Grants for New Nonprofits in Tennessee
Grants for New Nonprofits in Tennessee
Looking for grants for new nonprofits in Tennessee?
Read more about each grant below or start your 14-day free trial to see all grants for new nonprofits in Tennessee recommended for your specific programs.
Albemarle Foundation Grants
Albemarle Foundation
Albemarle Foundation
Across the world, we believe that nurturing our communities and promoting our employees’ philanthropic efforts are among our most important responsibilities. Over the years, Albemarle, our employees and retirees have invested millions of dollars and countless volunteer hours in support of our communities. In 2007, Albemarle created the Albemarle Foundation - a private endowed 501c3 entity who set out with a mission to make a positive, sustainable difference in the communities where we live and operate.
Today, Albemarle Foundation builds on this history of commitment and participation to make an even greater, more sustainable and profound impact on the places we call home. By utilizing the tools and resources of Albemarle Foundation, Albemarle Foundation Global and the Albemarle Care Fund - employees are empowered to Grow the Good in our own communities, and beyond!
Giving Priorities
As individuals, and collectively as a global company, we work passionately to make a profound impact in our world. Our financial contributions focus on programs that support key cornerstones of sustainability within our communities.
Education
The Albemarle Foundation recognizes the important skills which can be obtained from a solid educational foundation, including critical thinking and data analysis. We also recognize the assistance needed in the classroom and beyond to move the needle, be a change agent and make a true positive difference in our communities. Our company purpose statement - making the world safe and sustainable by powering the potential of people - inspires and motivates us to direct funds and support organizations that are focused on providing positive educational outcomes, because we believe, nothing powers potential like education and knowledge.
Health And Social Services
The Albemarle Foundation directs funds to nonprofit organizations who support health and social services. By effectively and efficiently relieving distress in the community - these organizations help individuals and families overcome barriers and achieve their full potential. Many of these organizations focus on one of the five basic areas of human services, which include;
- building healthy communities,
- investing in our youth,
- meeting basic needs,
- strengthening lives and
- striding toward independence.
Cultural Initiatives
The Albemarle Foundation directs funds to nonprofit organizations that provide opportunities for community members to build or strengthen their relationships with one another. Our employees represent a diverse variety of cultures and interests which allows The Albemarle Foundation to provide funding to a broad range of organizations and causes.
Community Possible Grant Program: Play, Work, & Home Grants
Us Bank Foundation
Making community possible
At U.S. Bank, we are dedicated to supporting our communities through responsive and humbled actions focused on addressing racial and economic inequities and creating lasting change in our communities. Through our Community Possible Grant Program, we are partnering with organizations that focus on economic and workforce advancement, safe and affordable housing and communities connected through arts and culture.
The U.S. Bank Foundation is committed to making Community Possible through Work, Home and Play. We advance this work through collaborative grant making to bring equitable and lasting change through our focus on sustainable, high-impact funding with 501c3 nonprofit partners.
Home
Children and families are better positioned to thrive and succeed in a home that is safe and permanent. Access to sustainable low-income housing is increasingly challenging for low- to moderate-income families. In response, our giving supports efforts that connect individuals and families with sustainable housing opportunities.
Access to safe, affordable energy-efficient housing
We provide financial support to assist people in developing stability in their lives through access to safe, sustainable and accessible homes. Examples of grant support include:
- Organizations that preserve, rehabilitate, renovate or construct affordable housing developments for low- and moderate-income families, individuals, seniors, veterans, and special-needs populations
- Organizations that provide transitional housing as a direct stepping stone to permanent housing
- Organizations that focus on veterans housing and homeownership
- Construction of green homes for low- and moderate-income communities
- Clean energy retrofit programs for low- and moderate-income housing developments
- Organizations that provide access to renewable energy
- Improving waste management systems to include recycling and composting programs
Homeownership education
Owning and maintaining a home requires significant financial knowledge, tools and resources. We support programs that assist low- and moderate-income homebuyers and existing homeowners. Examples of grant support include:
- Homebuyer education
- Pre- and post-purchase counseling and coaching
- Homeownership-retention programs designed to provide foreclosure counseling
Work
We know that a strong small business environment and an educated workforce ensure the prosperity of our communities and reduce the expanding wealth gap for communities of color. We provide grant support to programs and organizations that help small businesses thrive, allow people to succeed in the workforce, provide pathways to higher education and gain greater financial literacy.
