Private foundation · Nashville
Pontikes Family Foundation
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
- 3 totaling $131,815 · 1 in Hawkins County
- Typical grant
- $1,815 to $80,000 (the middle half of its Tennessee grants)
- A realistic first ask
- About $50,000, its middle Tennessee grant. First-time winners usually get less than repeat ones.
- Where it gives
- Davidson County, Hawkins County · plus 4 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 2025 were new (not funded in 2023–2024): 1 of 2.
- Total giving that year
- $293,786
Giving by year
| Tax year | Total grants paid | To Tennessee | Tennessee grants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $294K | $132K | 3 |
| 2024 | $323K | $65K | 2 |
| 2023 | $176K | $64K | 2 |
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.
- Nicholas PontikesPresident
- Gwen PontikesVice president
- Dorene GustitusVice president
- Nicholas PontikesTreasurer
- Gwen PontikesSecretary
As listed in its 2025 IRS filing. Many foundations decide through their board, so a personal connection often matters more than a perfect application.
Tennessee organizations it funded
Hawkins 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Veterans Center | Rogersville, Hawkins County | General purpose | $50K |
| Tomahawk Charitable Solutions Foundation Inc. | Nashville, Davidson County | General purpose | $80K |
| Tomahawk Charitable Solutions Foundation Inc. | Nashville, Davidson County | General purpose | $1,815 |