Private foundation · Kennesaw, GA (gives in Tennessee from out of state)
Beacon Foundation Charitable Trust
In 2025 it gave 6 grants worth $310,000 to Tennessee groups, 6 of them in Hamilton County. A typical grant was $40,000 to $55,000.
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
- 6 totaling $310,000 · 6 in Hamilton County
- Typical grant How we figure this
- $40,000 to $55,000 (the middle half of its Tennessee grants)
- A realistic first ask How we figure this
- About $45,000, its middle Tennessee grant. First-time winners usually get less than repeat ones.
- Where it gives
- Hamilton County · plus 13 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
- Rarely: every Tennessee group it funded in 2025 had also been funded in 2023–2024. Build a relationship before asking.
- Total giving that year
- $915,000
Giving by year
| Tax year | Total grants paid | To Tennessee | Tennessee grants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $915K | $310K | 6 |
| 2024 | $840K | $280K | 6 |
| 2023 | $800K | $265K | 6 |
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.
- Craig Douglas SmithTrustee
- Catherine M SmithTrustee
- Elizabeth Smith WilliamsTrustee
As listed in its 2025 IRS filing. Many foundations decide through their board, so a personal connection often matters more than a perfect application.
What it funds most often
- Fund "imagine! Initiative" to help provide hamilton county, TN elementary students free art and cultural... (1 grant)
- Operational support and tbri training (1 grant)
- Provide support for food, medical services, clothing, and transportation through "backpack for success" program. (1 grant)
- Support for temporary housing, programs, and services to homeless women and children (1 grant)
- "global scholars" program - provide unique learning and exploratory experiences not typically available to students (1 grant)
- Funding for out of school time programming for girls, inc. (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 | 0 |
| $25,000 to $99,999 | 5 |
| $100,000 or more | 1 |
From its 2025 IRS filing. Small groups: look at how many grants sit in the bands you'd ask for.
Tennessee organizations it funded
Hamilton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga State Technical Community College Foundation | Chattanooga, Hamilton County | "global scholars" program - provide unique learning and exploratory... | $100K |
| Girls Inc. of Chattanooga | Chattanooga, Hamilton County | Funding for out of school time programming for girls, inc. | $55K |
| Chattanooga Room in the Inn | Chattanooga, Hamilton County | Support for temporary housing, programs, and services to homeless women and children | $50K |
| Artsbuild | Chattanooga, Hamilton County | Fund "imagine! Initiative" to help provide hamilton county, TN elementary... | $40K |
| Chambliss Center of Children | Chattanooga, Hamilton County | Operational support and tbri training | $40K |
| Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy | Chattanooga, Hamilton County | Provide support for food, medical services, clothing, and transportation... | $25K |