Private foundation · Philadelphia, PA (gives in Tennessee from out of state)
The Presser Foundation
Takes applications. See how to apply below.
Key facts
- Grants in Tennessee
- 10 totaling $30,000 · 1 in Shelby County
- Typical grant
- $3,000
- A realistic first ask
- About $3,000, its middle Tennessee grant. First-time winners usually get less than repeat ones.
- Where it gives
- Davidson County, Montgomery County, Jefferson County, Bradley County, Rutherford County, Shelby County, Knox County · plus 476 grants outside Tennessee
- Buildings & equipment
- None of its Tennessee grants in this filing were for buildings or equipment
- Funds new groups?
- 40% of the Tennessee groups it funded in 2024 were new (not funded in 2022–2023): 4 of 10.
- Total giving that year
- $3.8 million
Giving by year
| Tax year | Total grants paid | To Tennessee | Tennessee grants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3.8M | $30K | 10 |
| 2023 | $3.4M | $27K | 9 |
| 2022 | $3.6M | $32K | 8 |
How to apply
- Contact
- Teresa araco rodgers co presser fou · philadelphia · 2675195350 · trodgers@presserfoundation.org
- What to send
- Applications are submitted electronically via the organization's website, www.presserfoundation.org
- Deadlines
- Proposals must be submitted by november 15.
Next one: Nov 15, 2026 if the dates haven't changed since its 2024 filing - Limits
- See statement 12.
As the foundation reported to the IRS for tax year 2024. Check its website or call before sending anything, because contacts and deadlines change.
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.
- Ellen RosenPresident
- William B Mclaughlin IIIFirst vice president
- Stanford ThompsonSecond vice president
- Sharon Sorokin JamesSecretary
- Christopher RinaldiTreasurer
- Mary Jane BobyockTrustee
- Peter BurwasserTrustee
- Rollo DilworthTrustee
- Eve HyppoliteTrustee
- Denise IemoloTrustee
- David KringTrustee
- Susan LewisTrustee
- Lei X OuyangTrustee
- Mary Ellen PooleTrustee
- Marietta SimpsonTrustee
- Terell StaffordTrustee
- Radclyffe F ThompsonTrustee
- Melinda WhitingTrustee
- Vera WilsonTrustee
- John B Wright IITrustee
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
- Undergraduate scholar awards
Tennessee organizations it funded
Shelby County grants are listed first, then the largest. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rudi E Scheidt School of Music University of Memphis | Memphis, Shelby County | Undergraduate scholar awards | $3,000 |
| Austin Peay State University | Clarksville, Montgomery County | Undergraduate scholar awards | $3,000 |
| Belmont University | Nashville, Davidson County | Undergraduate scholar awards | $3,000 |
| Carson-Newman University | Jefferson City, Jefferson County | Undergraduate scholar awards | $3,000 |
| Fisk University | Nashville, Davidson County | Undergraduate scholar awards | $3,000 |
| Lee University | Cleveland, Bradley County | Undergraduate scholar awards | $3,000 |
| Middle Tennessee State University Foundation | Murfreesboro, Rutherford County | Undergraduate scholar awards | $3,000 |
| Tennessee State University Foundation | Nashville, Davidson County | Undergraduate scholar awards | $3,000 |
| The University of Tennessee Foundation Inc. | Knoxville, Knox County | Undergraduate scholar awards | $3,000 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | Undergraduate scholar awards | $3,000 |
Foundation website All its IRS filings (ProPublica) Sign in to save