Investing in the workforce
We fund organizations that provide training for small business development, as well as programs that support individuals across all skill and experience levels, to ensure they have the capability to gain employment that supports individuals and their families. Examples of grant support include:
- Small business technical assistance programs
- Job skills, career readiness training programs with comprehensive placement services for low- and moderate-income individuals entering or reentering the labor force
Providing pathways for educational success
- To address the growing requirements for post-secondary education in securing competitive jobs in the workplace, we support:
- Organizations and programs that help low- and moderate-income and at-risk middle and high school students prepare for post-secondary education at a community college, university, trade or technical school and career readiness
- Programs and initiatives at post-secondary institutions that support access to career and educational opportunities for low- and moderate-income and diverse students
Teaching financial well-being for work and life
Financial well-being is not only critical for financial stability, it’s crucial in helping individuals be successful in the workplace. Examples of grant support include programs that positively impact:
- K-12 and college student financial literacy
- Adult and workforce financial literacy
- Senior financial fraud prevention
- Military service member and veteran financial literacy
Supporting the green economy through workforce development
The green economy is fast becoming an area of opportunity for workforce development programs. Funding support includes:
- Reskilling or retraining for jobs in renewable or clean energy
- Building and maintaining infrastructure to support renewable energy, including EV charging stations and bike/transportation programs
Play
Play brings joy, and it’s just as necessary for adults as it is for kids. But in low-income areas there are often limited spaces for play and fewer people attending arts and cultural events. That’s why we invest in community programming that supports ways for children and adults to play and create.
Access to artistic and cultural programming and arts education
Our investments ensure economic vitality and accessibility to the arts in local communities, as well as support for arts education. Examples of grant support include:
- Programs that provide access to cultural activities, visual and performing arts, zoos and aquariums and botanic gardens for individuals and families living in underserved communities
- Funding for local arts organizations that enhance the economic vitality of the community
- Programs that provide funding for arts-focused nonprofit organizations that bring visual and performing arts programming to low- and moderate-income K-12 schools and youth centers
Supporting learning through play
Many young people across the country do not have the resources or access to enjoy the benefits of active play. Supporting active play-based programs and projects for K-12 students located in or serving low- and moderate-income communities fosters innovation, creativity, and collaboration and impacts the overall vitality of the communities we serve. Funding support includes:
- Support for organizations that build or expand access to active play spaces and places that help K-12 students learn through play and improves the health, safety and unification of neighborhoods in low- and moderate-income communities
- Programs that focus on using active play to help young people develop cognitive, social and emotional learning skills to become vibrant and productive citizens in low- and moderate-income communities
Outdoor places to play
Environmental stewardship enhances and improves the livability of our communities. Supporting efforts to preserve, protect and enhance outdoor spaces is now part of our Play pillar of giving. Funding support includes:
- Cleanup efforts in community spaces, including (but not limited to) beaches, rivers, and streams
- Protecting green spaces within the community, including planting trees, mangroves and seagrass
- Programs that support community, native and/or pollinator gardens, including community composting
Charitable Investments
CSX is proud to support people and organizations that in turn honor those who serve our communities. We offer monetary and in-kind resources to nonprofit organizations advocating for the betterment of our nation’s military members or community first responders, and have additional resources available to support other community efforts.
In Kind Donations
Intermodal Transportation Services
Intermodal transportation services provide applicable organizations with intermodal equipment and rail service throughout the CSX rail network, and afford these organizations an opportunity to reduce or eliminate their transportation spending.
Ideally, intermodal moves work best when freight is moving 500 miles or more. However, the in-kind moves program requires only that freight have an origin and destination within a combined 250 miles’ distance to a CSX intermodal facility.
CSX’s door-to-door product is an ideal solution for the in-kind moves program, as our trained team will pick up your freight at its origin and transport it to a terminal to be placed on an intermodal train. Then, we will pick up your freight at the destination terminal and deliver it directly to its endpoint. The door-to-door network provides service across the Eastern United States with its large nationwide network and trucking capability.
CSX will also work with you to determine the type of equipment that is an ideal fit to transport your freight. CSX has a large fleet of rail-owned containers, as well as an expansive network of channel partners that can provide equipment to fit your needs.
