Food City Charitable Foundation is a regionally focused corporate foundation that prioritizes basic needs, youth services, and community vitality across Southwest Virginia and nearby Tennessee. It routinely funds food banks, school- and youth-focused nonprofits, regional health systems and clinics, and local arts and cultural institutions — often through repeat, mission-support grants and sponsorships that strengthen community infrastructure. Grants frequently support emergency relief, facility improvements, and program support for widely recognized local partners.
Food City Charitable Foundation repeatedly makes large mission-support grants to Appalachian institutions serving food access, youth, health care, and community life. One of its clearest patterns is sustained support for Mountain Mission School in Grundy, Virginia, which received $113,000 in 2025, $103,000 in 2024, and $100,000 in 2023. The foundation also backed hurricane recovery through a $105,000 grant to United Way of Southwest Virginia in 2025 for Hurricane Helene relief. Across its recent grants, the foundation shows a preference for established regional organizations that anchor local service networks. It has funded food banks such as Feeding America Southwest Virginia and Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee, along with community health providers like Mountain Hope Good Shepherds Clinic and Frontier Health Foundation. It also supports youth-serving groups, including Boys & Girls Club of Tennessee Valley and Communities in Schools of Southwest Virginia, and local cultural institutions such as Barter Theatre and Friends of the Festival. The grant list suggests a mix of operating support, sponsorships, and targeted project grants rather than broad unrestricted philanthropy.
Basic needs and food access are a steady theme. The foundation gave $30,000 to Feeding America Southwest Virginia in 2025 for support of the mission of the charity, after prior grants of the same amount in 2024 and 2023. It also awarded $25,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Netn in 2024 for support of the mission of the charity. Youth development appears through both direct youth services and school-linked support. Boys & Girls Club of Tennessee Valley received $40,000 in 2025, and the same amount in 2024 and 2023, all for support of the mission of the charity. Communities in Schools of Southwest VA received $25,000 in 2025 for support of the mission of the charity. Health and community care also draw funding. Mountain Hope Good Shepherds Clinic Inc received $92,155 in 2025, while Frontier Health Foundation received $30,000 in 2025 for support of the mission of the charity.
Typical grants cluster in the five-figure range: the 25th percentile is $8,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $25,000. Recent awards include repeated support for the same organizations across multiple years, which points to recurring relationships rather than one-time gifts. The foundation is a corporate foundation, not an individual funder, and it does not make program-related investments. Its recent grants also show a mix of sponsorships, mission support, disaster relief, and targeted project funding.
$1.5M
$6.1M
$2.3M
$1.8M
Most grants fall between $8K and $25K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$25K
About 22% of grants go to recipients in TN.
STEVEN C SMITH
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Moderately concentrated regional giving with a mix of mid-size to large grants; many repeat multi-year or multi-grant relationships with established local partners, plus occasional sponsorships and disaster-relief gifts.
Notable grantees: Mountain Mission School, Feeding America Southwest Virginia, Ballad Health Foundation, Barter Theatre, Boys & Girls Club of Tennessee Valley
Grantmaking is regional and concentrated in Tennessee and southwest Virginia. Tennessee is the top state by grant count, while 22% of grants go to recipients in Virginia. Recent awards reached Chattanooga, Knoxville, Bristol, Gray, Kingsport, Ooltewah, and Sevierville in Tennessee, as well as Abingdon, Grundy, Salem, and Richmond in Virginia. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
Its recent grants favor mission support for food banks, youth-serving nonprofits, regional health clinics and health foundations, and community arts groups. The list also includes sponsorships and disaster-relief funding, showing support for both ongoing services and one-time community needs.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years. Mountain Mission School was funded in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Boys & Girls Club of Tennessee Valley received grants in each of those three years; and Feeding America Southwest Virginia also received repeated annual support.
The foundation’s grant sizes are usually in the five-figure range. The 25th percentile is $8,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $25,000, though some grants are larger for sponsorships, relief, or facility-related needs.
Giving is regional and concentrated in Tennessee and southwest Virginia. Tennessee has the highest grant count, and 22% of grants go to Virginia recipients. Recent recipient cities include Chattanooga, Knoxville, Bristol, Gray, Kingsport, Ooltewah, Sevierville, Abingdon, Grundy, Salem, and Richmond.
