About Memphis Education Fund
Memphis Education Fund partners across sectors to expand access to high-quality public school education in Memphis through strategic investments in schools, community partnerships, data-driven research, and advocacy for student-centered policies.
Focus Areas
K-12 educationSchool improvementTeacher development and retentionEducation policy and advocacyCommunity engagement and family supportsResearch and data transparency
Who They Fund
studentsschoolseducators
Funding Style
direct serviceprogram/project supportrestricted to education
About Memphis Education Fund
MEMPHIS EDUCATION FUND INC is headquartered in Memphis, TN. It reported $14,742,863 in annual grants and $3,781,085 in total assets on its latest 990 filing for 2025. Its grantmaking is tied to K-12 education, school improvement, teacher development and retention, education policy and advocacy, community engagement and family supports, and research and data transparency. The foundation’s stated work centers on expanding access to high-quality public school education in Memphis through investments in schools, community partnerships, data-driven research, and advocacy for student-centered policies. Recent grants show both local and national recipients. Among the largest grants listed were $900,000 to CITY YEAR MEMPHIS, $600,000 to REACH UNIVERSITY, and $500,000 to TENNESSEE CHARTER SCHOOL CENTER. Other sizable awards include $448,147 to TEACH LIKE A CHAMPION, $415,000 to NEW LEADERS, and $400,000 to EDUCATION TRUST - SOUTHEAST. Memphis-based grantees also appear repeatedly, including MEMPHIS LIFT, PEER POWER FOUNDATION, LITERACY MID-SOUTH, MAN UP TEACHER FELLOWSHIP, and LEADERSHIP FOR EDUCATIONAL EQUITY. The foundation makes grants to schools, educator support organizations, and community partners within a regional scope of giving.
What Memphis Education Fund Funds
Recent grantmaking spans educational support, school improvement, teacher development, and education policy and advocacy. The active programs point to direct-to-school supports, school design and innovation, community partnerships, public engagement, and pilot-level innovation grants. Notable grants include $500,000 to TENNESSEE CHARTER SCHOOL CENTER for educational support, $400,000 to MEMPHIS LIFT for educational support, and $300,000 to EDUCATION REFORM NOW for educational support. Additional grants to TEACH LIKE A CHAMPION, NEW LEADERS, and EDUCATION TRUST - SOUTHEAST show continued funding for educator support and policy-related work.
How Memphis Education Fund Gives
MEMPHIS EDUCATION FUND INC gives at a scale where the typical grant size ranges from $23,750 at the 25th percentile to $125,000 at the median and $262,500 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards include larger strategic grants as well as smaller pilot-level support through its Innovation Fund. It funds schools, educators, and community organizations, with a stated emphasis on direct service, program or project support, and work restricted to education. Some active programs accept unsolicited applications, including Opportunity 901 and InnovatEd Fellowship, while others do not. Its grantmaking appears regular rather than individual-based.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$4.1M
Total Assets
$3.4M
Total Revenue
$5M
Total Expenses
$5.6M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $24K and $263K, with a median of $125K.
25th Percentile
$24K
Median
$125K
75th Percentile
$263K
Geographic Reach
Regional5 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
TERENCE PATTERSON
Accepts unsolicited proposals
Unlock Deep Analysis
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 FreeSee Similar Funders
Free Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeExplore related grant guides
Want a Personalized Pitch for Memphis Education Fund?
Sign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Free plan available
No contracts
Cancel anytime