Railroad Equipment and Materials
CSX occasionally donates materials, supplies and used railroad equipment based on availability. The online in-kind application can be used to request the donation of railroad-related items, including retired rail cars when available. Please note that rail, rail ties and spikes are not available for donation or purchase. Applicants will be contacted if the requested item becomes available within 90 days of their online submittal. At that time, arrangements will be made to transfer possession of the requested item. All applicants will be asked to re-submit their application at a later date if the requested item does not become available within the 90-day period.
Memorial Foundation Grant
Memorial Foundation
Note: Prior to submitting a grant, an organization must contact the Foundation and arrange a brief meeting to determine the potential eligibility of the request. At this meeting, the Foundation staff will explain the procedure for applying for a grant. This is necessary for each grant request. All organizations requesting grants are subject to a review process that includes an initial interview with staff, submission of an online application, a possible site visit, and approval by The Memorial Foundation’s Board of Trustees.
Memorial Foundation
The Memorial Foundation was established in April of 1994 with an endowment fund generated from the sale of the assets of Nashville Memorial Hospital in Madison, Tennessee. At that time, members of the hospital’s Board of Directors became members of the Board of Trust of The Memorial Foundation.
The Foundation’s Board of Trustees serve as volunteers, regularly meeting to review grant applications and to make decisions on the allocation of Foundation funds. The Board is led by Board Chair David McKee, M.D., Vice Chair Varina Buntin, and Secretary Alfonzo Alexander. The Foundation’s President is Scott S. Perry.
In keeping with its roots, The Memorial Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for people through support to nonprofit organizations. The Memorial Foundation responds to diverse community needs, assisting agencies that focus on: Access to Quality Health Care Services, Human & Social Services, Education, Senior Citizen Enrichment Services, Youth and Childhood Development, Substance Abuse Programs, and Community Services.
The Foundation also strives to respond to immediate, critical needs that arise in the community. With assistance from the Foundation, organizations including The Salvation Army, The American Red Cross, Second Harvest Food Bank, and YWCA have received funds.
Whether offering ongoing support or responding in times of crisis, The Memorial Foundation will continue to partner with nonprofit organizations in addressing the needs and improving the quality of life in our community.
Focus for Funding
The Foundation places special emphasis on assisting data-driven, trauma-informed organizations that focus on:
- Access to Quality Health Care Services (e.g., physical & mental health; wellness programs)
- Human & Social Services (e.g., families & children; immigrants & refugees; domestic violence & sexual abuse survivors; veterans; people experiencing homelessness; people in crisis)
- Education
- Youth and Childhood Development
- Senior Citizen Enrichment Services
- Substance Abuse Recovery
- Community Services
Corporate Giving Program: Requests over $1000
Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation
NOTE: Grant requests must be endorsed by a Perdue Associate in order to apply.
Perdue Farms is the family-owned parent company of Perdue Foods and Perdue AgriBusiness. Perdue Farms are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for everyone we touch through innovative food and agricultural products.
Through Perdue Farms Perdue, Harvestland and Coleman Natural food brands; through Perdue Farms agricultural products and services; and through Perdue Farms stewardship and corporate responsibility programs, Perdue Farms are committed to making Perdue the most trusted name in food and agricultural products.At Perdue, Perdue Farms believe in responsible food and agriculture.What We SupportWe believe in putting our resources where there is direct benefit to a broad-based spectrum of the community.We strive to strengthen our communities by focusing our efforts on education, agriculture, the environment, health and social services, public safety and fighting hunger and poverty.We also support events that celebrate the heritages and cultures of our communities.Corporate Giving Program: Requests under $1000
Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation
NOTE: Perdue Farms states in their guidelines that they "... may give additional preference to organizations in which [their] associates have direct involvement, but the overarching consideration is the betterment of the community." However, please note in their online form if you select "No" when answering the question "Is this grant request endorsed by a Perdue Associate?", you will be considered ineligible for a grant.
Perdue Farms is the family-owned parent company of Perdue Foods and Perdue AgriBusiness. Perdue Farms are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for everyone we touch through innovative food and agricultural products.
Through Perdue Farms PERDUE®, HARVESTLAND® and COLEMAN NATURAL® food brands; through Perdue Farms agricultural products and services; and through Perdue Farms stewardship and corporate responsibility programs, Perdue Farms are committed to making Perdue the most trusted name in food and agricultural products.
