Thoughtful giving for stronger communities and better lives; striving to be East Tennessee's strongest philanthropic steward.
East Tennessee Foundation’s recent giving is marked by large, place-based investments in East Tennessee institutions, especially higher education, health systems, and community anchors. The biggest grants in the record include $4,012,360 to The University of Tennessee Knoxville for a capital campaign and $1,681,800 to Cancer Support Community East Tennessee for general operating support, alongside sizable awards to Maryville College, University Health Systems Inc, and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. That pattern points to a funder that mixes capital, operating, and program support across the region’s civic infrastructure. The foundation also shows a sustained commitment to community institutions outside the largest metro context. Niswonger Foundation received $1,900,000 in 2025 for education and $1,000,000 in 2023 for building restoration, while Boys & Girls Club of Greeneville & Greene County received $1,500,000 for a capital campaign. Across the recent grants list, support reaches arts organizations, medical services, human services, and faith-based community organizations, with a strong concentration on organizations serving East Tennessee communities.
Education appears as a recurring theme. East Tennessee Foundation gave $1,900,000 to Niswonger Foundation for education and $446,585 to The Univ of Tennessee Knoxville for education, showing support for both regional systems and higher education institutions. Health and wellness also sits near the center of the portfolio. Grants include $437,000 to University Health System Inc for medical disciplines and $650,635 to Greene County United Way Inc for general operating support, reflecting interest in health-related community capacity as well as direct medical services. Arts funding is another clear line of giving. The foundation awarded $439,237 to Knoxville Symphony Orchestra for arts and culture, and the active Regional Arts Programming Grants and East Tennessee Foundation Arts Grant Cycle both point to ongoing support for regional arts programming in East Tennessee. Children and youth are supported through programmatic and institutional grants, including $1,111,650 to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee for general operating support and $398,000 to Sunshine Services for human services.
$14.4M
$282.5M
$27.7M
$19.1M
Most grants fall between $10K and $35K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$35K
KEITH BARBER
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Typical grants cluster around a modest-to-midrange level: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $15,000, and the 75th percentile is $34,800. The recent grants list also shows that East Tennessee Foundation makes occasional very large awards for capital campaigns, building restoration, and operating support. The pattern looks recurring rather than one-off. Organizations such as The University of Tennessee Knoxville, Maryville College, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Young Life, Arc Knox County, and Morgan County Trustee appear more than once across the recent grants list, often with different purposes over multiple years. The foundation is a local grantmaker, not an individual-giving vehicle, and it also accepts unsolicited applications through several active grant programs.
Grant dollars land overwhelmingly in Tennessee, and 84% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Knoxville is the most visible city in the recent grants list, with support to The University of Tennessee Knoxville, Cancer Support Community East Tennessee, University Health System Inc, Arc Knox County, and Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. Greeneville also appears repeatedly through Niswonger Foundation, Boys & Girls Club of Greeneville & Greene County, and Greene County United Way Inc. Other Tennessee locations include Maryville, Oak Ridge, Wartburg, and Bristol. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The recent grants list points to education, health, arts and culture, children and youth, human services, and community development. Examples include education support for Niswonger Foundation, medical disciplines funding for University Health System Inc, and arts funding for Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.
Typical grants are relatively small to mid-sized: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $15,000, and the 75th percentile is $34,800. The recent grants list also includes larger capital and operating awards above $1 million.
Yes. Several active grant programs list unsolicited applications, including Hope After Helene / Hurricane Helene Recovery Fund, Jefferson County Health & Wellness Grant, ETF Scholarships, Children & Youth Grant Opportunities, Norris Area Community Foundation Competitive Grant Program, Regional Arts Programming Grants, and CNS Y-12 Community Investment Fund Grants.
It gives most often in Tennessee: 84% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and the geographic scope of giving is local. Recent grants also concentrate in Tennessee cities such as Knoxville, Greeneville, Maryville, Oak Ridge, Wartburg, and Bristol.
