The Haslam 3 Foundation concentrates large, strategic gifts in place‑based community development and education, with a secondary interest in health and university support. They fund local civic assets (notably park preservation) and faith‑based youth leadership programs, while also investing in charter school expansion and scholarship initiatives — often through established intermediaries. Their giving mixes high‑impact, multi‑million awards to a small set of organizations with occasional support for medical innovation and higher‑education programs.
The Haslam 3 Foundation Inc makes some of its largest gifts to place-based civic and educational projects, especially in Knoxville and Ohio. Its single largest recent grant was $6.3 million to Lakeshore Park Conservancy to manage and preserve Lakeshore Park, signaling a strong interest in local community assets. Education is another major thread: the foundation has backed Charter School Growth Fund for children’s access to education, The Columbus Foundation for school expansion, and City Fund for growing access to high-quality schools. It also supports Christian youth leadership through Emerald Youth Foundation, and it has made sizable gifts to University of Tennessee-related programs, including the College of Business and student scholarships. Beyond education and civic development, the foundation has funded sports regenerative medicine, natural resource preservation, and community creativity. Across the recent grants list, the pattern is one of large, targeted awards to established intermediaries and institutions rather than many small dispersed gifts.
In education access, the foundation gave $2.2 million to Charter School Growth Fund to give children access to education, then followed with $2 million in 2025 for the same purpose. It also gave $2 million in 2023 and another $2 million in 2025 to The Columbus Foundation to support school expansion, showing sustained backing for school-growth efforts. Higher education is another clear area: the foundation granted $1.01 million to University of Tennessee Foundation to support the College of Business in 2025. Scholarship support appears as well, including $1 million to Peletonia for scholarships and grants. Outside school-focused work, the foundation gave $3 million to University Hospitals Health System for sports regenerative medicine innovation.
Typical grants are relatively large: the 25th percentile is $62,500, the median is $200,000, and the 75th percentile is $267,500. The recent record also shows repeated support to the same recipients across multiple years, including several organizations that received grants in both 2023 and 2025. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it funds individuals. Its grantmaking includes operating support, program support, capital-related support, scholarships, and capacity-building style awards, with many grants routed through established foundations and intermediaries.
$21.4M
$88.7M
$54.9M
$22.2M
Most grants fall between $63K and $268K, with a median of $200K.
25th Percentile
$63K
Median
$200K
75th Percentile
$268K
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Concentrated, large-dollar philanthropy: a small number of multi‑million grants account for most dollars. The foundation makes repeat multi‑year or multiple grants to select organizations and uses intermediaries (community foundations, national education funds) to scale impact rather than many small donations.
Notable grantees: Lakeshore Park Conservancy, Emerald Youth Foundation, Charter School Growth Fund, The Columbus Foundation, Pelotonia
Grant recipients are all in the United States, with Tennessee receiving 39% of grants and ranking first by grant count. Knoxville appears frequently, including Lakeshore Park Conservancy, Emerald Youth Foundation, University of Tennessee Foundation, and Helen Ross McNabb Foundation. Other recurring recipient hubs include Columbus, Cleveland, and Nashville, alongside grants to Chicago, Washington, DC, Milwaukee, and Tallahassee. The geography suggests a Tennessee-centered pattern with additional statewide and national reach.
The recent grants list centers on education, community development, and health. Examples include school expansion through The Columbus Foundation, high-quality school access through City Fund, Christian youth leadership through Emerald Youth Foundation, and sports regenerative medicine through University Hospitals Health System.
The foundation’s grant sizes cluster in the six-figure range. The 25th percentile is $62,500, the median is $200,000, and the 75th percentile is $267,500.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including The Columbus Foundation in 2023 and 2025, University Hospitals Health System in 2023 and 2025, and Tennessee SCORE in 2023 and 2025. That pattern points to recurring relationships rather than one-time awards only.
