Foundations that fund Tennessee
Private foundations rarely post open calls. Instead, look at who they already fund. Search by what you do, like “food pantry”, “library” or “youth sports”, to find foundations, here or in other states, that funded similar work in Tennessee. Or start from a group like yours: see who funded it.
40 foundations that funded “Leadership Foundations”
46 more only fund groups they choose themselves. Show them anyway
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Public charity · Tacoma, WA
Leadership Foundations
Check how to apply
3 Tennessee grants totaling $110K · typical grant $7,229–$61K (tax year 2025)
Funded only returning groups in its latest year
Funded: mentoring and training
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Private foundation · Knoxville
Valentine Foundation Inc.
Check how to apply
8 Tennessee grants totaling $78K · typical grant $10K–$15K (tax year 2025)
62% of its latest Tennessee grantees were new to it
5 grants for buildings or equipment
Funded: general operating funding; funding for the outdoor construction of a flatiron facility; partial funding of the painting project; partial funding for assistance in purchasing...
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Private foundation · Houston, TX
The Powell Foundation
Takes applications
11 Tennessee grants totaling $54K · typical grant $500–$10K (tax year 2025)
45% of its latest Tennessee grantees were new to it
Funded: designated grant: general operating and support
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Private foundation · Germantown
Irvin Lansky Foundation
Takes applications
13 Tennessee grants totaling $575K · typical grant $25K–$70K (tax year 2024)
8% of its latest Tennessee grantees were new to it
Funded: jobs for life; pcn program education; teach reading skills to elementary children; personal and career development; jewish family services
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Private foundation · Knoxville
Jane I Pettway Foundation
Takes applications
40 Tennessee grants totaling $334K · typical grant $5,000–$11K (tax year 2024)
Stated deadlines: Mar 31 · next Mar 31, 2027 (from its 2024 IRS filing; confirm with the foundation)
15% of its latest Tennessee grantees were new to it
Funded: financially needy women; utility assistance for; samaritan place; jane pettway helping women; certified nurse assistant
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Public charity · Kingsport
Eastman Credit Union
Check how to apply
29 Tennessee grants totaling $746K · typical grant $8,000–$30K (tax year 2025)
55% of its latest Tennessee grantees were new to it
1 grant for buildings or equipment
Funded: general contribution; event sponsorship; general contribution/event sponsorship; development contribution; expansion project/snap relief/event sponsorship
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Private foundation · Nashville
The Frist Foundation
Letter of inquiry first
128 Tennessee grants totaling $32.2M · typical grant $10K–$50K (tax year 2024)
No fixed deadline, per its 2024 IRS filing
42% of its latest Tennessee grantees were new to it
15 grants for buildings or equipment
Funded: general support directed by lauren elcan ingram; operating support for 2024; general support directed by julie and tommy frist; general support directed by jennifer and billy...
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Private foundation · Nashville
The Fugitive Foundation
Takes applications
41 Tennessee grants totaling $238K · typical grant $1,000–$7,000 (tax year 2024)
20% of its latest Tennessee grantees were new to it
1 grant for buildings or equipment
Funded: operating support; capital campaign & operating support
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Private foundation · Cincinnati, OH
The Scripps Howard Foundation
Check how to apply
37 Tennessee grants totaling $49K · typical grant $600–$1,250 (tax year 2024)
55% of its latest Tennessee grantees were new to it
Funded: volunteer gift; matching gift; community market grant; ceo discretionary grant; journalism internship stipend
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Private foundation · Nashville
Joe C Davis Foundation
Takes applications
106 Tennessee grants totaling $6M · typical grant $10K–$55K (tax year 2024)
12% of its latest Tennessee grantees were new to it
7 grants for buildings or equipment
Funded: operating support; program support; capacity building & operating support; capital support; operating & capacity building support
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Community foundation · New York, NY
The New York Community Trust
Check how to apply
44 Tennessee grants totaling $1.4M · typical grant $10K–$50K (tax year 2024)
41% of its latest Tennessee grantees were new to it
Funded: for program support; for general support; for a scholarship award
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Public charity · Colorado Springs, CO
Moriah Foundation
Check how to apply
4 Tennessee grants totaling $450K · typical grant $20K–$310K (tax year 2024)
25% of its latest Tennessee grantees were new to it
Funded: establish leadership training; ministry support; support adoption aid
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Private foundation · New York, NY
Burgstahler Foundation
Takes applications
1 Tennessee grant totaling $500 · typical grant $500–$500 (tax year 2024)
Funded only returning groups in its latest year
Funded: educational and leadership training
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Private foundation · Dublin, OH
Cardinal Health Foundation
Takes applications
6 Tennessee grants totaling $278K · typical grant $3,500–$50K (tax year 2024)
No fixed deadline, per its 2024 IRS filing
20% of its latest Tennessee grantees were new to it
Funded: employee engagement\volunteer leadership grant; employee engagement\scholarships; mental health\zero suicide cohorts
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Private foundation · Knoxville
Boyd Foundation
Takes applications
56 Tennessee grants totaling $9.3M · typical grant $10K–$150K (tax year 2024)
No fixed deadline, per its 2024 IRS filing
36% of its latest Tennessee grantees were new to it
1 grant for buildings or equipment
Funded: for annual budget; to seek to build and admire meaningful arts and crafts expeeriences; to preserve and enrich the diversity of art and culture in east tennessee; to transform...
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Private foundation · Nashville
Scarlett Family Foundation
Takes applications
250 Tennessee grants totaling $8.6M · typical grant $7,500–$20K (tax year 2024)
Stated deadlines: Dec 15 · next Dec 15, 2026 (from its 2024 IRS filing; confirm with the foundation)
54% of its latest Tennessee grantees were new to it
Funded: tuition; support for operations; support for operations and capacity building; support for director of operations and director of student support; student support in memorium...
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Private foundation · Knoxville
Stowers Machinery Foundation Inc.
Check how to apply
91 Tennessee grants totaling $836K · typical grant $1,000–$5,000 (tax year 2025)
20% of its latest Tennessee grantees were new to it
3 grants for buildings or equipment
Funded: general donation; hope gala; knoxville go red for women luncheon + kids cook with heart program; annual golf tournament; 2025 - niswonger radiothon sponsorship
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Private foundation · Chattanooga
Tennessee Health Foundation Inc.
Takes applications
69 Tennessee grants totaling $3.7M · typical grant $2,000–$20K (tax year 2024)
69% of its latest Tennessee grantees were new to it
Funded: 2024 hickey match; 2024 anderson match; 2024 reynolds match; 2024 ryans match; 2024 pow scholar
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Private foundation · Knoxville
Clayton Family Foundation
Takes applications
40 Tennessee grants totaling $1.1M · typical grant $2,500–$12K (tax year 2024)
No fixed deadline, per its 2024 IRS filing
20% of its latest Tennessee grantees were new to it
3 grants for buildings or equipment
Funded: church general fund; k-12 school; community health services; scholarship fund; dance school transportation
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Private foundation · Knoxville
Robert Lee Weiss Foundation First TN Bank Plaza Tower
Takes applications
26 Tennessee grants totaling $160K · typical grant $4,000–$6,000 (tax year 2024)
Stated deadlines: Jun 30 · next Jun 30, 2027 (from its 2024 IRS filing; confirm with the foundation)
4% of its latest Tennessee grantees were new to it
5 grants for buildings or equipment
Funded: community service projects; scholarship funding; program support; capital projects; accessible equipment for
Source: each funder's latest e-filed IRS return: Form 990-PF for private foundations (grants paid and how it takes applications), Form 990 Schedule I for community foundations, United Ways and other public charities (grants over $5,000 to organizations). Included: every funder, wherever it is based, whose latest return lists grants to Tennessee organizations. Corporate and community-foundation programs are in the grant search.