Private foundation · Birmingham, AL (gives in Tennessee from out of state)
Dunn-French Foundation
In 2025 it gave 2 grants worth $6,500 to Tennessee groups, 1 of them in Knox County. A typical grant was $1,500 to $5,000.
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
- 2 totaling $6,500 · 1 in Knox County
- Typical grant How we figure this
- $1,500 to $5,000 (the middle half of its Tennessee grants)
- A realistic first ask How we figure this
- About $3,250, its middle Tennessee grant. First-time winners usually get less than repeat ones.
- Where it gives
- Knox County, Shelby County · plus 96 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
- 50% of the Tennessee groups it funded in 2025 were new (not funded in 2023–2024): 1 of 2.
- Total giving that year
- $391,500
Giving by year
| Tax year | Total grants paid | To Tennessee | Tennessee grants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $392K | $6,500 | 2 |
| 2024 | $342K | $1,000 | 1 |
| 2023 | $238K | $1,000 | 1 |
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.
- William D FrenchPresident
- Thomas YerbySecretary/treasurer
- Stephen SpannVice-president
- Mary Dunn FrenchVice-president
- Beverly HoytVice-president
- Lucy SpannVice-president
- Joseph Sm FrenchVice-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
- To preserve and interpret james whites fort and early frontier history of birmingham (1 grant)
- To advance cures and prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases (1 grant)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| James White Fort | Knoxville, Knox County | To preserve and interpret james whites fort and early frontier history of birmingham | $1,500 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital | Memphis, Shelby County | To advance cures and prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases | $5,000 |