Private foundation · Houston, TX (gives in Tennessee from out of state)
Laura and John Arnold Foundation
In 2024 it gave 13 grants worth $4.7 million to Tennessee groups, 2 of them in Shelby County. A typical grant was $43,867 to $200,000.
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
- 13 totaling $4.7 million · 2 in Shelby County
- Typical grant How we figure this
- $43,867 to $200,000 (the middle half of its Tennessee grants)
- A realistic first ask How we figure this
- About $200,000: the middle grant to the 3 Tennessee groups it funded for the first time in 2024.
- Where it gives
- Davidson County, Shelby County, Knox County · plus 776 grants outside Tennessee
- Buildings & equipment
- None of its Tennessee grants in this filing were for buildings or equipment
- Funds new groups? How we figure this
- 25% of the Tennessee groups it funded in 2024 were new (not funded in 2023): 2 of 8.
- Total giving that year
- $193.3 million
Giving by year
| Tax year | Total grants paid | To Tennessee | Tennessee grants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $193.3M | $4.7M | 13 |
| 2023 | $162.9M | $11.1M | 10 |
All grants paid To Tennessee
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.
- John D ArnoldDirector/co-chair
- Laura E ArnoldDirector/co-chair
- Roxanne AlmarazSecretary
- Elizabeth BanksTreasurer
- Kelli RheeDirector/president & ceo
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
- To support grantee's states leading recovery grant program. (1 grant)
- To support bail system data collection and data democratization, with the overall goal of providing an... (1 grant)
- To develop a research-based definition of "credentials of value" for higher education institutions in... (1 grant)
- To advance higher education policy to impact postsecondary student success in Tennessee by applying its... (1 grant)
- To support education on the drivers of variation in fine and fee policy in Tennessee. (1 grant)
- To produce a report on the fiscal implications of incarceration in the state of Tennessee. (1 grant)
- To research graduate program growth and implications for students from historically underrepresented groups. (1 grant)
- To research the impact of heightened cash monitoring. (1 grant)
How big its Tennessee grants are
| Grant size | Grants |
|---|---|
| Under $1,000 | 0 |
| $1,000 to $4,999 | 0 |
| $5,000 to $9,999 | 0 |
| $10,000 to $24,999 | 2 |
| $25,000 to $99,999 | 4 |
| $100,000 or more | 7 |
From its 2024 IRS filing. Small groups: look at how many grants sit in the bands you'd ask for.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Memphis | Memphis, Shelby County | To evaluate the impact of reforms in Tennessee, with the overall goal of... | $44K |
| Just City Inc. | Memphis, Shelby County | To support bail system data collection and data democratization, with the... | $12K |
| Accelerate - the National Collaborative for Accelerated Learning | Nashville, Davidson County | To support grantee's states leading recovery grant program. | $3.3M |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | To conduct and disseminate research that evaluates the effectiveness of... | $289K |
| Tennessee State Collaborative On Reforming Education | Nashville, Davidson County | To develop a research-based definition of "credentials of value" for higher... | $260K |
| Tennessee State Collaborative On Reforming Education | Nashville, Davidson County | To advance higher education policy to impact postsecondary student success... | $200K |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | To examine and assess the accuracy of medicare advantage provider network... | $148K |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | To conduct an evaluation of the civil rights, civil liberties, and ethical... | $125K |
| The University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | To research graduate program growth and implications for students from... | $104K |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | To support a conference that brings together prosecutors from around the... | $69K |
| The Sycamore Institute Inc. | Nashville, Davidson County | To support education on the drivers of variation in fine and fee policy in Tennessee. | $49K |
| The Sycamore Institute Inc. | Nashville, Davidson County | To produce a report on the fiscal implications of incarceration in the state... | $25K |
| The University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | To research the impact of heightened cash monitoring. | $17K |
Foundation website All its IRS filings (ProPublica) Sign in to save