About Us

Among Only Five In The Country, Penny Foundation Is Uniquely Founded And Led By Changemakers Rooted In The Communities We Serve.

The Penny Foundation connects people, organizations, and resources in the areas of family, economics, and community development through the lens of technology and innovation. The Foundation is a Birmingham, Alabama-based community chest working to eliminate economic inequality in the community.

We accomplish our mission through grantmaking, programming and donor advised funds. Our programs, funds and grants are informed by a staff, board of directors and volunteers who have an intimate understanding of the community’s history, culture, politics, and population. We serve as a philanthropic vehicle for people to focus their resources.  

LEARN HISTORY

Leadership

Lyord Watson jr.

Penny Foundation Founder and CEO

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lyord Watson Jr. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lyord below.

 

 

Lyord, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
 

The Penny Foundation is a community chest based out of Birmingham AL. The concept for the Penny Foundation began back in 2003. I joined a group of friends to start a giving circle named the Birmingham Change Fund. Through that process, I began to learn about organized philanthropy. In 2007, I went to seminary, and as I was completing my studies, I began to study models of ministry from various pastors. I came across the name of Rev. William Ruben Pettiford. Reverend Pettiford was a pastor of the 16th street Baptist Church in the late 1800s. In 1890, he led a group of Birmingham residents to create the Savings Bank. 

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Board of Directors

Charlie Glover

Senior Vice President
Pinnacle Bank

Floresha Watkins

Area Business
Development Coordinator
Regions Financial Corporation

John Long

Corporate Communications Honda Manufacturing of Alabama

Mauri Robinson

Director of Operations & Finance
Alabama Aerospace &
Aviation High School

Julian Grant

Director of Strategic Growth, 
Kemp Management Solutions

Lonnie Hannon III

Associate Professor of Health Behavior, UAB

Martina Winston

Vice President and Head of Talent and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Protective Life

Terrance Moultrie

Lighting Sales Manager, 
Alabama Power Company

Advisory Committee

  • Martha Emmett | Director, Strategic Programs and AdvantageHR Consultant BXS Insurance
  • Herschell Hamilton | Chief Executive Officer at BLOC Global Group
  • Khadijah Abdullah | Vice President, Economic Development & Social Impact at Shipt
  • Tim Clay | President InSighters
  • Corey Green | Executive Associate Director of Athletics For External Affairs Samford University
  • Brittney Taylor | CoOwner and Operator Rib-It-Up
  • Lisa Williams | VP Community Development Consultant PNC
  • Janine L. Smith, Esq. | Founder and Managing Attorney of Janine Smith Law Firm
  • Walter Turner | Director STS
  • Bob Dickerson | Executive Director Birmingham Business Resource Center, Foundation Capital, and Building Alabama Reinvestment
  • Eboni Little Sr. | Software Architect Apex Systems

Our Team

Tracy Moore

Director of Finance and Operations Penny Foundation

Dorian Kendrick

Communications Manager
Penny Foundation

Yolanda Sullivan

Volunteer
Penny Foundation