Private foundation · Wilmington, DE (gives in Tennessee from out of state)
The Brandsma Family Foundation
In 2025 it gave 7 grants worth $4,000 to Tennessee groups, 4 of them in Knox County. A typical grant was $250 to $1,000.
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
- 7 totaling $4,000 · 4 in Knox County
- Typical grant How we figure this
- $250 to $1,000 (the middle half of its Tennessee grants)
- A realistic first ask How we figure this
- About $500, its middle Tennessee grant. First-time winners usually get less than repeat ones.
- Where it gives
- Knox County, Shelby County · plus 282 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
- $584,339
Giving by year
| Tax year | Total grants paid | To Tennessee | Tennessee grants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $584K | $4,000 | 7 |
| 2024 | $921K | $3,000 | 4 |
| 2023 | $842K | $6,500 | 5 |
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.
- Joshua BrandsmaDir
- Lee BrandsmaSec, treas, dir
- Pamela Anne BrandsmaPres, dir
- Ryan BrandsmaDir
- Kristen L HagstromDir
- Tessa LeggettDir
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
- Deborah House program (2 grants)
- Deborah House in Romania fund (1 grant)
- Children at Risk Ministries fund (1 grant)
- 2 days of oxygen for a St Jude Patient fund (1 grant)
- DAF DAY Campaign (1 grant)
How big its Tennessee grants are
| Grant size | Grants |
|---|---|
| Under $1,000 | 5 |
| $1,000 to $4,999 | 2 |
From its 2025 IRS filing. Small groups: look at how many grants sit in the bands you'd ask for.
Tennessee organizations it funded
Knox 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missio International | Knoxville, Knox County | Deborah House program | $1,000 |
| Missio International | Knoxville, Knox County | Children at Risk Ministries fund | $1,000 |
| Missio International | Knoxville, Knox County | Deborah House program | $500 |
| Missio International | Knoxville, Knox County | Deborah House in Romania fund | $500 |
| St Jude Childrens Research Hospital Inc. | Memphis, Shelby County | 2 days of oxygen for a St Jude Patient fund | $500 |
| St Jude Childrens Research Hospital Inc. | Memphis, Shelby County | General & Unrestricted | $250 |
| St Jude Childrens Research Hospital Inc. | Memphis, Shelby County | DAF DAY Campaign | $250 |