Scholarships are an active part of the portfolio. ETF Scholarships and East Tennessee Foundation Scholarships are both listed as active opportunities for students in East Tennessee, with the scholarship pages open to applicants.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NISWONGER FOUNDATION | GREENEVILLE, TN | $1,900,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER KNOXVILLE | KNOXVILLE, TN | $555,522 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPY |
| THE UNIV OF TENNESSEE KNOXVILLE | KNOXVILLE, TN | $446,585 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| KNOXVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | KNOXVILLE, TN | $439,237 | 2025 | ARTS & CULTURE |
| UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM INC | KNOXVILLE, TN | $437,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL DISCIPLINES |
| SUNSHINE SERVICES | KNOXVILLE, TN | $398,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| MORGAN COUNTY TRUSTEE | WARTBURG, TN | $327,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| SCHWAB CHARITABLE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $312,622 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPY |
| RMHC OF KNOXVILLE TENNESSEE INC | KNOXVILLE, TN | $310,432 | 2025 | HEALTH GENERAL |
| VANGUARD CHARITABLE | WARWICK, RI | $284,750 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPY |
| KNOXVILLE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | KNOXVILLE, TN | $243,394 | 2025 | HOUSING SHELTER |
| EMERALD YOUTH FOUNDATION | KNOXVILLE, TN | $228,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| EAST TN HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC | KNOXVILLE, TN | $198,250 | 2025 | ARTS & CULTURE |
| COLONIAL HEIGHTS UMC - KINGSPORT | KINGSPORT, TN | $195,400 | 2025 | RELIGION SPIRITUAL |
| WOMEN'S FUND OF EAST TENNESSEE | KNOXVILLE, TN | $182,250 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPY |
| KNOXVILLE-KNOX COUNTY CAC | KNOXVILLE, TN | $177,090 | 2025 | HOUSING SHELTER |
| CEDAR SPRINGS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | KNOXVILLE, TN | $157,193 | 2025 | RELIGION SPIRITUAL |
| KNOXVILLE-KNOX CTY CAC OFC ON AGING | KNOXVILLE, TN | $155,400 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| MARYVILLE COLLEGE | MARYVILLE, TN | $154,700 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| KNOX EDUCATION FOUNDATION | KNOXVILLE, TN | $150,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| YOUNG LIFE | HARLAN, IA | $131,500 | 2025 | RELIGION SPIRITUAL |
| SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | KNOXVILLE, TN | $126,900 | 2025 | RELIGION SPIRITUAL |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF EAST TN | CLINTON, TN | $120,700 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY EAST TN | KNOXVILLE, TN | $120,150 | 2025 | MEDICAL DISCIPLINES |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE TN VALLEY | KNOXVILLE, TN | $106,400 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| CHURCH OF THE SAVIOR UCC | KNOXVILLE, TN | $106,000 | 2025 | RELIGION SPIRITUAL |
| ROANE STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FND | HARRIMAN, TN | $101,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BGC OF GREENEVILLE & GREENE COUNTY | GREENEVILLE, TN | $100,500 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| APPALACHIAN RESOUR CONSERV & DEVEL | JOHNSON CITY, TN | $100,000 | 2025 | DISASTER RELIEF |
| SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF EAST TN | MARYVILLE, TN | $99,074 | 2025 | FOOD AGRICULTURE |
| BALLAD HEALTH FOUNDATION | JOHNSON CITY, TN | $95,000 | 2025 | HEALTH & EDUCATION |
| KNOXVILLE AREA URBAN LEAGUE | KNOXVILLE, TN | $91,627 | 2025 | HOUSING SHELTER |
| HOMETOWN SERVICE COALITION | MOUNTAIN CITY, TN | $91,040 | 2025 | DISASTER RELIEF |
| FIRST TENNESSEE DEVELOP DISTRICT | JOHNSON CITY, TN | $90,000 | 2025 | DISASTER RELIEF |
| NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING INC | KNOXVILLE, TN | $86,000 | 2025 | HOUSING SHELTER |
