The Bradford Family Foundation concentrates its giving on large institutional operating support in the Nashville area, with a clear emphasis on independent secondary education, higher education, and arts/cultural institutions. Grants are sizable and directed to well-established local organizations, often as unrestricted/general fund gifts, indicating a preference for flexible support rather than program-specific funding. The foundation appears to favor repeat funding relationships with a small number of anchor institutions.
Bradford Family Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by large general-fund support for a small set of Nashville institutions, especially Montgomery Bell Academy, Vanderbilt University, and Cheekwood. The pattern points to flexible operating support rather than project-restricted grants, with repeated awards to the same anchor organizations across multiple years. That mix places independent secondary education, higher education, and arts/cultural institutions at the center of the foundation’s activity. The foundation also reaches beyond Nashville, but the core of its grantmaking remains close to home in Tennessee. Recent awards include support for regional nonprofits such as Trust for Public Land in Chattanooga and for scholarship or donor-designated purposes at institutions outside the state. Still, the overall picture is of a family foundation that concentrates its resources on established organizations it appears to know well, often returning to them with substantial general-fund grants. The range of recipient types is broad enough to include schools, universities, arts groups, churches, health organizations, and named scholarship funds, but the largest commitments are clearly concentrated in a few long-running relationships.
Independent secondary education is a major theme in the foundation’s recent grantmaking. It gave $348,600 in 2024 and $305,700 in 2025 to Montgomery Bell Academy, both for general fund support, showing sustained backing for that school. Higher education is another recurring area. Vanderbilt University received $210,000 in 2023, followed by $200,000 in both 2024 and 2025, all as general fund grants. The foundation also supported St Bonaventure University with a $50,000 endowed scholarship for Robert Dubill, which points to scholarship-oriented giving alongside operating support. Arts and civic institutions are also present. Cheekwood received $55,850 in 2023, $130,800 in 2024, and $131,950 in 2025, all for general fund use. Other arts and community grants include $40,000 to Nashville Symphony and $26,175 to Friends of Warner Park.
Typical grant size is modest relative to the foundation’s largest awards, with a p25 of $250, a median of $1,380, and a p75 of $7,250. The distribution suggests many small gifts alongside a smaller number of much larger institutional grants. Repeat recipients are common: several organizations appear in multiple years, including Montgomery Bell Academy, Vanderbilt University, Cheekwood, St George’s, Nashville Symphony, and the Netterville Dr Jim - Intern'l Healthcare Foundation - Med Missions. The foundation is a family foundation with regional giving, and it also funds individuals. Most grants are made as general fund or unrestricted support, with some endowed scholarship and donor-designated gifts appearing in the record.
$1.2M
$16M
$216K
$1.3M
Most grants fall between $250 and $7K, with a median of $1K.
25th Percentile
$250
Median
$1K
75th Percentile
$7K
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Concentrated and high-dollar: few but large grants, multiple repeat grants to the same institutions, primarily unrestricted/general fund gifts to established local organizations.
Notable grantees: Montgomery Bell Academy, Vanderbilt University, Cheekwood
Grantmaking is concentrated in Tennessee, which accounts for 69% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Nashville is the main recipient city, appearing across schools, universities, arts groups, churches, and health organizations. Outside Tennessee, recent grants reached Chattanooga, Newnan, Berkeley, Austin, Atlanta, St Bonaventure, Boone, and Searcy. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 129 grants in the United States and no non-U.S. recipient countries in the data.
Recent grants show a strong emphasis on independent secondary education, higher education, and arts or cultural institutions. It also supports churches, health organizations, community nonprofits, and scholarship-related gifts. Many awards are made as general fund support, which suggests flexibility in how recipients can use the money.
The grant-size distribution is wide: p25 is $250, the median is $1,380, and p75 is $7,250. That pattern sits alongside much larger institutional grants, including repeated six-figure awards to several Nashville organizations.
Yes. The record shows repeated grants across multiple years to organizations such as Montgomery Bell Academy, Vanderbilt University, Cheekwood, St George’s, Nashville Symphony, and the Netterville Dr Jim - Intern'l Healthcare Foundation - Med Missions. That indicates ongoing relationships rather than one-time gifts only.
Tennessee is the top state by grant count, and 69% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state. Nashville is the primary city in the grant record, with additional Tennessee awards in Chattanooga and Madison.