Recipients are all in the United States, and Tennessee is the top state by grant count with 39% of grants. Knoxville is a frequent recipient city, joined by Columbus, Cleveland, and Nashville.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAKESHORE PARK CONSERVANCY | KNOXVILLE, TN | $6,300,598 | 2025 | MANAGE AND PRESERVE LAKESHORE PARK |
| UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS HEALTH SYSTEM | SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH | $3,000,000 | 2025 | SPORTS REGENERATIVE MEDICINE INNOVAT |
| EMERALD YOUTH FOUNDATION | KNOXVILLE, TN | $2,065,000 | 2025 | DEVELOP CHRISTIAN LEADERS |
| THE COLUMBUS FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $2,000,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT SCHOOL EXPANSION |
| CHARTER SCHOOL GROWTH FUND | BROOMFIELD, CO | $2,000,000 | 2025 | GIVE CHILDREN ACCESS TO EDUCATION |
| CITY FUND | BEAVERTON, OR | $1,323,000 | 2025 | GROW ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY SCHOOLS |
| UNIVERSITY OF TN FOUNDATION | KNOXVILLE, TN | $1,010,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT COLLEGE OF BUSINESS |
| PELETONIA | COLUMBUS, OH | $1,000,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS |
| MMAC COMMUNITY SUPPORT | MILWAUKEE, WI | $500,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND GROWTH |
| TN SCORE | NASHVILLE, TN | $250,000 | 2025 | TN STUDENTS PREPARATION FOR SUCCESS |
| TENNESSEE STATE MUSEUM | NASHVILLE, TN | $250,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTION |
| PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT CLEVELAND SCHOOLS |
| GLOBAL AMBASSADORS LANGUAGE ACADEMY | CLEVELAND, OH | $200,000 | 2025 | ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND BILINGUALISM |
| FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCAT | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $200,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT |
| THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION | CLEVELAND, OH | $200,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| MARYVILLE COLLEGE | MARYVILLE, TN | $200,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS AND PROGRAMS |
| KNOXVILLE PREPARATORY SCHOOL | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $197,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION ACCESS |
| THOMAS B FORDHAM INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | ADVANCING EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE |
| THE CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $100,000 | 2025 | GUARDIANS OF FREE SPEECH CAMPAIGN |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA OHIO | CLEVELAND, OH | $100,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT EDUCATION |
| TN ACHIEVES | KNOXVILLE, TN | $75,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT STUDENTS ENTERING COLLEGE |
| UNITED SCHOOLS NETWORK | COLUMBUS, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION ACCESS |
| DIVERSE CHARTER SCHOOLS COALITION | NEW YORK, NY | $34,525 | 2025 | ACCESS TO QUALITY CHARTER SCHOOLS |
| URBAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL | CLEVELAND, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | SCHOOL EXPANSION |
| HEARTLAND FORWARD | BENTONVILLE, AR | $25,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH FOR POLICY SOLUTIONS |
| UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO | COLUMBUS, OH | $20,000 | 2025 | ADVANCE COMMON GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY |
| WEBB SCHOOL OF KNOXVILLE | KNOXVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2025 | STUDENT ATHLETIC PROGRAMS |
| KNOX EDUCATION FOUNDATION | KNOXVILLE, TN | $4,100 | 2025 | SUPPORT STUDENT EDUCATION |
| LAKESHORE PARK CONSERVANCY | KNOXVILLE, TN | $17,728,009 | 2024 | MANAGE AND PRESERVE LAKESHORE PARK |
| UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS HEALTH SYSTEM | SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH | $3,450,000 | 2024 | SPORTS REGENERATIVE MEDICINE INNOVAT |
| EMERALD YOUTH FOUNDATION | KNOXVILLE, TN | $2,300,000 | 2024 | DEVELOP CHRISTIAN LEADERS |
| CHARTER SCHOOL GROWTH FUND | BROOMFIELD, CO | $2,000,000 | 2024 | GIVE CHILDREN ACCESS TO EDUCATION |
| THE COLUMBUS FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $1,000,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT SCHOOL EXPANSION |
| UNIVERSITY OF TN FOUNDATION | KNOXVILLE, TN | $960,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT COLLEGE OF BUSINESS |
| METRO SCHOOLS | COLUMBUS, OH | $500,000 | 2024 | DELIVER GREAT EDUCATION |
| AFC GROWTH FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF K-12 EDUCATION |
| KNOX EDUCATION FOUNDATION | KNOXVILLE, TN | $304,175 | 2024 | SUPPORT STUDENT EDUCATION |
| TENNESSEE STATE MUSEUM | NASHVILLE, TN | $250,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTION |
| THE DREXEL FUND | SEATTLE, WA | $250,000 | 2024 | PRIVATE SCHOOL OPTIONS |
| TN SCORE | NASHVILLE, TN | $250,000 | 2024 | TN STUDENTS PREPARATION FOR SUCCESS |
| THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA | CLEVELAND, OH | $222,250 | 2024 | INSPIRE COMMUNITY CREATIVITY |
| FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCAT | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $200,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT |
| THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION | CLEVELAND, OH | $200,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT CLEVELAND SCHOOLS |
| WESTERN RESERVE LAND CONSERVANCY | MORELAND HILLS, OH | $200,000 | 2024 | PRESERVE NATURAL RESOURCES |
| THE CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $100,000 | 2024 | GUARDIANS OF FREE SPEECH CAMPAIGN |
| TN ACHIEVES | KNOXVILLE, TN | $75,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT STUDENTS ENTERING COLLEGE |
| EAST TN CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL ASSOC | KNOXVILLE, TN | $55,000 | 2024 | HEALTHCARE FOR CHILDREN AND INFANTS |
| PLAYHOUSE SQUARE | CLEVELAND, OH | $50,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT THEATRE PROGRAMS |
| CLAYTON BRADLEY ACADEMY | MARYVILLE, TN | $50,000 | 2024 | STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT |
LAKESHORE PARK CONSERVANCY
$6,300,598MANAGE AND PRESERVE LAKESHORE PARK
UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS HEALTH SYSTEM
$3,000,000SPORTS REGENERATIVE MEDICINE INNOVAT
EMERALD YOUTH FOUNDATION
$2,065,000DEVELOP CHRISTIAN LEADERS
THE COLUMBUS FOUNDATION
$2,000,000SUPPORT SCHOOL EXPANSION
CHARTER SCHOOL GROWTH FUND
$2,000,000GIVE CHILDREN ACCESS TO EDUCATION
CITY FUND
$1,323,000GROW ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY SCHOOLS
UNIVERSITY OF TN FOUNDATION
$1,010,000SUPPORT COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
PELETONIA
$1,000,000SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS
MMAC COMMUNITY SUPPORT
$500,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND GROWTH
TN SCORE
$250,000TN STUDENTS PREPARATION FOR SUCCESS
TENNESSEE STATE MUSEUM
$250,000SUPPORT NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS
$200,000SUPPORT CLEVELAND SCHOOLS
GLOBAL AMBASSADORS LANGUAGE ACADEMY
$200,000ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND BILINGUALISM
FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCAT
$200,000SUPPORT OF EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT
THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION
$200,000SCHOLARSHIP FUND
MARYVILLE COLLEGE
$200,000SCHOLARSHIPS AND PROGRAMS
KNOXVILLE PREPARATORY SCHOOL
$197,500EDUCATION ACCESS
THOMAS B FORDHAM INSTITUTE
$100,000ADVANCING EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE
THE CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND
$100,000GUARDIANS OF FREE SPEECH CAMPAIGN
TEACH FOR AMERICA OHIO
$100,000SUPPORT EDUCATION
TN ACHIEVES
$75,000SUPPORT STUDENTS ENTERING COLLEGE
UNITED SCHOOLS NETWORK
$50,000EDUCATION ACCESS
DIVERSE CHARTER SCHOOLS COALITION
$34,525ACCESS TO QUALITY CHARTER SCHOOLS
URBAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL
$25,000SCHOOL EXPANSION
HEARTLAND FORWARD
$25,000RESEARCH FOR POLICY SOLUTIONS
UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO
$20,000ADVANCE COMMON GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY
WEBB SCHOOL OF KNOXVILLE
$5,000STUDENT ATHLETIC PROGRAMS
KNOX EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$4,100SUPPORT STUDENT EDUCATION
LAKESHORE PARK CONSERVANCY
$17,728,009MANAGE AND PRESERVE LAKESHORE PARK
UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS HEALTH SYSTEM
$3,450,000SPORTS REGENERATIVE MEDICINE INNOVAT
EMERALD YOUTH FOUNDATION
$2,300,000DEVELOP CHRISTIAN LEADERS
CHARTER SCHOOL GROWTH FUND
$2,000,000GIVE CHILDREN ACCESS TO EDUCATION
THE COLUMBUS FOUNDATION
$1,000,000SUPPORT SCHOOL EXPANSION
UNIVERSITY OF TN FOUNDATION
$960,000SUPPORT COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
METRO SCHOOLS
$500,000DELIVER GREAT EDUCATION
AFC GROWTH FUND
$500,000SUPPORT OF K-12 EDUCATION
KNOX EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$304,175SUPPORT STUDENT EDUCATION
TENNESSEE STATE MUSEUM
$250,000SUPPORT NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
THE DREXEL FUND
$250,000PRIVATE SCHOOL OPTIONS
TN SCORE
$250,000TN STUDENTS PREPARATION FOR SUCCESS
THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA
$222,250INSPIRE COMMUNITY CREATIVITY
FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCAT
$200,000SUPPORT OF EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT
THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION
$200,000SCHOLARSHIP FUND
PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS
$200,000SUPPORT CLEVELAND SCHOOLS
WESTERN RESERVE LAND CONSERVANCY
$200,000PRESERVE NATURAL RESOURCES
THE CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND
$100,000GUARDIANS OF FREE SPEECH CAMPAIGN
TN ACHIEVES
$75,000SUPPORT STUDENTS ENTERING COLLEGE
EAST TN CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL ASSOC
$55,000HEALTHCARE FOR CHILDREN AND INFANTS
PLAYHOUSE SQUARE
$50,000SUPPORT THEATRE PROGRAMS
CLAYTON BRADLEY ACADEMY
$50,000STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT