Issue link: https://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/818529
63 T he E le v ate move me nt b e g a n i n 2 01 3 whe n t he fou nd at ion ho s te d hu nd r e d s of nonpr of it pa r t ne r s a nd bu s i ne s s p e e r s i n Mont gome r y to s t a r t a d i s c u s s ion ab out work i n g to ge t he r to e le v ate ou r s t ate . Si nc e t he n , t he a n nu a l c on fe r e nc e h a s g r ow n to i nc lude mor e t h a n 3 0 0 g ue s t s , a nd E le v ate h a s a l s o l au nc he d a g r a nt pr o g r a m fo c u s e d on nonpr of it c apac it y bu i ld i n g . On May 4 and 5, 2016, about 300 nonprofit representatives and business leaders aended the fourth annual Elevate conference. Wednesday night gave aendees the opportunity to network and talk best practices, and Thursday offered two educational sessions focusing on the social enterprise movement. Keynote speaker Becca Stephens, executive director of Thistle Farms in Nashville, Tennessee, spoke to aendees about their work and how her organization has successfully applied the social enterprise model. Following her speech, a panel offered perspectives on how aendees could use this model in their organizations. The panel included Stephens; Shannon Ammons, CEO of the Alabama Association of Nonprofits; Hill Carmichael, executive director of Urban Ministry in Birmingham; and Norm Davis, vice president and managing director of TruFund Financial Services. The Elevate grant program, launched in 2014, funds unique, replicable and community-centered projects. The grant package includes $10,000 the year it is awarded as well as a $5,000 challenge grant the following year. Recipients have the opportunity to participate in two capacity-building workshops, where they receive training from the Alabama Association of Nonprofits. Since 2014, Elevate has awarded 34 grants worth more than $500,000. In 2016, Elevate awarded seven grants. Elevate Conference Elevate Grants Grant Programs Number of nonprofit and business leaders who aended the Elevate Conference in 2016 300 Number of Elevate grants awarded to Alabama nonprofits since 2014 34