The Community Health Systems Foundation concentrates its giving on health-related institutions and initiatives tied to its hospital system, with a strong emphasis on large matching gifts. Major recipients include an internal CHS employee/community assistance fund, repeated support for Auburn University (likely for medical education or health-related programs), and international medical relief. Grants are strategic and high-dollar, often structured as matching support to leverage additional funding.
Highly concentrated: few, large matching grants; repeats to a selected university partner and an internal CHS fund rather than many small grantees; grants appear aimed at leveraging additional contributions.
A $500,000 matching grant to the Chs Cares Fund stands out in the Community Health Systems Foundation’s recent giving and points to how the foundation uses philanthropy: to mobilize support around health-related institutions and hospital-connected initiatives. The foundation’s largest recent awards are not isolated gifts but part of a pattern of matching support, with repeated six-figure grants to Auburn University Foundation and Hope Through Healing Hands. That mix suggests a funder focused on leveraging outside contributions rather than underwriting programs alone. Recent grants also show attention to internal and community-facing support tied to the health system, alongside medical education and global medical relief. The foundation’s grant history includes recurring awards to university partners, assistance funds, and organizations working in healthcare capacity building. Smaller matching gifts appear throughout the record as well, indicating a broad use of philanthropic incentives at multiple scales. Across these grants, Community Health Systems Foundation appears to favor restricted-purpose support that aligns with specific fundraising or program goals rather than unrestricted operating support.
One clear theme is employee and community assistance linked to the health system. In 2023, Community Health Systems Foundation gave $500,000 to Chs Cares Fund as a matching grant or gift, placing relief and support for the CHS community at the center of its recent activity. Medical education is another recurring focus. The foundation awarded Auburn University Foundation $100,000 in 2024 and another $99,900 in 2023, both as matching grants or gifts, pointing to sustained support for a university-linked health or education partnership. The foundation also funds global medical relief. It gave $100,000 to Hope Through Healing Hands in 2023, again as a matching grant or gift, showing interest in healthcare capacity building beyond its local Tennessee pattern.
Typical grant size is modest relative to the foundation’s largest awards: p25 is $500, median is $1,000, and p75 is $5,000. The recent record also shows a wide upper tail, with occasional matching gifts in the $100,000 to $500,000 range. The repeated appearances of Auburn University Foundation and several donor-advised or charitable fund vehicles across multiple years suggest ongoing, structured grantmaking rather than isolated one-time awards. The grant descriptions consistently use “matching grant or gift,” indicating a preference for incentive-style giving and donor-leveraging support.
$2.1M
$1.1M
$500K
$471K
Most grants fall between $500 and $5K, with a median of $1K.
25th Percentile
$500
Median
$1K
75th Percentile
$5K
About 75% of grants go to recipients in TN.
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Notable grantees: CHS CARES FUND, Auburn University Foundation, Hope Through Healing Hands
Grant recipients are overwhelmingly in the United States, with 259 grants there and 100% of recorded grants going to U.S. recipients. Tennessee is the top state by grant count, and 75% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent examples include Nashville, Jackson, Auburn, Philadelphia, Orlando, Jenkintown, Warwick, and Los Altos. The concentration in Tennessee is especially visible in Nashville-based recipients, alongside a smaller number of grants to institutions in Alabama and Pennsylvania.
Recent grants show support for hospital-connected assistance, medical education, and healthcare-related relief. Examples include Chs Cares Fund, Auburn University Foundation, and Hope Through Healing Hands, all funded as matching grants or gifts.
The typical grant size is small: p25 is $500, median is $1,000, and p75 is $5,000. The grant history also includes much larger matching gifts, including six-figure awards.
Yes. Auburn University Foundation appears in multiple years, including 2023, 2024, and 2025, and several donor-advised or charitable fund vehicles also recur across years, indicating a repeated grantmaking pattern.
Tennessee receives the most grants by count, with 75% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Nashville appears often among recipient locations, along with other Tennessee cities such as Jackson.
