The Hacker and Kitty Caldwell Family Foundation concentrates its support in Chattanooga-area cultural and educational institutions, prioritizing museums, arts organizations and a prominent local private school. Grants often fund general operating needs or sponsor museum programs and donor circles, indicating a willingness to provide flexible, sustaining support to community anchors. The foundation makes multiple, sometimes repeat, gifts to the same local nonprofits, suggesting long‑term relationships with a small set of grantees.
The foundation’s recent giving shows a sustained commitment to Chattanooga institutions, with repeated large grants to McCallie School, Stove Works, and the Hunter Museum of American Art. Those awards point to a portfolio centered on education, museums, and local arts organizations, with support often structured as general operating aid or program sponsorship. The largest recent grant in the list was $114,100 to McCallie School for general operations, followed by multiple six-figure or near-six-figure awards spread across a small set of Chattanooga recipients. The Hacker and Kitty Caldwell Family Foundation Inc also appears to favor long-term relationships. Stove Works received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while the Hunter Museum of American Art and the Creative Discovery Museum both appear in more than one year. United Way of Greater Chattanooga and Church of the Good Shepherd also recur, showing that the foundation’s support extends beyond arts and education into broader local community institutions. A smaller set of nonlocal grantees, including Smithsonian Institution, Randolph College, and Winous Point Marsh Conservancy, indicates some regional and national interest alongside its Chattanooga emphasis.
In education, the foundation gave $114,100 to The Mccallie School for general operations and $7,500 to Girls Preparatory School for an annual fund gift made on behalf of Kate Caldwell Nevin. Those grants show support for independent secondary education and recurring institutional funding. In arts and museums, it backed Stove Works with $67,504 for general operations and $42,500 to the Hunter Museum of American Art for Lindy Hop. It also supported The Creative Discovery Museum with $42,500 for a museum sponsorship. Community and civic support is also present. United Way of Greater Chattanooga received $35,000 for the Transforming United Way Campaign, and Chattanooga Church Ministries received $15,000 for general operations. Outside Chattanooga, the foundation funded conservation-oriented work through Winous Point Marsh Conservancy, Atlantic Salmon Federation, and Delta Waterfowl Foundation.
Typical awards are modest to mid-sized, with a p25 of $250, a median of $1,000, and a p75 of $5,000, even though the recent-grants list also includes larger operating gifts and sponsorships. The pattern suggests a mix of many small grants and a smaller number of substantial relationship gifts. Recipients recur across multiple years, especially local institutions such as Stove Works, the Hunter Museum of American Art, and United Way of Greater Chattanooga. The foundation appears to be a family foundation and gives through grants rather than program-related investments or individual support.
$169K
$174K
-$39K
$184K
Most grants fall between $250 and $5K, with a median of $1K.
25th Percentile
$250
Median
$1K
75th Percentile
$5K
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Concentrated local giving with relatively few, moderately large grants; repeat funding to core grantees and emphasis on general operating and sponsorship support rather than many small, one‑off gifts.
Notable grantees: Stove Works, The McCallie School, Hunter Museum of American Art, The Creative Discovery Museum
Grant activity is strongly concentrated in Tennessee, which accounts for 51% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Chattanooga recipients appear repeatedly, including The McCallie School, Stove Works, the Hunter Museum of American Art, The Creative Discovery Museum, and United Way of Greater Chattanooga. The foundation also made grants to Lookout Mountain and other nearby Tennessee communities. Outside Tennessee, the grants list includes Port Clinton, Ohio; Lynchburg, Virginia; Washington, DC; Calais, Maine; and Bismarck, North Dakota, but the overall footprint remains regional.
Its recent grants center on Chattanooga museums and cultural institutions, independent education, and local civic organizations. The list also includes conservation groups and a small number of grants to churches and fundraising campaigns, showing a mix of arts, education, community, and environmental support.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Stove Works, the Hunter Museum of American Art, The Creative Discovery Museum, United Way of Greater Chattanooga, Church of the Good Shepherd, Winous Point Marsh Conservancy, and Atlantic Salmon Federation. That pattern points to ongoing relationships rather than one-time gifts.
The distribution is small overall: p25 is $250, median grant size is $1,000, and p75 is $5,000. The recent grants list also shows larger awards for operating support and sponsorships, including six-figure gifts to Chattanooga education and arts institutions.