Food access, youth development, health care, and community vitality stand out in the recent grants. Examples include Hurricane Helene relief, food bank support, youth program support, clinic and health foundation support, and cultural or event sponsorships.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOUNTAIN MISSION SCHOOL INC | GRUNDY, VA | $105,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| SPEEDWAY CHILDREN'S CHARITIES | CONCORD, NC | $61,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM INC | KNOXVILLE, TN | $55,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| THE HAPPY SHOES PROJECT | OOLTEWAH, TN | $50,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| VIRGINIA COMMEMORATIONS INC | RICHMOND, VA | $50,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| FRONTIER HEALTH | GRAY, TN | $50,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF NORTHEA | KINGSPORT, TN | $50,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR MUSEUM OF M | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $50,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| FRIENDS OF THE FESTIVAL | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $47,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| MOUNTAIN HOPE GOOD SHEPHERD CLINIC | SEVIERVILLE, TN | $45,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE TENNESSEE | KNOXVILLE, TN | $40,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| BARTER FOUNDATION INC | ABINGDON, VA | $35,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHATTANOOGA FOUNDATIO | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $35,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| BALLAD HEALTH FOUNDATION | JOHNSON CITY, TN | $33,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| LEGACY PARKS FOUNDATION | KNOXVILLE, TN | $33,334 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| HEALING HANDS HEALTH CENTER INC | BRISTOL, TN | $33,333 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| FEEDING SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA | SALEM, VA | $30,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| EMERALD YOUTH FOUNDATION | KNOXVILLE, TN | $28,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| THE SALVATION ARMY A GEORGIA CORPO | JOHNSON CITY, TN | $27,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| APPALACHIAN HIGHLANDS FOUNDATION | BRISTOL, TN | $25,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER KNOXVILLE IN | KNOXVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF APPALACHI | BRISTOL, VA | $25,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| APPALACHIA SERVICE PROJECT INC | JOHNSON CITY, TN | $25,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | ATLANTA, GA | $20,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| CHALLENGE GOLF ASSOCIATION | CLEVELAND, TN | $20,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| KINGSPORT CHAMBER FOUNDATION INC | KINGSPORT, TN | $20,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| PRESERVE CHATTANOOGA INC | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $20,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| PAT SUMMITT FOUNDATION | KNOXVILLE, TN | $17,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| BRISTOL HUMANE SOCIETY | BRISTOL, VA | $16,667 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION INC | DES MOINES, IA | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| EAST TENNESSEE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | KNOXVILLE, TN | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| EO COMPANIES | ABINGDON, VA | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION O | BRISTOL, TN | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| UNITED WAY OF THE OCOEE REGION INC | CLEVELAND, TN | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| COALITION FOR KIDS INC | JOHNSON CITY, TN | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| PARAMOUNT FOUNDATION INC THE | BRISTOL, TN | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| WREATHS ACROSS CHATTANOOGA | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| BESSIE SMITH CULTURAL CENTER | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| CHATTANOOGA CHAMBER FOUNDATION | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| REACH THEM 2 TEACH THEM | KNOXVILLE, TN | $12,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| TENNESSEE GOLF FOUNDATION | FRANKLIN, TN | $12,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DIS | KNOXVILLE, TN | $10,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS & ITS C | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL INC | WILLIAMSPORT, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| LAFAYETTE AREA EMPTY STOCKING FUND | LAFAYETTE, GA | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| ISAIAH 117 HOUSE | ELIZABETHTON, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| THE FRANKLIN COUNTY EDUCATIONAL FOU | WINCHESTER, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| KNOX HAVEN | KNOXVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF EAST TENNESSE | CLINTON, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE MISSION |
MOUNTAIN MISSION SCHOOL INC
$105,500SUPPORT THE MISSION
THE HAPPY SHOES PROJECT
$50,000SUPPORT THE MISSION
SUPPORT THE MISSION
NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR MUSEUM OF M
$50,000SUPPORT THE MISSION
FRIENDS OF THE FESTIVAL
$47,000SUPPORT THE MISSION
THE SALVATION ARMY A GEORGIA CORPO
$27,500SUPPORT THE MISSION
APPALACHIAN HIGHLANDS FOUNDATION
$25,000SUPPORT THE MISSION
CHALLENGE GOLF ASSOCIATION
$20,000SUPPORT THE MISSION
KINGSPORT CHAMBER FOUNDATION INC
$20,000SUPPORT THE MISSION
PRESERVE CHATTANOOGA INC
$20,000SUPPORT THE MISSION
PAT SUMMITT FOUNDATION
$17,000SUPPORT THE MISSION
BRISTOL HUMANE SOCIETY
$16,667SUPPORT THE MISSION
EO COMPANIES
$15,000SUPPORT THE MISSION
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION O
$15,000SUPPORT THE MISSION
PARAMOUNT FOUNDATION INC THE
$15,000SUPPORT THE MISSION
WREATHS ACROSS CHATTANOOGA
$15,000SUPPORT THE MISSION
BESSIE SMITH CULTURAL CENTER
$15,000SUPPORT THE MISSION
REACH THEM 2 TEACH THEM
$12,500SUPPORT THE MISSION
LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL INC
$10,000SUPPORT THE MISSION
LAFAYETTE AREA EMPTY STOCKING FUND
$10,000SUPPORT THE MISSION
THE FRANKLIN COUNTY EDUCATIONAL FOU
$10,000SUPPORT THE MISSION
KNOX HAVEN
$10,000SUPPORT THE MISSION