Chamber Foundation

The Chamber Foundation, a 501(c)(3), is dedicated to the continued cultivation of Huntsville’s greatest asset - its people. The Foundation ensures the growth of Huntsville by supporting the education and workforce talents here. It exists to align resources that address employment opportunities and challenges in Huntsville/Madison County and improve the quality of life for all residents.

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION

The Chamber is fortunate to represent more than 2,000 businesses in our community. We have demonstrated that resources deployed effectively lead to deliberate growth in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, defense, biotech, information technology, cyber, engineering, and more. Resources provided by the Chamber Foundation provide us the capacity to change the economic landscape of our region.

The Foundation plays an active role in talent development and attraction by securing funding to support high-impact interventions that benefit employers across the community. Priority audiences include high school students, veterans, STEM professionals, security-cleared workers, skilled trades, and the underemployed. We are focused on minimizing barriers to employment while maximizing awareness of the in-demand jobs in our region. The Foundation values diversity and inclusion, data-driven decisions, collaboration, and accountability in its work.

The Chamber Foundation is funded through voluntary contributions by our members that are included with annual invoices and paid along with their annual membership renewal:

$25 flat voluntary contribution for members whose dues are $500 or less per year.
5% voluntary contribution for members whose dues are greater than $500 per year.
Workforce development impacts our entire community. We need diversity of investments to enable us to seek future grant funding from larger foundations/organizations in support of this work.
We hope you will choose to invest in a smart place by supporting The Chamber Foundation and this important work.

INITIATIVES

Veteran Talent Attraction

The Foundation has actively pursued recruitment and retention of military connected talent in the Rocket City. This includes collaboration with partners like NextOp and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship program to engage veterans to job opportunities in our community. Learn More.

Best Place for Working Parents® Partnership

The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber Foundation is proud to provide the Best Place for Working Parents® program to our local business community. The Best Place for Working Parents® is a growing national network of business leaders proving that family-friendly IS business friendly, through a first-of-its-kind, 3-minute online self-assessment that highlights the top 10 research-backed policies proven to benefit working parents and businesses’ bottom line. Learn More.

Driving Possibilities

The Chamber Foundation serves as the coordinating partner in support of this collaborative project between Toyota, Toyota USA Foundation, Huntsville City Schools, and the New Teacher Center. Through grants of up to $6.7 million from Toyota USA Foundation, this project aims to prepare students for future careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The collaboration is part of Toyota’s Driving Possibilities national initiative and is a five-year phased rollout of programing in select schools. Locally, the project supports a new industrial tech program at the new Huntsville City Schools Career Tech Center, creating a direct pathway into high-demand manufacturing careers. Driving Possibilities is also funding new teacher coaches, training and mentorship at select schools. Learn More.