Private foundation · Cookeville
Burnett Unity Foundation
In 2025 it gave 19 grants worth $547,600 to Tennessee groups, 1 of them in Hamilton County. A typical grant was $1,000 to $10,000. Most often for: “Promote cross country athletics”.
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
- 19 totaling $547,600 · 1 in Hamilton County
- Typical grant How we figure this
- $1,000 to $10,000 (the middle half of its Tennessee grants)
- A realistic first ask How we figure this
- About $3,500: the middle grant to the 8 Tennessee groups it funded for the first time in 2025.
- Where it gives
- Putnam County, DeKalb County, Hamilton County, Overton County, Williamson County, Davidson County · plus 3 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
- 42% of the Tennessee groups it funded in 2025 were new (not funded in 2023–2024): 8 of 19.
- Total giving that year
- $571,100
Giving by year
| Tax year | Total grants paid | To Tennessee | Tennessee grants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $571K | $548K | 19 |
| 2024 | $97K | $77K | 12 |
| 2023 | $42K | $30K | 6 |
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.
- David BurnettTrustee
- Alice BurnettTrustee
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
- Promote cross country athletics (3 grants)
- Prevention of child abuse (2 grants)
- Provide women's health services. (1 grant)
- Hospital foundation (1 grant)
- Provide temporary shelter for homeless individuals (1 grant)
- Promote the salvation message through children camps (1 grant)
- Promote the salvation message through radio (1 grant)
- Christian based transitional living program (1 grant)
How big its Tennessee grants are
| Grant size | Grants |
|---|---|
| Under $1,000 | 0 |
| $1,000 to $4,999 | 10 |
| $5,000 to $9,999 | 3 |
| $10,000 to $24,999 | 3 |
| $25,000 to $99,999 | 2 |
| $100,000 or more | 1 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moody Radio | Chattanooga, Hamilton County | Promote the salvation message through radio | $2,000 |
| The River Community Church | Cookeville, Putnam County | Promote the salvation message through community gatherings. | $400K |
| Buck Lake Outdoors | Cookeville, Putnam County | Provide outdoor activities for disabled veterans and special needs individuals | $50K |
| Rising Above Ministries | Cookeville, Putnam County | Assist special needs children. | $25K |
| Tennessee Technological University Foundation | Cookeville, Putnam County | Promote cross country athletics | $20K |
| Cookeville Pregnancy Clinic | Cookeville, Putnam County | Provide women's health services. | $10K |
| Cookeville Rescue Mission | Cookeville, Putnam County | Provide temporary shelter for homeless individuals | $10K |
| Stevens Street Care Ministry | Cookeville, Putnam County | Provide food for low income individuals. | $5,000 |
| Cookeville High School | Cookeville, Putnam County | Promote cross country athletics | $5,000 |
| Second Harvest Food Bank | Nashville, Davidson County | Provide food for homeless and those in poverty | $5,000 |
| Lighthouse Christian Camp | Smithville, DeKalb County | Promote the salvation message through children camps | $3,600 |
| Living Light | Cookeville, Putnam County | Promote the salvation message | $3,500 |
| Heart of the Cumberlands | Cookeville, Putnam County | Grief support for children | $2,500 |
| Cookeville Regional Medical Center | Cookeville, Putnam County | Hospital foundation | $1,000 |
| Next Step | Cookeville, Putnam County | Christian based transitional living program | $1,000 |
| Upper Cumberland Child Advocacy Center | Cookeville, Putnam County | Prevention of child abuse | $1,000 |
| The Stephens Centerexchange Club | Livingston, Overton County | Prevention of child abuse | $1,000 |
| Avery Trace Middle School | Cookeville, Putnam County | Promote cross country athletics | $1,000 |
| TN Baptist Children | Brentwood, Williamson County | Minister to children and families in crisis | $1,000 |