The grants are consistently labeled as “matching grant or gift,” showing that the foundation often uses matching support rather than straightforward unrestricted grants.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUBURN UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | NASHVILLE, TN | $100,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| VILLAGE AT GLENCLIFF | NASHVILLE, TN | $32,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TN - KEVIN & DARLA HAMMONS CHARITABLE ADVISE | NASHVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TN - KEVIN & DARLA HAMMONS CHARITABLE ADVISE | NASHVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE - GABE AND PAM OTTINGER FAMILY FUN | NASHVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST | JENKINTOWN, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| DREXEL UNIVERSITY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $23,906 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE - JASON AND CARRIE JOHNSON FAMILY | NASHVILLE, TN | $20,045 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE - THE JUSTIN PITT FAMILY CHARITABL | NASHVILLE, TN | $20,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| DAFFY CHARITABLE FUND | LOS ALTOS, CA | $14,973 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| DAFFY CHARITABLE FUND - PURSUIT IMPACT HORRAR FAMILY FUND | LOS ALTOS, CA | $12,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | NASHVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY | LEBANON, TN | $10,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| ABLE VOICES | BRENTWOOD, TN | $9,755 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| DANCING FOR SAFE HAVEN | NASHVILLE, TN | $8,500 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY - CHIC AWEARNESS | NASHVILLE, TN | $7,500 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| BRIGHTSTONE | FRANKLIN, TN | $5,300 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION | STATEN ISLAND, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| GILDA'S CLUB KENTUCKIANA | LOUISVILLE, KY | $5,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA - MIDDLE TENNESSEE COUNCIL | NASHVILLE, TN | $4,850 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE - CHS CARES FUND | NASHVILLE, TN | $4,110 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| SILOAM HEALTH | NASHVILLE, TN | $4,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| MARCH OF DIMES MARCH FOR BABIES | ATLANTA, GA | $4,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| HOPE CLINIC FOR WOMEN | NASHVILLE, TN | $4,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| SAFE HAVEN FAMILY SHELTER | NASHVILLE, TN | $3,500 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| THISTLE FARMS | NASHVILLE, TN | $3,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| WATER MISSION | CHARLOTTE, NC | $3,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| VILLAGE AT GLENCLIFF | NASHVILLE, TN | $2,583 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | HENDERSON, KY | $2,500 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| WILLIAMSON COUNTY CASA | FRANKLIN, TN | $2,500 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS NASHVILLE AREA CHAPTER | NASHVILLE, TN | $2,500 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| ABLE VOICES | BRENTWOOD, TN | $2,192 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE - STEADFAST FUND | NASHVILLE, TN | $2,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| NASHVILLE BALLET | NASHVILLE, TN | $2,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| SAFE HAVEN FAMILY SHELTER | NASHVILLE, TN | $1,525 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| THE NEXT DOOR | NASHVILLE, TN | $1,500 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| MERCY COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE | FRANKLIN, TN | $1,500 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| NASHVILLE RESCUE MISSION | NASHVILLE, TN | $1,250 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| SAFE HAVEN FAMILY SHELTER | NASHVILLE, TN | $1,052 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA - MIDDLE TENNESSEE COUNCIL | NASHVILLE, TN | $1,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $1,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW | ST LOUIS, MO | $1,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| AMERICAN HEART WALK ASSOCIATION - GSA HEART WALK | DALLAS, TX | $1,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| SNOWDROP FOUNDATION INC | HOUSTON, TX | $1,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| VILLAGE AT GLENCLIFF | NASHVILLE, TN | $1,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| CARE CENTER OF JACKSON INC | JACKSON, TN | $1,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
| THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $1,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT |
AUBURN UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$100,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
VILLAGE AT GLENCLIFF
$32,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TN - KEVIN & DARLA HAMMONS CHARITABLE ADVISE
$25,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TN - KEVIN & DARLA HAMMONS CHARITABLE ADVISE
$25,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE - GABE AND PAM OTTINGER FAMILY FUN
$25,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST
$25,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
DREXEL UNIVERSITY
$23,906MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE - JASON AND CARRIE JOHNSON FAMILY
$20,045MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE - THE JUSTIN PITT FAMILY CHARITABL
$20,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
DAFFY CHARITABLE FUND
$14,973MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
DAFFY CHARITABLE FUND - PURSUIT IMPACT HORRAR FAMILY FUND
$12,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$10,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY
$10,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
ABLE VOICES
$9,755MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
DANCING FOR SAFE HAVEN
$8,500MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY - CHIC AWEARNESS
$7,500MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
BRIGHTSTONE
$5,300MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION
$5,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
GILDA'S CLUB KENTUCKIANA
$5,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
$5,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
$5,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT
$5,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA - MIDDLE TENNESSEE COUNCIL
$4,850MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE - CHS CARES FUND
$4,110MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
SILOAM HEALTH
$4,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
MARCH OF DIMES MARCH FOR BABIES
$4,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
HOPE CLINIC FOR WOMEN
$4,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
SAFE HAVEN FAMILY SHELTER
$3,500MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
THISTLE FARMS
$3,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
WATER MISSION
$3,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
VILLAGE AT GLENCLIFF
$2,583MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
THE SALVATION ARMY
$2,500MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
WILLIAMSON COUNTY CASA
$2,500MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
AMERICAN RED CROSS NASHVILLE AREA CHAPTER
$2,500MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
ABLE VOICES
$2,192MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE - STEADFAST FUND
$2,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
NASHVILLE BALLET
$2,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
SAFE HAVEN FAMILY SHELTER
$1,525MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
THE NEXT DOOR
$1,500MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
MERCY COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE
$1,500MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
NASHVILLE RESCUE MISSION
$1,250MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
SAFE HAVEN FAMILY SHELTER
$1,052MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA - MIDDLE TENNESSEE COUNCIL
$1,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA
$1,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
$1,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
AMERICAN HEART WALK ASSOCIATION - GSA HEART WALK
$1,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
SNOWDROP FOUNDATION INC
$1,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
VILLAGE AT GLENCLIFF
$1,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
CARE CENTER OF JACKSON INC
$1,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$1,000MATCHING GRANT OR GIFT