a permanent source of funding to pioneer innovative solutions to our community's most pressing problems. Fifty percent of all donations are deployed for current year grants, and fifty percent of all donations are added to the Compass Endowment. An endowment is a permanent, self-sustaining source of funding designed to preserve the principal of the fund while using a portion of the investment earning for annual grantmaking to provide a lasting legacy of support for our community.
2020 Grant Funding
Compass Society grant applications were accepted October 1 - 22, 2020. Grant requests ranged from $5,000 - $50,000 for a strategic project or initiative affecting quality of life in one of the following categories and were awarded as follows:
Basic Needs
The Client Enrichment Program will increase the number of homeless people who reach Independent Sustainable Living, by filling skills gaps, reducing the number of homeless people in Huntsville. Funds from this grant will go towards constructing the building needed to facilitate the program.
FUNDING: $25,000
Economy
JFL is an 8-week soft skills job training course that prepares the unemployed and under-employed for the workplace.Trained facilitators and mentors are utilized to provide each student with in-depth and ongoing employment support. The relational framework helps to ensure success that is sustainable.
FUNDING: $10,000
Education
This project will increase the number of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) in classrooms. NBCT is the most respected professional certification in K12 education and proven metrics on student success. The project goal is to reach the highest concentration of NBCTs among peer cities nationwide.
FUNDING: $20,000
Environment
The Singing River Trail will develop an online/virtual platform to encourage regional outdoor and recreational use by offering environmentally-based curriculums, project-based learning ideas, "how to" videos with experts, travel itineraries, and recreational opportunities in North Alabama.
FUNDING: $11,000
Health & Wellness
Thrive Alabama will fund an outreach medical provider to travel with a mobile testing vehicle offering much-needed free healthcare services to the homeless population in Huntsville.
FUNDING: $10,500
Lifestyle
HAMR is committed to seeing the first unpaved, recreational bicycle trail and off-road bicycle skills park built for Huntsville and Madison County. The project is located at John Hunt Park and will be purpose-built to be safe, fun, and suitable for beginner to intermediate bicyclists of all ages.
FUNDING: $11,000
Neighborhoods & Community
The Meridian Street Project is a community of strength, stability and self-reliance. The 8 acres, 31 home community is located in Northeast Huntsville off of Meridian Street. As a designed community, each house plan is assigned to specific lots to enhance visual appeal of the neighborhood.
FUNDING: $23,000
Each project has the goal of "moving the needle" on measurable community indicators and is carefully monitored for measurable outcomes to ensure our investments are achieving a significant and sustainable impact on quality of life in our community.
Completed Compass Society Projects Include:
303 Williams Ave SW, Ste 1031 | Huntsville, Alabama 35801
