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 is a public foundation dedicated to advancing economic mobility, civic engagement, and community-led solutions across Birmingham and beyond. We work alongside donors, partners, and institutions to translate shared values into sustained neighborhood impact.

Through strategic programs, fiscal sponsorship, and donor-advised fund partnerships, the Foundation serves as a platform for investment in ideas, leaders, and initiatives that strengthen communities over the long term.

Our work spans youth development, civic voice, workforce pathways, and philanthropic innovation—anchored by the belief that communities are best positioned to shape their own futures when given access, trust, and resources.

LEARN HISTORY

Leadership

Lyord Watson jr.

Penny Foundation Founder and CEO

Lyord Watson Jr. is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Penny Foundation, where he leads efforts to strengthen community-driven philanthropy and economic opportunity. A social entrepreneur and civic leader, Lyord is committed to building systems that empower communities through access, leadership, and strategic investment.

He currently serves as Minister of Religious Education at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. His prior civic service includes membership on the Birmingham City Board of Education and leadership roles with several philanthropic and community organizations.

Lyord is a founding member and former chair of the Birmingham Change Fund and has served on boards including Urban Community Montessori and the Southside Baseball Association. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a Master of Divinity from Beeson Divinity School at Samford University. He and his wife Katrina have been married for 15 years and have two children. Titles for Mauri and Martina will be updated once confirmed.

Board of Directors

Charlie Glover

Senior Vice President
Pinnacle Financial Partners

Floresha Watkins

Vice President | Community Relations Manager
Regions Bank

John Long

Corporate Communications Honda Manufacturing of Alabama

Mauri Robinson

Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer
Ridgewood Strategies

Julian Grant

Director of Strategic Growth, 
Kemp Management Solutions

Lonnie Hannon III

Associate Professor of Health Behavior, UAB

Martina Winston

Chief Business & Member Services Officer
Birmingham Business Alliance

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

Elbi Elm

Director of Communications & Philanthropy
Penny Foundation

Yolanda Sullivan

Volunteer
Penny Foundation