Private foundation · Houston, TX (gives in Tennessee from out of state)
The Powell Foundation
Key facts
- Grants in Tennessee
- 11 totaling $54K
- Typical grant
- $500 to $10K (middle half of its Tennessee grants)
- A realistic first ask
- About $1,000, its median Tennessee grant. New grantees usually get less than long-time ones.
- Where it gives
- Knox County, Davidson County · plus 260 grants outside Tennessee
- Buildings & equipment
- None of its Tennessee grants in this filing were for buildings or equipment
- Funds new groups?
- 45% of the Tennessee groups it funded in 2025 were new (not funded in 2023–2024): 5 of 11.
- Total giving that year
- $20.4M
Giving by year
| Tax year | Total grants paid | To Tennessee | Tennessee grants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $20.4M | $54K | 11 |
| 2024 | $18.5M | $48K | 9 |
| 2023 | $17.5M | $36K | 4 |
How to apply
- Contact
- httpspowellfoundationorgapplication · Houston · 7135237557 · grants@powellfoundation.org
- What to send
- Organizations interested in applying for a Powell Foundation grant must submit an online pre-application form. If the pre-application is advanced, the organization will be invited to submit a full application via the Powell Foundation's online Grant Portal. The Powell Foundation Board of Directors makes all final decisions about grant requests during the Spring (May) and Fall (November) Board Meetings. Organizations approved for funding must sign and return a grant agreement for disbursement. Refer to the website for grant guidelines.
- Deadlines
- Refer to the website for the application process and deadlines.
- Limits
- The Powell Foundation is dedicated to catalyzing progress in public education, the arts, conservation, and human services. Funding is focused on the Foundation's geographic areas of interest in Harris, Travis, or Walker Counties, Texas. Requesting organizations must be tax-exempt under IRC 501(c)(3). This includes public charities, government organizations, and eligible supporting organizations. No grants are made to individuals, endowments, scholarship funds, private foundations, fundraising/marketing events, debt retirement/past operating deficits, candidates for political office or to influence specific legislation, or for realizing religious or doctrinal purpose. 2025 Giving: Education $12.3M (65%) and Supportive Communities: the Arts $2.2M (11%), Conservation $3M (16%), and Human Services $1.6M (8%).
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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- Katherine Osborne ValdezBoard president/director
- Ben H Powell VVp/director
- Charles F CaldwellSecretary/director
- Marian M CaseyTreasurer/director
- Ben H Powell ViAssistant treasurer
- Terry BrunerDirector
- Christopher D Casey IIDirector
- Thao CostisDirector
- E Inez HillDirector
- Katherine P HillDirector
- Molly N KiddDirector
- Elizabeth K MooreDirector
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
- Designated grant: general operating and support
Tennessee organizations it funded
Largest first. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interfaith Health Center | Knoxville, Knox County | Designated Grant: General operating and support | $15K |
| Knoxville Symphony Orchestra | Knoxville, Knox County | Designated Grant: General operating and support | $10K |
| The Nashville Food Project | Nashville, Davidson County | Designated Grant: General operating and support | $10K |
| Keep Knoxville Beautiful | Knoxville, Knox County | Designated Grant: General operating and support | $7,500 |
| Lakeshore Park Conservancy | Knoxville, Knox County | Designated Grant: General operating and support | $7,500 |
| Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church | Knoxville, Knox County | Designated Grant: General operating and support | $1,000 |
| Knoxville Jewish Alliance Inc. | Knoxville, Knox County | Designated Grant: General operating and support | $750 |
| Dogwood Arts Festival Inc. | Knoxville, Knox County | Designated Grant: General operating and support | $500 |
| East Tennessee Foundation | Knoxville, Knox County | Designated Grant: General operating and support | $500 |
| Knoxville Leadership Foundation Inc. | Knoxville, Knox County | Designated Grant: General operating and support | $500 |
| Knoxville Museum of Art | Knoxville, Knox County | Designated Grant: General operating and support | $500 |
Foundation website All its IRS filings (ProPublica) Sign in to save