Private foundation · Knoxville
Clayton Family Foundation
Key facts
- Grants in Tennessee
- 40 totaling $1.1M · 4 in Blount County
- Typical grant
- $2,500 to $12K (middle half of its Tennessee grants)
- A realistic first ask
- About $5,000, its median Tennessee grant. New grantees usually get less than long-time ones.
- Where it gives
- Knox County, Blount County, Morgan County, Anderson County, Loudon County, Davidson County, Bradley County · plus 7 grants outside Tennessee
- Buildings & equipment
- 3 of its Tennessee grants went to buildings, renovations or equipment, e.g. “Site demolition for new building”; “Capital building campaign”; “Building renovation/capital campaign”
- Funds new groups?
- 20% of the Tennessee groups it funded in 2024 were new (not funded in 2023): 8 of 40.
- Total giving that year
- $11.1M
Giving by year
| Tax year | Total grants paid | To Tennessee | Tennessee grants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $11.1M | $1.1M | 40 |
| 2023 | $12.2M | $1.2M | 43 |
How to apply
- Contact
- Michell clayton · Knoxville · 8659995989 · cff.mail@clayton.org
- What to send
- Applications are emailed upon request. No specific format is required. Irs determination letter is required to be submitted.
- Deadlines
- Applications are accepted year-round. General response time is 90 days.
- Limits
- Awards are restricted to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations and governmental agencies.
As the foundation reported to the IRS for tax year 2024. Check its website or call before sending anything, because contacts and deadlines change.
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.
- James L ClaytonPresident
- Michell B ClaytonManaging dir
- Kevin T ClaytonDirector
- Kevin S WilderTreasurer
- Travis K EdmondsonDirector
- Flynt H GriffinDirector
- Christina C SullivanDirector
- Chuck JusticeSecretary
- Raja JubranDirector
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
- Church general fund
- K-12 school
- Community health services
- Scholarship fund
- Dance school transportation
- Affordable housing
- Community planning services
- Capital building campaign
Tennessee organizations it funded
Blount County grants are listed first, then the largest. Groups it already funds are good people to ask what the foundation looks for. Select a group to see who else funds it.
| Recipient | Where | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Smoky Mountains Institute | Townsend, Blount County | Tremont marblegate farm | $5,000 |
| Second Harvest Food Bank East TN | Maryville, Blount County | Feed the hungry | $5,000 |
| Appalachian Ballet Company | Maryville, Blount County | Dance school transportation | $2,500 |
| Clayton-Bradley Stem Academy | Maryville, Blount County | K-12 school | $2,500 |
| Knoxville Science Museum | Knoxville, Knox County | Site demolition for new building | $270K |
| United Way of Greater Knoxville | Knoxville, Knox County | Improving lives in the community | $255K |
| Episcopal School of Knoxville | Knoxville, Knox County | Capital building campaign | $100K |
| Knoxville Museum of Art | Knoxville, Knox County | Art museum & education | $100K |
| Knoxville Symphony Orchestra | Knoxville, Knox County | Christmas concert & endowment | $75K |
| TN State Collab On Reforming Educ | Nashville, Davidson County | Educational reform | $75K |
| Muse Knoxville | Knoxville, Knox County | Muse pop summer program | $50K |
| Webb School of Knoxville | Knoxville, Knox County | Scholarship | $25K |
| Knoxville Zoological Gardens Inc. | Knoxville, Knox County | Conservation of animals | $20K |
| YWCA | Knoxville, Knox County | Building renovation/capital campaign | $12K |
| First United Methodist Church Knoxv | Knoxville, Knox County | Church general fund | $10K |
| Great Smoky Mountain Council Bsa | Knoxville, Knox County | Camp buck toms, at-risk youth | $10K |
| Empty Stocking Fund | Cleveland, Bradley County | Christmas for those in need | $10K |
| Knoxville Botanical Gardens | Knoxville, Knox County | Public gardens | $7,500 |
| Beech Park Baptist Church | Oliver Springs, Morgan County | Church general fund | $5,000 |
| Bryant's Bridge Inc. | Knoxville, Knox County | Affordable housing | $5,000 |
| East Tennessee Community Design Ctr | Knoxville, Knox County | Community planning services | $5,000 |
| Grace Christian Academy | Knoxville, Knox County | K-12 school | $5,000 |
| Interfaith Health Clinic | Knoxville, Knox County | Accessible health care | $5,000 |
| Knoxville Children's Theatre | Knoxville, Knox County | Childrens theatre | $5,000 |
| Knoxville Montessori School | Knoxville, Knox County | School | $5,000 |
Foundation website All its IRS filings (ProPublica) Sign in to save