Yes. The foundation’s topic taxonomy includes scholarship support for individual students and memorial scholarships, and the grants list includes a $50,000 endowed scholarship for Robert Dubill at St Bonaventure University. It also shows support for donor-circle and named-fund purposes, such as the Tiffany Circle.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MONTGOMERY BELL ACADEMY | NASHVILLE, TN | $305,700 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY | NASHVILLE, TN | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| CHEEKWOOD | NASHVILLE, TN | $131,950 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ST BONAVENTURE UNIVERSITY | ST BONAVENTURE, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FOR ROBERT DUBILL |
| ST GEORGE'S | NASHVILLE, TN | $42,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| FRONTLINE POLICY COUNCIL | NEWNAN, GA | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| NASHVILLE SYMPHONY | NASHVILLE, TN | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| FRIENDS OF WARNER PARK | NASHVILLE, TN | $26,175 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| UNITED WAY (DESIGNATION BELOW) 1000 EACH ORGANIZATION | NASHVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| EPISCOPAL SCHOOL OF NASHVILLE | NASHVILLE, TN | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| BERKLEY INSTITUTE | BERKELEY, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| TRINITY SCHOOL | ATLANTA, GA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| AUSTIN INSTITUTE | AUSTIN, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH LINVILLE | NASHVILLE, TN | $19,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | BOONE, IA | $15,000 | 2025 | TIFFANY CIRCLE |
| NETTERVILLE DR JIM - INTERN'L HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION - MED MISSIONS | SEARCY, AR | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| APHESIS HOUSE | MADISON, TN | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| CENTERSTONE | NASHVILLE, TN | $11,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| HERMITAGE | HERMITAGE, TN | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| HELPING HEARTS PROJECT | RIVERSIDE, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | PRINCETON, NJ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| COLGATE UNIVERSITY | HAMILTON, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | JENNIFER W. JOHNSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FOR KATIE BRADFORD |
| THE WITHERSPOON INSTITUTE | PRINCETON, NJ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE KING | ATLANTA, GA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY | BRENTWOOD, TN | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| EASTERN EUROPEAN MISSION | HURST, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| SALVATION ARMY | NASHVILLE, TN | $8,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK | NASHVILLE, TN | $6,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| CROSSMORE SCHOOL | NEWLAND, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | COMPUTER FUND |
| SADDLE UP | FRANKLIN, TN | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| NATURE SACRED MEMORIAL | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| FRIST ART MUSEUM | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| NASHVILLE OPERA | NASHVILLE, TN | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ST LUKE'S COMMUNITY HOUSE (FAMILY CHRISTMAS PROGRAM) | NASHVILLE, TN | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| NASHVILLE PUBLIC TELEVISION | NASHVILLE, TN | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| NASHVILLE HUMANE ASSOCIATION | NASHVILLE, TN | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| VOLUNTEER STATE HORSEMEN'S | FRANKLIN, TN | $1,086 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| WESTMINSTER HOME CONNECTION | NASHVILLE, TN | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| BRIGHTSTONE | FRANKLIN, TN | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| AVERY COUNTY HUMANE | NEWLAND, NC | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| STUART HALL | STAUNTON, VA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| TRAVELLER'S REST | NASHVILLE, TN | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| LINVILLE FOUNDATION | WINSTON SALEM, NC | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| LINVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT | LINVILLE, NC | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| GARDEN CLUB OF NASHVILLE | NASHVILLE, TN | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| BELLE MEADE SOCIETY OF CERES | NASHVILLE, TN | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| NASHVILLE TREE FOUNDATION | NASHVILLE, TN | $250 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| THE PAPS CORPS | DEERFIELD BEACH, FL | $250 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| BREAKTHROUGH | OAKLAND, CA | $250 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| WALDEN'S PUDDLE | JOELTON, TN | $250 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
CHEEKWOOD
$131,950GENERAL FUND
ST BONAVENTURE UNIVERSITY
$50,000ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FOR ROBERT DUBILL
ST GEORGE'S
$42,000GENERAL FUND
GENERAL FUND
NASHVILLE SYMPHONY
$40,000GENERAL FUND
FRIENDS OF WARNER PARK
$26,175GENERAL FUND
UNITED WAY (DESIGNATION BELOW) 1000 EACH ORGANIZATION
$25,000GENERAL FUND
BERKLEY INSTITUTE
$20,000GENERAL FUND
TRINITY SCHOOL
$20,000GENERAL FUND
ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH LINVILLE
$19,000GENERAL FUND
NETTERVILLE DR JIM - INTERN'L HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION - MED MISSIONS
$15,000GENERAL FUND
APHESIS HOUSE
$15,000GENERAL FUND
CENTERSTONE
$11,000GENERAL FUND
HERMITAGE
$10,000GENERAL FUND
HELPING HEARTS PROJECT
$10,000GENERAL FUND
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
$10,000GENERAL FUND
COLGATE UNIVERSITY
$10,000JENNIFER W. JOHNSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FOR KATIE BRADFORD
CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE KING
$10,000GENERAL FUND
NATURE CONSERVANCY
$10,000GENERAL FUND
EASTERN EUROPEAN MISSION
$10,000GENERAL FUND
SALVATION ARMY
$8,000GENERAL FUND
CROSSMORE SCHOOL
$5,000COMPUTER FUND
NATURE SACRED MEMORIAL
$5,000GENERAL FUND
NASHVILLE OPERA
$4,000GENERAL FUND
VOLUNTEER STATE HORSEMEN'S
$1,086GENERAL FUND
AVERY COUNTY HUMANE
$1,000GENERAL FUND
STUART HALL
$1,000GENERAL FUND
TRAVELLER'S REST
$1,000GENERAL FUND
LINVILLE FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL FUND
GARDEN CLUB OF NASHVILLE
$500GENERAL FUND
BELLE MEADE SOCIETY OF CERES
$500GENERAL FUND
NASHVILLE TREE FOUNDATION
$250GENERAL FUND
THE PAPS CORPS
$250GENERAL FUND
BREAKTHROUGH
$250GENERAL FUND
WALDEN'S PUDDLE
$250GENERAL FUND