The Crews Family Foundation concentrates its grantmaking on education and youth services in the Memphis/Collierville region, directing nearly all dollars to a very small set of local institutions. Funding is dominated by multi-award support to the University of Memphis and large unrestricted operating grants to Youth Villages, indicating a preference for strengthening higher education and youth behavioral health/child-welfare capacity. The foundation appears mission-driven toward regional impact rather than broad, diversified national giving.
Highly concentrated: very few, large grants focused on repeat grantees; predominantly unrestricted/operating support; geographically focused on Memphis/Collierville area.
The Crews Family Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by repeated operating support to the University of Memphis Foundation and Youth Villages, two Memphis institutions that show how tightly its grantmaking is tied to local education and youth services. Those awards are not isolated: the foundation has also backed Teach for America, Memphis Teacher Residency, and several other Memphis-based nonprofits, with most grants structured as unrestricted or general operating support. That pattern points to a funder focused on strengthening organizations already working in the city rather than financing short-term projects. Across the recent grant list, the same local institutions recur in multiple years, including the University of Memphis Foundation, Youth Villages, Memphis Teacher Residency, Agape Child & Family Services, Mifa, Mid-South Food Bank, and Church Health Center. The foundation’s named community support pillars are education, poverty, social services, and community enhancements, and those themes align with the organizations it repeatedly funds. Its grantmaking is concentrated in the Memphis area and Shelby County, with Germantown also appearing among recipient locations. The foundation’s own program descriptions emphasize direct financial support for nonprofits serving the Memphis metro and Mid-South region.
Education is one of the clearest threads in Crews Family Foundation’s grantmaking. The foundation gave $2,140,000 in 2025 to University of Memphis Foundation for general operating support, and it also made operating grants to Memphis Teacher Residency in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Teach for America received operating support as well, including $277,400 in 2023 and additional awards in 2024. Youth and family services are another major emphasis. Youth Villages received $1,050,000 in both 2023 and 2025, plus $650,000 in 2024, all for general operating support. Agape Child & Family Services also received operating grants in 2024 and 2025. Beyond these areas, the foundation supported basic-needs and community infrastructure work through grants to Mid-South Food Bank, United Way of the Mid-South, Mifa, and the National Civil Rights Museum, all in Memphis.
Grant size data show a middle-of-the-road operating-grant pattern: p25 is $3,000, median is $10,000, and p75 is $30,000. The recent grants list, however, is dominated by much larger unrestricted awards to a small set of repeat recipients, including multi-year support to the same organizations. The foundation appears to favor recurring support over one-off awards. University of Memphis Foundation, Youth Villages, Memphis Teacher Residency, Agape Child & Family Services, Mifa, Mid-South Food Bank, Church Health Center, and The Trezevant Foundation all appear in multiple years. The foundation is a family foundation and does not make program-related investments. One active program, General Community Grants, accepts unsolicited requests and reviews them quarterly; several other listed programs do not accept unsolicited applications.
$5M
$108.3M
$7.7M
$6.5M
Most grants fall between $3K and $30K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$30K
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Notable grantees: University of Memphis Foundation, Youth Villages, Memphis-area education and youth service organizations (regional focus)
The giving is overwhelmingly local. Recipients in Tennessee account for 93% of grants, and every grant in the recent-country distribution went to U.S. organizations. Memphis is the main recipient city by a wide margin, with additional awards to Germantown and Shelby County-area organizations. Named recipient locations in the recent grants include Memphis, TN for University of Memphis Foundation, Youth Villages, Teach for America, Memphis Teacher Residency, and Mifa, plus Germantown, TN for St George's Independent School. The foundation’s active programs are also described as serving Memphis, Germantown, Shelby County, and the Memphis metro / Mid-South.
Its active programs focus on education, poverty alleviation, social services, and community enhancements. The recent grants list shows repeated support for Memphis-based nonprofits in higher education, youth services, food assistance, family services, and community institutions.
The pattern is recurring. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including the University of Memphis Foundation, Youth Villages, Memphis Teacher Residency, Agape Child & Family Services, Mifa, Mid-South Food Bank, Church Health Center, and The Trezevant Foundation.
The distribution is $3,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $30,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include much larger operating grants to a small number of recurring recipients.
