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    5. Tennessee

    Grants in Tennessee

    1,752 foundations$5B total annual giving$13K median grant27 metro areas

    Tennessee Grantmaking at a Glance

    Foundations HQ'd Here

    1,752

    Foundations Funding Here

    14,500

    Total Annual Giving

    $5B

    Total Assets Under Management

    Largest Foundations in Tennessee

    FoundationCityAnnual GivingTotal AssetsMedian GrantNTEEScope
    COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER MEMPHIS INCMEMPHIS$248.8M$953.1M$22KT310Regional
    SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF MIDDLE TN INCNASHVILLE$129.8M$88.3M$55KK300Local
    Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    Explore Tennessee Foundations

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    Tennessee(locked)

    What Gets Funded in Tennessee

    Top Cause Areas

    Education
    625$909.3M
    Education625 · $909.3M
    Philanthropy & Voluntarism
    509$895.8M
    Philanthropy & Voluntarism509 · $895.8M
    Human Services
    393$374.2M
    Human Services393 · $374.2M

    Where Foundations Are Located in Tennessee

    Top 10 metro areas by foundation count

    Metro AreaFoundationsTotal Annual GivingAvg Grant Size
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Fra…1,181$1.3B$1.1M
    Memphis, TN-MS-AR469$2.9B$6.2M
    Knoxville, TN

    Types of Foundations in Tennessee

    Family Foundation
    24.7%
    70124.7%$457.2M
    Family Foundation701 (24.7%)

    $457.2M in annual giving

    Independent Foundation
    19.9%
    56719.9%$395.6M

    Typical Grant Profile in Tennessee

    Median Grant Size

    $13K

    New Grantee Rate

    41%

    Accept Unsolicited Proposals

    73%

    Most Recent Filing Year

    2026

    The typical Tennessee foundation awards grants of $13K. Approximately 41% of Tennessee foundations actively fund new organizations, and 73% accept unsolicited proposals.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Grants in Tennessee

    How many foundations give grants in Tennessee?
    There are 1,752 grantmaking foundations headquartered in Tennessee and an additional 12,748 out-of-state foundations that fund Tennessee-based organizations.
    What is the average grant size in Tennessee?
    The median grant from Tennessee foundations is $13K. Actual grant sizes vary widely depending on the foundation's size and focus area.
    What are the largest foundations in Tennessee?

    AI-Powered Grant Intelligence for Tennessee

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    Tennessee is home to 1,752 grantmaking foundations with combined annual giving of $5B. The median grant from Tennessee foundations is $13K.

    $94B

    Median Grant Size

    $13K

    Nashville
    $125.1M
    $7.8B
    $75K
    E20
    National
    CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MEMPHISMEMPHIS$109.7M$229M$25KT31Regional
    Vanderbilt UniversityNashville$91.2M$14.8B$53KB43National
    THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE INCNASHVILLE$59.7M$832M$11KT310Regional
    THE FRIST FOUNDATIONNASHVILLE$58M$195.6M$10KT20Regional
    OPERATION COMPASSIONCLEVELAND$50.8M$18.9M$56KX20Regional
    CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONCHATTANOOGA$36.4M$136.1M$20KT31Regional
    ACCELERATE - THE NATIONAL COLLABORATIVE FOR ACCELERATED LEARNINGNASHVILLE$30.7M$12.1M$5KB05National
    COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER MEMPHIS INC

    MEMPHIS

    Annual Giving

    $248.8M

    Total Assets

    $953.1M

    Median Grant

    $22K

    T310Regional
    SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF MIDDLE TN INC

