Community House to be replaced by foundation

The Community House in Birmingham this week announced plans to evolve into the Birmingham Area Community Foundation to carry on the original mission of the iconic community group, and the closure and sale of its building on 380 Bates Street in the city effective July 1 of 2026.

In terms of the current building for The Community House, officials said the Early Childhood Center will complete its current session, which concludes in May 2026, and events scheduled now through June 30 of next year will continue. The new owner of the building will take over the facility at that time.

Announcement of the changes for the community institution was made by board President Camille Jayne and Alison Gaudreau, President of The Community House Association, after they met with employees on the morning of Monday, November 2, to explain the changes planned for mid 2026.

Both Jayne and Gaudreau described the community foundation as “an essential step in ensuring the long-term sustainability and viability of The Community House’s contributions to the community and legacy continue.”

Officials explained that the Birmingham Area Community Foundation will support established and emerging nonprofit organizations and scholarships for students located within a 10-mile radius of Birmingham. There will be a particular focus on supporting smaller, midsize and emerging nonprofits that may otherwise be overlooked or underfunded by the existing nonprofit ecosystem, they said.

Jayne said there are hundreds of small nonprofits, many of which they polled and the greatest needs expressed by those groups were for mentorship and fundraising, which proved a “real catalyst” in deciding how best to continue with the original mission of The Community House.

 “The strength and promise of The Community House has always been rooted in our commitment to make an impact in the community by serving those in need. This new chapter is about expanding and deepening our service to the community in a way that we believe will provide an even more meaningful and growing impact for the surrounding area,” said Camille Jayne, founder of The Jayne Group. “Establishing the Birmingham Area Community Foundation creates a sustainable model to carry on the legacy and intention of The Community House founder Ruth Shain, which was to help those in need.”  

“Creating the Birmingham Area Community Foundation is about investing in the future. The nonprofit landscape has changed and this is a model that builds a bridge for the future and addresses a need in the existing local nonprofit community,” said Alison Gaudreau, President of The Community House Association. “Donors to the Birmingham Area Community Foundation will now have a platform to support local initiatives and create a lasting impact.”

Jayne will serve as Chair for the Birmingham Area Community Foundation Board of Trustees. Gaudreau will serve as President of the foundation and she will be joined by Lindsey Eliason as Vice-President for finance, a position she now fills at The Community House. No other employees of The Community House will be retained to be part of the community foundation.

Jayne conceded that the business model for the century-old organization of The Community House could no longer be sustained in the current environment, saying that “the game really has changed” even prior to the Covid pandemic which presented added challenges and altered how many nonprofits operate now.

The leaders of two noted nonprofits currently working with The Community House have already endorsed the move to the new community foundation – United Community Family Services and Cranbrook Schools Horizons-Upward Bound program.

Jayne said a broker has started working with “interested and thoughtful” potential buyers. Proceeds from sale of the building will be used to retire any debt and to serve as partial seed funding for the community foundation.

The Birmingham Area Community Foundation will host a series of discussions at The Community House to expand on plans for the new foundation on the following dates: Wednesday, December 10, from 1-2:30 p.m.; Wednesday, December 10, from 5:30-7 p.m.; and Thursday, December 11, from 8:30-10 a.m.  Registration is required at http://weblink.donorperfect.com/communitytalks. 

To learn more about the Birmingham Area Community Foundation, visit bacommunityfoundation.org.