| ST GEORGE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH | NASHVILLE, TN | $86,000 | 2025 | RELIGION SPIRITUAL |
| EAST TENNESSEE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | KNOXVILLE, TN | $80,770 | 2025 | HEALTH GENERAL |
| SEQUOYAH HILLS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | KNOXVILLE, TN | $78,920 | 2025 | RELIGION SPIRITUAL |
| REMOTE AREA MEDICAL | ROCKFORD, TN | $76,794 | 2025 | HEALTH GENERAL |
| GIRL TALK INC | KNOXVILLE, TN | $75,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| JEFFERSON COUNTY EMS | NEW MARKET, TN | $75,000 | 2025 | DISASTER RELIEF |
| JUNIOR ACHV OF TRI-CITIES TNVA INC | KINGSPORT, TN | $74,900 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| MICHAEL J FOX FND FOR PARKINSON RES | NEW YORK, NY | $70,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL DISCIPLINES |
| ST JUDE CHILDRENS RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $66,284 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| CONCORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | KNOXVILLE, TN | $65,250 | 2025 | DISASTER RELIEF |
| KNOXVILLE LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION | KNOXVILLE, TN | $65,000 | 2025 | EMPLOYMENT |
| ROTARY FOUNDATION OF KNOXVILLE | KNOXVILLE, TN | $62,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| MTN HOPE GOOD SHEPHERD CLINIC INC | SEVIERVILLE, TN | $61,933 | 2025 | HEALTH GENERAL |
| HISTORIC TN THEATRE FOUNDATION | KNOXVILLE, TN | $54,500 | 2025 | ARTS & CULTURE |
| MARYVILLE CITY SCHOOLS FND INC | MARYVILLE, TN | $53,750 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPY |
NISWONGER FOUNDATION
$1,900,000EDUCATION
THE UNIV OF TENNESSEE KNOXVILLE
$446,585EDUCATION
SUNSHINE SERVICES
HUMAN SERVICES
MORGAN COUNTY TRUSTEE
$327,000EDUCATION
KNOXVILLE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
$243,394HOUSING SHELTER
COLONIAL HEIGHTS UMC - KINGSPORT
$195,400RELIGION SPIRITUAL
WOMEN'S FUND OF EAST TENNESSEE
$182,250PHILANTHROPY
KNOXVILLE-KNOX COUNTY CAC
$177,090HOUSING SHELTER
CEDAR SPRINGS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$157,193RELIGION SPIRITUAL
KNOXVILLE-KNOX CTY CAC OFC ON AGING
$155,400HUMAN SERVICES
SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$126,900RELIGION SPIRITUAL
CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY EAST TN
$120,150MEDICAL DISCIPLINES
CHURCH OF THE SAVIOR UCC
$106,000RELIGION SPIRITUAL
ROANE STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FND
$101,000EDUCATION
APPALACHIAN RESOUR CONSERV & DEVEL
$100,000DISASTER RELIEF
HOMETOWN SERVICE COALITION
$91,040DISASTER RELIEF
FIRST TENNESSEE DEVELOP DISTRICT
$90,000DISASTER RELIEF
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING INC
$86,000HOUSING SHELTER
ST GEORGE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
$86,000RELIGION SPIRITUAL
SEQUOYAH HILLS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$78,920RELIGION SPIRITUAL
JEFFERSON COUNTY EMS
$75,000DISASTER RELIEF
JUNIOR ACHV OF TRI-CITIES TNVA INC
$74,900YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
CONCORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
$65,250DISASTER RELIEF
ROTARY FOUNDATION OF KNOXVILLE
$62,000EDUCATION
MARYVILLE CITY SCHOOLS FND INC
$53,750PHILANTHROPY
Current and upcoming funding from East Tennessee Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Eligible organizations must support recovery in counties most affected by Hurricane Helene within ETF’s 25-county service area and coordinate with other disaster relief services.
Deadline: Ongoing grant processing; no fixed deadline stated
Who can apply: Eligible organizations must support recovery in counties most affected by Hurricane Helene within ETF’s 25-county service area.
Deadline: Applications were processed on an ongoing basis, with grants typically awarded weekly during the disaster recovery response.
Who can apply: Local nonprofits and organizations serving children and youth in the specified counties/fund area; see individual announcement for details.
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