Efficiency Transfer Grant from Alabama Business Charitable Trust Fund Brings Comfort to Urban Ministries Clients

“Compassion and Wholeness” – those are the watchwords of City Services, a faith-based nonprofit focused on supporting residents of Birmingham’s West End and helping to build a thriving community there.

Those words have been translated into programs and services provided by City Ministers that not only help people in need, but also work to strengthen and revitalize the neighborhood.

Energy-efficiency improvements benefit urban ministries from the Alabama News Center on Vimeo.

While Urban Ministries focused its efforts on uplifting families, youth and seniors, visiting nonprofit facilities wasn’t always the most comfortable experience. This is because the offices do not have effective heating and air conditioning.

Reverend Garrett Harper, executive director, says clients “thrive in the summer and shiver in the winter” as they seek help and support from the organization’s facilities. But thanks to an efficiency transfer grant from the Alabama Business Charitable Trust Fund (ABC Trust), the temperature changes in the building have been fixed.

In the year Established in 2007, the Efficiency Transfer Program provides funding to human service nonprofits to make necessary energy efficiency improvements to their facilities. Those improvements help provide cost savings that the nonprofit can divert to providing services to clients.

Examples of nonprofit agencies that are eligible for efficiency transfers include food pantries, shelters, child advocacy agencies, and recovery programs. To date, more than $1.5 million in grants have been distributed to nonprofit organizations through the Skilled Transfer Program.

The City Minister’s Efficient Transfer Grant purchased an efficient refrigeration unit to replace an old window air conditioner that did not cool the large, prime office space, Harper said. They also purchased efficient window units to help cool three other offices.

The extra comfort Urban Ministries clients get when they come for help means little to them—especially when it’s cold or windy outside.

“The perspective of comfort in times of crisis makes a difference,” Harper said. “It’s one less trigger, one less obstacle to getting your life back on track.”

Human service nonprofits can apply for efficiency transfer funding several times a year. Grants of up to $10,000 are awarded based on eligibility and other conditions.

Tanganyika Grayson of the ABC Trust said: “Efficiency Transfer grants are all about helping humanitarian non-profit organizations that help those in real need. “These nonprofits want to be as efficient as possible, so they can help more people. The Efficiency Futures Grants are one way to help them do that and also provide long-term savings on energy costs.”

Celebrating 30 years^Th For this year’s anniversary, the ABC Trust was created by Alabama Power to work with community action agencies, nonprofits and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to support the energy needs of low-income families. This trust works with partner organizations to support climate change projects and other humanitarian needs.

Faith reaches Alabamians in 60 counties in central and south Alabama. Colbert, DeKalb, Jackson, Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison and Morgan counties are outside the trust’s coverage. The trust is not funded by ratepayer dollars.

For more information about ABC Trust’s Efficiency Forward Grant program, call 205-257-0321 or visit powerofgood.com and click on “ABC Trust.”