The James W Pickle Charitable Foundation focuses narrowly on funding medical-device access and disability-related clinical services, prioritizing hearing and mobility interventions for children and individuals in need. They fund cochlear implants, hearing aids, prosthetics (including athletic blades), and targeted dental/vision mission support, often through both specialized nonprofits and hospital programs. Grants are outcome-driven and frequently directed toward specific patient needs or device purchases rather than general operating support.
The James W Pickle Charitable Foundation gives to a tightly defined set of needs centered on hearing, mobility, and other clinical supports tied to specific patients. Its largest recent award was a $97,283 grant to Cochlear Americas for cochlear processor and implant device support, followed by a $60,000 grant to Ascension Saint Thomas Mission & Ministry for dental and vision funding. Those grants show a pattern of direct, outcome-oriented support rather than broad program funding. Across the recent grants list, the foundation repeatedly backs device purchases and specialized treatment access. It supported cochlear implants for Jacob's Ride and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, prosthetics at Shriner's Hospitals, and hearing aids through Hear Nashville. It also funded blades and sockets for Amputee Blade Runners, reflecting a strong emphasis on assistive technology for people with hearing loss and physical disabilities. The foundation’s grants are often tied to named individuals or narrowly specified service needs, such as cochlear devices, BAHA implants, or patient transportation for medical care. Several awards go to hospital mission and ministry programs, while others flow to specialized nonprofits that purchase devices or cover service costs for children and adults.
Hearing-related aid is a core part of the foundation’s giving. In 2025, it gave $25,000 to Hear Nashville for hearing aids for 25 people, and in 2024 it awarded $10,550 to East Tn State University for a cochlear processor for Louise Dozier. It also supports cochlear implant access through hospital and specialty-care channels. Examples include $18,150 to Surgicare of Jackson for a cochlear implant and $17,000 to Duke University School of Medicine for a cochlear implant. Mobility and prosthetic support is another clear thread. The foundation gave $40,000 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025 to Shriner's Hospitals for prosthetics, and it funded $35,000 to Amputee Blade Runners for blades and sockets. Beyond those areas, it has supported dental and vision funding through Ascension Saint Thomas Mission & Ministry and transport assistance through Miracle Flights.
Typical grants sit in a mid-range band: the p25 is $5,150, the median is $17,000, and the p75 is $25,000. The recent list also shows some larger device purchases, including a $97,283 award and several grants at $40,000. The pattern is case-by-case rather than recurring operating support. Some recipients appear in multiple years, including Shriner's Hospitals, Ascension Saint Thomas Mission & Ministry, Hear Nashville, Amputee Blade Runners, and Miracle Flights. The foundation does not fund individuals directly, and the grants function as targeted support for devices, procedures, or related service costs.
$279K
$3.6M
$700K
$447K
Most grants fall between $5K and $25K, with a median of $17K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$17K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Concentrated, program-specific giving: mid-size to large grants focused on purchasing medical devices for named individuals or cohorts. The foundation makes multiple repeat grants to several specialized grantees (Shriner's Hospitals, Amputee Blade Runners, Hear Nashville) and works with both nonprofit service providers and hospital systems; support is transactional and device-centered rather than broad unrestricted funding.
Notable grantees: Shriner's Hospitals (prosthetics), Cochlear Americas (cochlear processors/implants), Amputee Blade Runners (blades and sockets), Hear Nashville (hearing aids), Ascension Saint Thomas Mission & Ministry (dental and vision funding)
Grantmaking is regional and lands mostly in the United States. Tennessee is the main recipient state by volume, with 44% of grants going to recipients there. Recent awards also cluster in Ohio, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Indiana, Colorado, New Jersey, Nevada, and Alabama. In Tennessee, recipients include Nashville, Franklin, Murfreesboro, and Elizabethton; outside the state, examples include Westlake, Lexington, Annapolis, and Cleveland Medical Center-related support in Ohio.
