Private foundation · Nashville
Enchiridion 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
- 82 totaling $1.9 million · 1 in Sevier County
- Typical grant
- $5,000 to $10,000 (the middle half of its Tennessee grants)
- A realistic first ask
- About $9,000, its middle Tennessee grant. First-time winners usually get less than repeat ones.
- Where it gives
- Davidson County, Williamson County, Cannon County, Sevier County · plus 12 grants outside Tennessee
- Buildings & equipment
- 1 of its Tennessee grants went to buildings, renovations or equipment, e.g. “General support for renovation project”
- Funds new groups?
- 5% of the Tennessee groups it funded in 2025 were new (not funded in 2023–2024): 4 of 82.
- Total giving that year
- $2.2 million
Giving by year
| Tax year | Total grants paid | To Tennessee | Tennessee grants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2.2M | $1.9M | 82 |
| 2024 | $1.6M | $1.3M | 84 |
| 2023 | $1.1M | $750K | 80 |
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.
- Frank M BumsteadDirector
- Jerry B WilliamsPresident
- Ernest Williams IIISecretary
- Kelle B BarfieldTreasurer
- Matthew D BumsteadVice president
- John D ClaybrookVice president
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
- General support for operations
- For youth camp
- General support for renovation project
Tennessee organizations it funded
Sevier 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Ways | Gatlinburg, Sevier County | General support for operations | $10K |
| Goodwill Industries of Mid-Tn | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $615K |
| Community Foundation | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $150K |
| Cheekwood | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $130K |
| Fisk University | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $100K |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $100K |
| Tennessee Performing Arts Center | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $80K |
| St George's Episcopal Church | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $54K |
| Nashville Public Library Foundation | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $35K |
| Ascension St Thomas Foundation | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $31K |
| Teach for America | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $30K |
| Centennial Park Conservancy | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $25K |
| Cumberland Heights | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $25K |
| Centerstone Foundation | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $20K |
| Pencil Foundation | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $20K |
| YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $20K |
| Nashville Symphony Association | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $18K |
| Country Music Foundation | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $15K |
| Crossroads Campus | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $15K |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $15K |
| Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $12K |
| Alive Hospice | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $10K |
| Beacon Center of Tennessee | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $10K |
| Communities in Schools | Nashville, Davidson County | General support for operations | $10K |
| Episcopal School of Nashville | Nashville, Cannon County | General support for operations | $10K |