Private foundation · Chattanooga
Kennedy Foundation Inc.
In 2025 it gave 9 grants worth $2.2 million to Tennessee groups, 8 of them in Hamilton County. A typical grant was $25,000 to $100,000. Most often for: “To support a public charity”.
Takes applications. See how to apply below.
Key facts
- Grants in Tennessee
- 9 totaling $2.2 million · 8 in Hamilton County
- Typical grant How we figure this
- $25,000 to $100,000 (the middle half of its Tennessee grants)
- A realistic first ask How we figure this
- About $50,000: the middle grant to the 6 Tennessee groups it funded for the first time in 2025.
- Where it gives
- Hamilton County, Davidson County · plus 6 grants outside Tennessee
- Buildings & equipment
- 1 of its Tennessee grants went to buildings, renovations or equipment, e.g. “To fund a new building for the nursing school”
- Funds new groups? How we figure this
- 75% of the Tennessee groups it funded in 2025 were new (not funded in 2023–2024): 6 of 8.
- Total giving that year
- $2.3 million
Giving by year
| Tax year | Total grants paid | To Tennessee | Tennessee grants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2.3M | $2.2M | 9 |
| 2024 | $2.1M | $1.9M | 9 |
| 2023 | $15.7M | $970K | 9 |
All grants paid To Tennessee
How to apply
- Contact
- R Wayne Peters General Counsel · Chattanooga · (423) 756-5171
- What to send
- No prescribed form
- Limits
- All contributions are to qualified 501(c) organizations
As the foundation reported to the IRS for tax year 2025. Check its website or call before sending anything, because contacts and deadlines change.
Board and officers
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Checked in your browser only. The names are kept on this device for other foundation pages and are never sent to GrantMe.
- James D Kennedy IIIPresident
- Molly K KennedySecretary & treasurer
- Elizabeth K SpratlinChairman
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
- To support a public charity (7 grants)
- To provide funding for a professorship (1 grant)
- To fund a new building for the nursing school (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 | 2 |
| $25,000 to $99,999 | 3 |
| $100,000 or more | 4 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Chattanooga Foundation | Chattanooga, Hamilton County | To fund a new building for the nursing school | $1.6M |
| Memorial Health Care System Foundation Inc. | Chattanooga, Hamilton County | To support a public charity | $200K |
| Houston Museum of Decorative Arts | Chattanooga, Hamilton County | To support a public charity | $100K |
| University of Chattanooga Foundation | Chattanooga, Hamilton County | To provide funding for a professorship | $100K |
| Skyuka Hall | Chattanooga, Hamilton County | To support a public charity | $84K |
| The Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center | Chattanooga, Hamilton County | To support a public charity | $50K |
| Friends of Special Children | Chattanooga, Hamilton County | To support a public charity | $25K |
| Erlanger Health | Chattanooga, Hamilton County | To support a public charity | $20K |
| Retrieving Independence Inc. | Nashville, Davidson County | To support a public charity | $10K |