Tennessee is the top state by grant count, and 51% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Chattanooga is the main city appearing in the recent grants list, with additional Tennessee gifts in Lookout Mountain.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STOVE WORKS | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $67,504 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HUNTER MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $42,500 | 2025 | LINDY HOP |
| WINOUS POINT MARSH CONSERVANCY | PORT CLINTON, OH | $24,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MCCALLIE SCHOOL | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD | LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, TN | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN SCHOOL | LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, TN | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| A STEP AHEAD CHATTANOOGA | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE PLATEAU | CASHIERS, NC | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| REFLECTION RIDING | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $1,100 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH | SEWANEE, TN | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| GIRLS PREPARATORY SCHOOL | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $1,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL FUND ON BEHALF OF KATE CALDWELL NEVIN |
| THE POP UP PROJECT | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ST MARGARETS SCHOOL | TAPPAHANNOCK, VA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CASTLETON FESTIVAL | CASTLETON, VA | $1,000 | 2025 | VOCAL IMMERSION PROGRAM |
| KAVOD | DENVER, CO | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY GREATER CHATTANOOGA | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $750 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION | COLLIERVILLE, TN | $500 | 2025 | GENNERAL OPERATIONS |
| RILEY FOUNDATION | HIGHLAND, UT | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CHATTANOOGA FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES | HIXSON, TN | $250 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY | ITHACA, NY | $250 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| RANDOLPH COLLEGE | LYNCHBURG, VA | $250 | 2025 | MAIER MUSEUM |
| VOICES FOR A SAFER TENNESSEE COALITION | NASHVILLE, TN | $250 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CHATTANOOGA BACH CHOIR INC | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $150 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MCCALLIE SCHOOL | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $60,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| STOVE WORKS | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $42,502 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HUNTER MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $36,000 | 2024 | CHAIRMAN'S CIRCLE |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER CHATTANOOGA | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $35,000 | 2024 | TRANSFORMING UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN |
| CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD | LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, TN | $28,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WINOUS POINT MARSH CONSERVANCY | PORT CLINTON, OH | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| RANDOLPH COLLEGE | LYNCHBURG, VA | $22,974 | 2024 | MAIER MUSEUM |
| THE CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $17,500 | 2024 | 2022 MUSEUM SPONSORSHIP |
| ATLANTIC SALMON FEDERATION | CALAIS, ME | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CHATTANOOGA CHURCH MINISTRIES | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $14,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DELTA WATERFOWL FOUNDATION | BISMARK, ND | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| GIRLS PREPARATORY SCHOOL | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $4,500 | 2024 | ANNUAL FUND ON BEHALF OF KATE CALDWELL NEVIN |
| LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN SCHOOL | LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, TN | $4,200 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ARTSBUILD | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $4,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH | SEWANEE, TN | $3,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA | ASHVILLE, NC | $2,500 | 2024 | WADE HAMPTON FOUNDATION FUND |
| DARDEN SCHOOL FOUNDATION | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THE POP UP PROJECT | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| EARTH & SOUL | CASPER, WY | $2,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| A STEP AHEAD CHATTANOOGA | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $2,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| REFLECTION RIDING | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $1,100 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
STOVE WORKS
$67,504GENERAL OPERATIONS
HUNTER MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
$42,500LINDY HOP
CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN SCHOOL
$3,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
A STEP AHEAD CHATTANOOGA
$2,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
REFLECTION RIDING
$1,100GENERAL OPERATIONS
GIRLS PREPARATORY SCHOOL
$1,000ANNUAL FUND ON BEHALF OF KATE CALDWELL NEVIN
THE POP UP PROJECT
$1,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
ST MARGARETS SCHOOL
$1,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
CASTLETON FESTIVAL
$1,000VOCAL IMMERSION PROGRAM
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY GREATER CHATTANOOGA
$750GENERAL OPERATIONS
AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$500GENNERAL OPERATIONS
RILEY FOUNDATION
$500GENERAL OPERATIONS
CHATTANOOGA FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES
$250GENERAL OPERATIONS
CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY
$250GENERAL OPERATIONS
RANDOLPH COLLEGE
$250MAIER MUSEUM
VOICES FOR A SAFER TENNESSEE COALITION
$250GENERAL OPERATIONS
CHATTANOOGA BACH CHOIR INC
$150GENERAL OPERATIONS
STOVE WORKS
$42,502GENERAL OPERATIONS
HUNTER MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
$36,000CHAIRMAN'S CIRCLE
CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
$28,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
RANDOLPH COLLEGE
$22,974MAIER MUSEUM
METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
DELTA WATERFOWL FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
GIRLS PREPARATORY SCHOOL
$4,500ANNUAL FUND ON BEHALF OF KATE CALDWELL NEVIN
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN SCHOOL
$4,200GENERAL OPERATIONS
WADE HAMPTON FOUNDATION FUND
DARDEN SCHOOL FOUNDATION
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
THE POP UP PROJECT
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
EARTH & SOUL
$2,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
A STEP AHEAD CHATTANOOGA
$2,000GENERAL OPERATIONS