    NASHVILLE

    Annual Giving

    $129.8M

    Total Assets

    $88.3M

    Median Grant

    $55K

    K300Local
    Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    Nashville

    Annual Giving

    $125.1M

    Total Assets

    $7.8B

    Median Grant

    $75K

    E20National
    CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MEMPHIS

    MEMPHIS

    Annual Giving

    $109.7M

    Total Assets

    $229M

    Median Grant

    $25K

    T31Regional
    Vanderbilt University

    Nashville

    Annual Giving

    $91.2M

    Total Assets

    $14.8B

    Median Grant

    $53K

    B43National
    THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE INC

    NASHVILLE

    Annual Giving

    $59.7M

    Total Assets

    $832M

    Median Grant

    $11K

    T310Regional
    THE FRIST FOUNDATION

    NASHVILLE

    Annual Giving

    $58M

    Total Assets

    $195.6M

    Median Grant

    $10K

    T20Regional
    OPERATION COMPASSION

    CLEVELAND

    Annual Giving

    $50.8M

    Total Assets

    $18.9M

    Median Grant

    $56K

    X20Regional
    CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

    CHATTANOOGA

    Annual Giving

    $36.4M

    Total Assets

    $136.1M

    Median Grant

    $20K

    T31Regional
    ACCELERATE - THE NATIONAL COLLABORATIVE FOR ACCELERATED LEARNING

    NASHVILLE

    Annual Giving

    $30.7M

    Total Assets

    $12.1M

    Median Grant

    $5K

    B05National
    See all 1,752 foundations
    Religion-Related
    313$2.4B
    Religion-Related313 · $2.4B
    Arts, Culture & Humanities
    261$158.8M
    Arts, Culture & Humanities261 · $158.8M
    Health Care
    243$277.5M
    Health Care243 · $277.5M
    Recreation & Sports
    134$108.4M
    Recreation & Sports134 · $108.4M
    Youth Development
    133$86M
    Youth Development133 · $86M
    Housing & Shelter
    115$88.1M
    Housing & Shelter115 · $88.1M
    Animal-Related
    104$27.4M
    Animal-Related104 · $27.4M
    CategoryFundersGiving

    Common Focus Areas

    General Operating(442)Healthcare(237)College Access(213)Youth Development(202)Capacity Building(139)Arts Culture(138)Food Access(116)Emergency Assistance(111)Housing(104)Research(97)Mental Health Services(77)Conservation(69)Workforce Development(58)Disaster Relief(54)Literacy(50)Early Childhood(45)Community Organizing(37)Environmental Education(32)Advocacy(32)Foster Care Services(31)
    383
    $371.2M
    $969K
    Chattanooga, TN-GA239$219.4M$918K
    Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA60$41.1M$685K
    Johnson City, TN55$30.2M$549K
    Cleveland, TN39$60.5M$1.6M
    Cookeville, TN37$19.4M$524K
    Jackson, TN28$7M$249K
    Clarksville, TN-KY26$33.8M$1.3M
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Fra…
    Foundations

    1,181

    Total Giving

    $1.3B

    Avg Grant

    $1.1M

    Memphis, TN-MS-AR
    Foundations

    469

    Total Giving

    $2.9B

    Avg Grant

    $6.2M

    Knoxville, TN
    Foundations

    383

    Total Giving

    $371.2M

    Avg Grant

    $969K

    Chattanooga, TN-GA
    Foundations

    239

    Total Giving

    $219.4M

    Avg Grant

    $918K

    Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
    Foundations

    60

    Total Giving

    $41.1M

    Avg Grant

    $685K

    Johnson City, TN
    Foundations

    55

    Total Giving

    $30.2M

    Avg Grant

    $549K

    Cleveland, TN
    Foundations

    39

    Total Giving

    $60.5M

    Avg Grant

    $1.6M

    Cookeville, TN
    Foundations

    37

    Total Giving

    $19.4M

    Avg Grant

    $524K

    Jackson, TN
    Foundations

    28

    Total Giving

    $7M

    Avg Grant

    $249K

    Clarksville, TN-KY
    Foundations

    26

    Total Giving

    $33.8M

    Avg Grant

    $1.3M

    Independent Foundation
    567 (19.9%)

    $395.6M in annual giving

    Operating Nonprofit
    14.5%
    41114.5%$602.5M
    Operating Nonprofit411 (14.5%)

    $602.5M in annual giving

    Faith-Based Foundation
    1736.1%$187.5M
    Faith-Based Foundation173 (6.1%)

    $187.5M in annual giving

    Requires Review
    1706.0%$8M
    Requires Review170 (6.0%)

    $8M in annual giving

    Private Operating Foundation
    1685.9%$30.1M
    Private Operating Foundation168 (5.9%)

    $30.1M in annual giving

    Professional Association
    1214.3%$37.4M
    Professional Association121 (4.3%)

    $37.4M in annual giving

    Other
    18.7%
    53218.7%$3.3B
    Other532 (18.7%)

    $3.3B in annual giving

    Foundation TypeCountShareGiving
    The largest foundations in Tennessee by annual giving are COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER MEMPHIS INC, SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF MIDDLE TN INC, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, with combined giving of $503.8M.
    What types of organizations do Tennessee foundations fund?
    The most commonly funded areas in Tennessee include Education, Philanthropy & Voluntarism, Human Services. Explore the focus area breakdown above for the full distribution.
    How do I find grants for my nonprofit in Tennessee?
    Kindora's free funder database includes 1,752 Tennessee foundations with IRS 990 financial data, grant history, and geographic reach. Use the interactive discovery table above to filter by metro area, focus area, foundation type, and grant size. Sign up for a free account to access AI-powered grant intelligence including fit scores and application tips.

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