The foundation focuses on medical-device access and disability-related clinical services, especially cochlear implants and processors, hearing aids, prosthetics and mobility devices, dental and vision funding, and medical transportation. Recent grants include support for cochlear devices, prosthetics, blades and sockets, and transport for medical care.
No. The foundation’s profile states that it does not fund individuals directly. The recent grants instead flow through hospitals, specialty nonprofits, and mission-and-ministry programs that cover specific patient needs or equipment purchases.
The typical grant size is $5,150 at the 25th percentile, $17,000 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards include both smaller support for equipment and larger device-related grants, including a $97,283 award for cochlear processor and implant device support.
Hearing and mobility assistance appear most often. Recent awards include hearing aids for 25 people, cochlear implants and cochlear processors, prosthetics, and blades and sockets. The foundation also made grants for dental and vision funding and for air and ground transportation tied to medical care.
The grantmaking is regional, and Tennessee receives 44% of the grants. Recent recipients in Tennessee include Nashville, Franklin, Murfreesboro, and Elizabethton, while other grants went to places such as Westlake, Lexington, Annapolis, and Las Vegas.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COCHLEAR AMERICAS | LONE TREE, CO | $97,283 | 2025 | COCHLEAR PROCESSOR/IMPLANT DEVICE |
| ASCENSION SAINT THOMAS MISSION & MINISTRY | NASHVILLE, TN | $60,000 | 2025 | DENTAL AND VISION FUNDING |
| SHRINER'S HOSPITALS | LEXINGTON, KY | $40,000 | 2025 | PROSTHETICS |
| AMPUTEE BLADE RUNNERS | NASHVILLE, TN | $35,000 | 2025 | BLADES AND SOCKETTS |
| HEAR NASHVILLE | NASHVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | HEAR AIDS FOR 25 PEOPLE |
| SURGERY CENTER OF CARMEL | CARMEL, IN | $17,000 | 2025 | COCHLEAR DEVICE |
| MIRACLE FLIGHTS | LAS VEGAS, NV | $5,000 | 2025 | AIR AND GROUND TRANSPORTATION |
| SHRINER'S HOSPITALS | LEXINGTON, KY | $40,000 | 2024 | PROSTHETICS |
| UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS CLEVELAND MEDICAL CENTER | WESTLAKE, OH | $36,900 | 2024 | COCHLEAR IMPLANT -WYATT MOODY, 2 YEARS, 2 MONTHS OLD (COCHLEAR AMERICA) AND ANTONIA CONSTANTIN, 12 YEAR OLD (COCHLEAR AMERICA) |
| HEAR NASHVILLE | NASHVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2024 | HEAR AIDS FOR 25 PEOPLE |
| AMPUTEE BLADE RUNNERS | NASHVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2024 | BLADES AND SOCKETTS |
| ST FRANCIS HOSPITAL | TULSA, OK | $17,060 | 2024 | COCHLEAR DEVICE FOR CHRISTINA CLARK |
| EAST TN STATE UNIVERSITY | ELIZABETHTON, TN | $10,550 | 2024 | COCHLEAR PROCESSOR FOR LOUISE DOZIER, DOB 11/12/79 |
| ABE'S YOUTH | FRANKLIN, TN | $5,600 | 2024 | TOP END ELIMINATOR U CAGE OSR RACING WHEELCHAIR |
| OTICON | SOMERSET, NJ | $5,300 | 2024 | BAHA (DANIEL IS DOING THE SURGERY FOR FREE) |
