42 private foundations reported community & economic development grants in Tennessee on their IRS Form 990-PF filings for tax years 2023–2024. Historical giving records — not an open application portal.
Themes are derived from the free-text purpose each foundation wrote on its own Part XV filing, so a grant is classified by what the funder said it was for. Grants paid directly to named individuals are excluded from recipient counts and tables.
Across tax years 2023–2024, 42 private foundations reported 93 grants for community & economic development totaling $30,273,197 to 90 organizations in Tennessee. The most-funded Tennessee communities were Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville. The Poplar Foundation reported the most community & economic development giving — $23,180,600 across 1 grant. The median grant was $25,000.
Foundation filings are a record of past giving. The UseGrants eligibility check matches you to federal and state opportunities accepting applications today.
| Foundation | Grants | Total |
|---|---|---|
| The Poplar Foundation | 1 | $23,180,600 |
| The Kresge Foundation | 9 | $1,965,000 |
| Ford Philanthropy | 6 | $1,011,591 |
| Benwood Foundation Inc | 6 | $616,000 |
| Scarlett Family Foundation | 3 | $510,000 |
| Robert L & Kathrina H Maclellan Founda Foundation | 2 | $400,000 |
| The Duffield Family Foundation DBA Maddie's Fund | 1 | $330,000 |
| Bonnaroo Works Fund | 9 | $292,119 |
| Regions Foundation | 6 | $260,000 |
| TBF2 | 1 | $250,096 |
| The Henry Luce Foundation Inc | 2 | $225,000 |
| Bishop Family Foundation | 2 | $205,000 |
| Recipient | Grants | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Christian Community Foundation | 1 | $23,180,600 |
| United WAY of West Tennessee | 2 | $843,591 |
| Historic Clayborn Temple | 1 | $700,000 |
| Aligncare Health Inc | 1 | $330,000 |
| United Methodist Neighborhood Centers Inc | 1 | $300,000 |
| Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis | 1 | $300,000 |
| Chattanooga Design Studio | 1 | $275,000 |
| The Equity Alliance | 1 | $275,000 |
| Blueprint 1543 | 1 | $250,096 |
| Instruction Partners | 1 | $250,000 |
| The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee | 1 | $247,247 |
| Cumberland Heights Foundation | 1 | $200,000 |
| River City Company | 1 | $200,000 |
| BIG Brothers BIG Sisters of East Tennesse | 1 | $150,000 |
| Building Memphis | 1 | $150,000 |
42 private foundations reported community & economic development grants in Tennessee on their IRS Form 990-PF filings, totaling $30,273,197. The largest by reported dollars were The Poplar Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, Ford Philanthropy. These are historical filings, not open application portals — check each foundation's own guidelines before approaching them.
90 distinct organizations appear as recipients in Tennessee, led by Christian Community Foundation, United WAY of West Tennessee, Historic Clayborn Temple. Grants paid directly to named individuals are excluded from these figures.
The median reported community & economic development grant in Tennessee was $25,000, and the largest single reported grant was $23,180,600. Amounts are as reported by the filing foundation for a historical tax year.
The UseGrants feed tracks federal and state opportunities that are open today, each with the eligibility explained in plain English.
Source: public IRS Form 990-PF Part XV filings (tax years 2023–2024). Theme classification is derived from the funder’s own purpose text and is a summary, not a legal categorization. UseGrants is an independent aggregator, not affiliated with any foundation listed.