Yes, through the General Community Grants program. That program accepts unsolicited requests and reviews them quarterly for nonprofits serving the Memphis area and aligned with the foundation’s four pillars.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS FOUNDATION | MEMPHIS, TN | $2,140,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| YOUTH VILLAGES | MEMPHIS, TN | $1,050,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| MEMPHIS TEACHER RESIDENCY | MEMPHIS, TN | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| ST GEORGE'S INDEPENDENT SCHOOL | GERMANTOWN, TN | $230,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| AGAPE CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES INC | MEMPHIS, TN | $105,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| NEW LEADERS | MEMPHIS, TN | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| UNITED WAY OF THE MID-SOUTH | MEMPHIS, TN | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| CHURCH HEALTH CENTER | MEMPHIS, TN | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| MID-SOUTH FOOD BANK | MEMPHIS, TN | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| SLINGSHOT MEMPHIS | MEMPHIS, TN | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| MIFA | MEMPHIS, TN | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| NEW MEMPHIS INSTITUTE | MEMPHIS, TN | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| ARISE 2 READ | MEMPHIS, TN | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| MY CITY RIDES | MEMPHIS, TN | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| THE GOODWILL EXCEL CENTER | MEMPHIS, TN | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT | MEMPHIS, TN | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| YOUNG LIFE | MEMPHIS, TN | $28,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| BRIARCREST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | EADS, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| MEMPHIS YOUTH ATHLETICS | GERMANTOWN, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| GRIZZLIES PREP CHARTER SCHOOL | MEMPHIS, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| PORTER LEATH | MEMPHIS, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| SUCASA FAMILY MINISTRIES | MEMPHIS, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| MEMPHIS ATHLETIC MINISTRIES (MAM) | MEMPHIS, TN | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| MEMPHIS LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION | MEMPHIS, TN | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| MEMPHIS UNION MISSION | MEMPHIS, TN | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| PEER POWER FOUNDATION | MEMPHIS, TN | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| STREETS MINISTRIES INC | MEMPHIS, TN | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| BINGHAMPTON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | MEMPHIS, TN | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| MEMPHIS INNER CITY RUGGY | MEMPHIS, TN | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| THISTLE AND BEE ENTERPRISES INC | MEMPHIS, TN | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| THE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL | MEMPHIS, TN | $12,500 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| WOLF RIVER CONSERVANCY | MEMPHIS, TN | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| COLLIERVILLE EDUCATION FUND | COLLIERVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| EXCHANGE CLUB FAMILY CENTER | MEMPHIS, TN | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| PAGE ROBBINS ADULT DAY CENTER | COLLIERVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| ADVANCE MEMPHIS | MEMPHIS, TN | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| FACING HISTORY & OURSELVES | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| MEMPHIS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER | MEMPHIS, TN | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL | CORDOVA, TN | $7,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE FOUNDATION INC | KNOXVILLE, TN | $5,500 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| MY CUP OF TEA | MEMPHIS, TN | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| BADDOUR CENTER | SENATOBIA, MS | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| PALMER HOME FOR CHILDREN | LAKE CORMORANT, MS | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| LEBONHEUR CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | MEMPHIS, TN | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| ANGEL STREET | CORDOVA, TN | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB | ATLANTA, GA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| DREAM FACTORY OF MEMPHIS INC | GERMANTOWN, TN | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| SHELBY FARMS PARK CONSERVANCY | MEMPHIS, TN | $3,600 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| SOCIETY OF ENTREPRENEURS | MEMPHIS, TN | $3,333 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
| SERVICE OVER SELF | MEMPHIS, TN | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL - OPERATING |
YOUTH VILLAGES
$1,050,000GENERAL - OPERATING
ST GEORGE'S INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
$230,000GENERAL - OPERATING
NEW LEADERS
GENERAL - OPERATING
ARISE 2 READ
$40,000GENERAL - OPERATING
THE GOODWILL EXCEL CENTER
$30,000GENERAL - OPERATING
YOUNG LIFE
$28,000GENERAL - OPERATING
BRIARCREST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
$25,000GENERAL - OPERATING
MEMPHIS YOUTH ATHLETICS
$25,000GENERAL - OPERATING
GRIZZLIES PREP CHARTER SCHOOL
$25,000GENERAL - OPERATING
MEMPHIS ATHLETIC MINISTRIES (MAM)
$20,000GENERAL - OPERATING
MEMPHIS UNION MISSION
$20,000GENERAL - OPERATING
STREETS MINISTRIES INC
$20,000GENERAL - OPERATING
THISTLE AND BEE ENTERPRISES INC
$15,000GENERAL - OPERATING
COLLIERVILLE EDUCATION FUND
$10,000GENERAL - OPERATING
EXCHANGE CLUB FAMILY CENTER
$10,000GENERAL - OPERATING
PAGE ROBBINS ADULT DAY CENTER
$10,000GENERAL - OPERATING
FACING HISTORY & OURSELVES
$10,000GENERAL - OPERATING
MY CUP OF TEA
$5,000GENERAL - OPERATING
BADDOUR CENTER
$5,000GENERAL - OPERATING
PALMER HOME FOR CHILDREN
$5,000GENERAL - OPERATING
ANGEL STREET
$5,000GENERAL - OPERATING
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
$5,000GENERAL - OPERATING
DREAM FACTORY OF MEMPHIS INC
$5,000GENERAL - OPERATING
SOCIETY OF ENTREPRENEURS
$3,333GENERAL - OPERATING