Weekly Funding Opportunity: Regions Financial Corporation

Information by State  Print version

Each week, Neighborhood Networks provides potential funding sources to help centers develop and improve programs and services. Featured this week is Regions Financial Corporation's Charitable Giving Program.

With more than $140 billion in assets, Regions Financial Corporation is one of the nation's largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, trust, securities brokerage, mortgage, and insurance products and services. Regions serves customers in 16 states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia) and operates more than 1,900 banking offices and a 2,400-ATM network.

Program Areas: Regions Financial's Charitable Giving Program focuses its funding in the following four areas:

	Community/Economic Development. Regions supports programs that serve low- and moderate-income communities through affordable housing, small business development, and human services.
	Education. Regions is committed to education as a means of helping young people prepare for the future. Regions sponsors financial literacy programs in grades pre-K through 12, with preference given to schools serving low- and moderate-income communities. Also included in this focus are higher education initiatives, teacher training programs, and capital campaigns, particularly those relevant to business or the banking industry.
	Health and Human Services. Regions provides generous overall support to the United Way, its primary outlet for sponsoring health and human service efforts.
	Arts and Culture. Regions supports programs that create cultural opportunities for children or serve low- and moderate-income communities.

Targeted Area: Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest.

Eligibility: Regions does not fund:

	Any organization that discriminates on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, or familial status.
	Any organization lacking tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code.
	Any individual.
	Any political organization or any candidate seeking political office.
	Any religious organization or activity that exclusively advocates a particular religion, faith, or creed.
	The annual operating campaign of any organization supported by United Way.
	Athletic scholarships or organizations sponsoring athletic scholarships.
	Alumni associations.
	National fund drives or national organizations with no direct ties to Regions' communities.

Award Amount: Award amounts vary.

Application Process: Each organization considered for the Regions Financial Charitable Giving Program must have 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and be located in a state where Regions conducts business. For full consideration, the requesting organization should send a written proposal to the Regions city president in the area being served. Proposals should include:

	A copy of the organization's 501(c)(3) determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service.
	A one- to two-page letter on the organization's letterhead stationery explaining the request and its purpose.
	A current list of board members for the requesting organization.
	The organization's most recently audited financial statement.
	Any additional information or documentation supporting the request.

Proposals are considered throughout the year, with decisions made in approximately 30-45 days.

Deadlines: Ongoing.

Contact: For more information on Regions Financial's Charitable Giving Program, contact:

1900 Fifth Avenue North
Birmingham, AL 35203
(205) 944-1300