| MIRACLE FLIGHTS | LAS VEGAS, NV | $5,000 | 2024 | AIR AND GROUND TRANSPORTATION |
| SPECIAL KIDS | MURFREESBORO, TN | $4,681 | 2024 | TWO LIFTS AND AN AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR |
| LAKESHORE FOUNDATION | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $3,795 | 2024 | ZION WHEELCHAIR FOR RUGBY |
| EMORY HEALTHCARE | LONE TREE, CO | $647 | 2024 | COCHLEAR AMERICA (OUTPATIENT COSTS) FOR CARROL DEWAYNE WATKINS |
| JACOB'S RIDE | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $51,130 | 2023 | COCHLEAR IMPLANT |
| SHRINER'S HOSPITALS | LEXINGTON, KY | $40,000 | 2023 | PROSTHETICS |
| ASCENSION SAINT THOMAS MISSION & MINISTRY | NASHVILLE, TN | $32,000 | 2023 | DENTAL AND VISION FUNDING |
| HEAR NASHVILLE | NASHVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2023 | HEAR AIDS |
| AMPUTEE BLADE RUNNERS | NASHVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2023 | BLADES AND SOCKETTS |
| SURGICARE OF JACKSON | FLOWOOD, MS | $18,150 | 2023 | COCHLEAR IMPLANT |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | DURHAM, NC | $17,000 | 2023 | COCHLEAR IMPLANT |
| CARE CONNECTION FOR CHILDREN | ROANOKE, VA | $14,917 | 2023 | 2 BAHA IMPLANTS |
| GILDA'S CLUB | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,900 | 2023 | SOFTWARE AND LICENSE |
| MIRACLE FLIGHTS | LAS VEGAS, NV | $5,000 | 2023 | AIR AND GROUND TRANSPORTATION |
| ABE'S GARDEN | NASHVILLE, TN | $3,900 | 2023 | 6 VITAL SIGNS MONITORS W/ROLLING STANDS |
COCHLEAR AMERICAS
$97,283COCHLEAR PROCESSOR/IMPLANT DEVICE
ASCENSION SAINT THOMAS MISSION & MINISTRY
$60,000DENTAL AND VISION FUNDING
SHRINER'S HOSPITALS
$40,000PROSTHETICS
AMPUTEE BLADE RUNNERS
$35,000BLADES AND SOCKETTS
HEAR NASHVILLE
$25,000HEAR AIDS FOR 25 PEOPLE
SURGERY CENTER OF CARMEL
$17,000COCHLEAR DEVICE
MIRACLE FLIGHTS
$5,000AIR AND GROUND TRANSPORTATION
SHRINER'S HOSPITALS
$40,000PROSTHETICS
UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS CLEVELAND MEDICAL CENTER
$36,900COCHLEAR IMPLANT -WYATT MOODY, 2 YEARS, 2 MONTHS OLD (COCHLEAR AMERICA) AND ANTONIA CONSTANTIN, 12 YEAR OLD (COCHLEAR AMERICA)
HEAR NASHVILLE
$25,000HEAR AIDS FOR 25 PEOPLE
ST FRANCIS HOSPITAL
$17,060COCHLEAR DEVICE FOR CHRISTINA CLARK
EAST TN STATE UNIVERSITY
$10,550COCHLEAR PROCESSOR FOR LOUISE DOZIER, DOB 11/12/79
ABE'S YOUTH
$5,600TOP END ELIMINATOR U CAGE OSR RACING WHEELCHAIR
OTICON
$5,300BAHA (DANIEL IS DOING THE SURGERY FOR FREE)
MIRACLE FLIGHTS
$5,000AIR AND GROUND TRANSPORTATION
EMORY HEALTHCARE
$647COCHLEAR AMERICA (OUTPATIENT COSTS) FOR CARROL DEWAYNE WATKINS
JACOB'S RIDE
$51,130COCHLEAR IMPLANT
SHRINER'S HOSPITALS
$40,000PROSTHETICS
ASCENSION SAINT THOMAS MISSION & MINISTRY
$32,000DENTAL AND VISION FUNDING
HEAR NASHVILLE
$25,000HEAR AIDS
SURGICARE OF JACKSON
$18,150COCHLEAR IMPLANT
CARE CONNECTION FOR CHILDREN
$14,9172 BAHA IMPLANTS
GILDA'S CLUB
$5,900SOFTWARE AND LICENSE
MIRACLE FLIGHTS
$5,000AIR AND GROUND TRANSPORTATION
ABE'S GARDEN
$3,9006 VITAL SIGNS MONITORS W/ROLLING STANDS