Independence has to be paid for by someone.

PARCA receives no state appropriation for its work and has no position to sell. It is funded by tax-deductible contributions from Alabama businesses, foundations, local governments, and individuals — many of whom have, at some point, been on the wrong end of a PARCA finding and continued to give anyway. 

What your support pays for:

1. Research published free and in full, permanently — no paywall, no registration wall 

2. Analysts who can answer a legislator’s or superintendent’s question this week, because it was asked last week 

3. Data on every Alabama school system and local government, maintained year over year so trends are visible 

4. The capacity to study a problem before it becomes a crisis 

Ways to Contribute:

Individual Giving: 

Gifts of any size, monthly or annual. Many of PARCA’s longest-standing supporters have given every year for decades.

Business and corporate:

Annual partnerships and sponsorship of the Annual Forum or Speaker Series

Foundations:

General operating, research area, or capacity grants; we’ll match your priorities to our agenda. 

Public agency membership:

Counties, cities, and school systems that support and use PARCA’s data. Learn about public agency membership. 

Stock, DAF, or IRA gifts:

Appreciated securities, donor-advised fund grants, and qualified charitable distributions. For transfer instructions, contact PARCA or call (205) 278-7115. 

Legacy and memorial gifts:

Bequests, beneficiary designations, and gifts in honor or memory of someone who cared about facts. We’ll notify the family or honoree. 

Frequently Asked Questions
Is my gift tax-deductible?
Yes. PARCA is a 501(c)(3), EIN 63-0972435. You'll receive a receipt by email.
Can I mail a check?
PARCA, P.O. Box 293931, Birmingham, AL 35229.
Does giving buy influence over the research?
No. Donors may suggest topics. PARCA alone decides what to study, how, and what to publish. No funder reviews findings before release.
Does my employer match gifts?
Many Alabama employers do. Search your company's matching program or ask HR; PARCA qualifies as an educational nonprofit.
Where can I see PARCA's financials?
Audited statements, Form 990, and our Candid profile are on the Independence page.

“Alabama spends more than $14 billion through the General Fund and Education Trust Fund. If independent, objective research helps the state operate even one-tenth of one percent more effectively, that’s $14 million — seven times PARCA’s entire annual budget. I don’t know any philanthropic investment in Alabama with that kind of impact and that potential return.”

J.T. Price

CEO, Landscape Workshop

PARCA Board Member

THANK YOU TO OUR PARCA DONORS