ABOUT HCF
The Renasant Community Foundation (HCF) is a 501(c)(3) that provides support for nonprofit organizations focused on making a difference in the lives of people in its communities. The non-profit entity is funded mostly by its employees and 100% of operation costs by The First Bank, now Renasant Bank. To date, HCF has provided over $1,174,000 in grant awards to more than 250 non-profit organizations.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE HERITAGE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The idea of a charitable foundation began with Heritage Bank CEO Leonard Moreland who was serving on the board of directors for a nonprofit free healthcare clinic in Clayton County, Georgia. The clinic was in need of funding and several charitable agencies in the area were contacted but had a lengthy and complex application and approval process that had to be navigated before the nonprofit would find out if it would receive any funds.
Mr. Moreland believed there had to be a better way to provide support to local nonprofit organizations engaged in good work focused on making a difference in the lives of people in the area. He began talking to Heritage Bank leaders and employees about the possibility of Heritage Bank forming its own charitable Foundation. The Heritage Community Foundation (HCF), Inc. was formed. The Foundation applied for and received a 501(c) 3 status from the IRS and the Heritage Community Foundation began its charitable work in January of 2014.
The initial funding came from Heritage Bank employees. In the first year (2014) every single employee of Heritage Bank donated to the newly formed Foundation. Additional funds came from Heritage Bank as they matched their employees’ contributions. The Foundation also had a few local businesses donate and the Foundation hosted a fundraising golf tournament. All the efforts paid off as the Heritage Community Foundation gave $72,363 to 27 different nonprofit organizations in Henry, Clayton and Fayette counties in its first year of existence! The Foundation used a streamlined application process and made decisions quickly.
A few years after HCF’s inception, Heritage Bank merged with other community banks to form Heritage Southeast Bank, and in 2023 merged with The First Bank and now Renasant Bank. These mergers allowed HCF to extend its service area further into Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
On October 29, 2025, following the acquisition of The First Bank into Renasant Bank, the Heritage Community Foundation was renamed to the Renasant Community Foundation and its first officials were Dr. Tracey Morant Adams, Chair; Ellen Cole, Secretary; Bo Baxter, Treasurer; and Jerome Brown, Executive Director.
