Private foundation · Bethesda, MD (gives in Tennessee from out of state)
The Educational Foundation of America
Invitation only: it picks who to fund. Don't send a proposal. Look for a connection through its board. See its board and officers below: do you or your board know any of them?
Key facts
- Grants in Tennessee
- 4 totaling $340,000
- Typical grant
- $65,000 to $150,000 (the middle half of its Tennessee grants)
- A realistic first ask
- About $82,500, its middle Tennessee grant. First-time winners usually get less than repeat ones.
- Where it gives
- Knox County, Shelby County, Sevier County, Hamilton County · plus 213 grants outside Tennessee
- Buildings & equipment
- None of its Tennessee grants in this filing were for buildings or equipment
- Funds new groups?
- 50% of the Tennessee groups it funded in 2024 were new (not funded in 2023): 2 of 4.
- Total giving that year
- $11.2 million
Giving by year
| Tax year | Total grants paid | To Tennessee | Tennessee grants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $11.2M | $340K | 4 |
| 2023 | $10.4M | $154K | 4 |
How to apply
The foundation's filing doesn't describe how to apply. Look for a website, or send a short letter asking whether it accepts requests.
Board and officers
Does your board know anyone here?
Checked in your browser only. The names are kept on this device for other foundation pages and are never sent to GrantMe.
- Barbara HapgoodDirector, president
- Wendy EttingerDirector, vice president
- Trevor RennerDirector, secretary
- Christian EttingerDirector, treasurer
- Jerry BabickaDirector (thru june 2024)
- Lynn BabickaDirector
- James Bohart JrDirector
- Heidi EttingerDirector
- Matthew EttingerDirector
- Matthew HapgoodDirector
- Barbara HusebyDirector
- Sven HusebyDirector
- John PowersDirector
- Lauren ZuskinDirector
- David W StocksExecutive director
As listed in its 2024 IRS filing. Many foundations decide through their board, so a personal connection often matters more than a perfect application.
What it funds most often
- Carbondale clinic
- Salary and benefits arts director, arts programming, and studio build-out
Tennessee organizations it funded
Largest first. Past winners are good people to ask what the foundation looks for. Select a group to see who else funds it.
| Past winner | Where | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rise Chattanooga | Chattanooga, Hamilton County | Salary and benefits arts director, arts programming, and studio build-out | $150K |
| Choices Center for Reproductive Health | Memphis, Shelby County | Carbondale clinic | $100K |
| Bottom the | Knoxville, Knox County | General operating support | $65K |
| Dollywood Foundation | Sevierville, Sevier County | General operating support | $25K |
Grants approved for future years
In its tax-year 2024 IRS Form 990-PF the foundation listed grants it had approved but not yet paid: 4 to Tennessee groups totaling $430,000. These are multi-year commitments, so they show what it has promised to keep funding. Some may have been paid since.
| Recipient | Where | Purpose | Amount | Tax year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rise Chattanooga | Chattanooga, Hamilton County | Salary and benefits arts director, arts programming, and studio build-out | $150K | 2024 |
| Rise Chattanooga | Chattanooga, Hamilton County | Salary and benefits arts director, arts programming, and studio build-out | $150K | 2024 |
| Bottom the | Knoxville, Knox County | General operating support | $65K | 2024 |
| Bottom the | Knoxville, Knox County | General operating support | $65K | 2024 |
Data: GivingTuesday Data Commons, ODbL