At Perdue, Perdue Farms believe in responsible food and agriculture.
What We Support
We believe in putting our resources where there is a direct benefit to a broad-based spectrum of the community.
We strive to strengthen our communities by focusing our efforts on education, agriculture, the environment, health and social services, public safety, and fighting hunger and poverty
We also support events that celebrate the heritages and cultures of our communities
National Trust Preservation Funds
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Guidelines
Grants from National Trust Preservation Funds (NTPF) are intended to encourage preservation at the local level by supporting on-going preservation work and by providing seed money for preservation projects. These grants help stimulate public discussion, enable local groups to gain the technical expertise needed for preservation projects, introduce the public to preservation concepts and techniques, and encourage financial participation by the private sector.
A small grant at the right time can go a long way and is often the catalyst that inspires a community to take action on a preservation project. Grants generally start at $2,500 and range up to $5,000. The selection process is very competitive.
Eligible Activities
National Trust Preservation Fund grants are awarded for planning activities and education efforts focused on preservation. Grant funds can be used to launch new initiatives or to provide additional support to on-going efforts.
Planning: Supporting existing staff (nonprofit applicants only) or obtaining professional expertise in areas such as architecture, archaeology, engineering, preservation planning, land-use planning, and law. Eligible planning activities include, but are not limited to:
- Hiring a preservation architect or landscape architect, or funding existing staff with expertise in these areas, to produce a historic structure report or historic landscape master plan.
- Hiring a preservation planner, or funding existing staff with expertise in this area, to produce design guidelines for a historic district.
- Hiring a real estate development consultant, or funding existing staff with expertise in this area, to produce an economic feasibility study for the reuse of a threatened structure.
- Sponsoring a community forum to develop a shared vision for the future of a historic neighborhood.
- Organizational capacity building activities such as hiring fundraising consultants, conducting board training, etc.
Education and Outreach: Support for preservation education activities aimed at the public. The National Trust is particularly interested in programs aimed at reaching new audiences. Funding will be provided to projects that employ innovative techniques and formats aimed at introducing new audiences to the preservation movement, whether that be through education programming or conference sessions.
South Arts Presentation Grants
South Arts, Inc.
NOTE: New applicants are encouraged to contact Nikki Estes at 404-874-7244 x816 to discuss eligibility before applying.
Presentation Grants Program
Presentation Grants are an opportunity for organizations in South Arts' nine-state region to receive fee support to present Southern guest film directors, visual and performing artists, or writers from outside of the presenter's state. Artist fee support is awarded for:
- film (documentary, fiction, experimental, and animation),
- performing arts (theater, music, opera, musical theater, and dance),
- literary arts (fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry),
- traditional arts, and
- visual arts (crafts, drawing, experimental, painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media).
Projects must include both a public presentation (film screening, performance, reading, or exhibition) and an educational/community engagement component. These grants are limited and very competitive. Based on the artist fee, the maximum request is $9,500 for modern dance and contemporary ballet or $7,500 for other artistic disciplines.
South Arts is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. We have prioritized this commitment to ensure that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) led organizations, LGBTQIA+ led organizations, and organizations representing persons with disabilities are represented as both applicants and grantees. In addition, we encourage applications for projects that engage BIPOC artists, LGBTQIA+ artists, and artists with disabilities.
CFMT: Discretionary Grants
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
NOTE: All 501(c)(3) public charities MUST have a full and updated nonprofit profile in GivingMatters.com by August 15th in order to be considered for a discretionary grant. Only organizations with full and updated profiles will be considered for funding. Organizations who do not have a profile may submit the profile initiation documents no later than July 14, 2023.
Discretionary Grants
With deep roots in our community and expertise in effective philanthropy, we are positioned to assess community needs and opportunities and support quality programs providing solutions. We award grants annually to nonprofits for a broad array of charitable purposes in areas such as education, the environment, the arts, health, and social services.
Our discretionary grants are awarded to respond to new programs, emerging needs and innovative services for the benefit of our community. Applications for discretionary grants are accepted annually from tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations serving Middle Tennessee. We are particularly interested in grant proposals addressing currently unmet community needs and providing long-term solutions.
The Foundation has identified several broad categories in which needs exist and for which grant requests are encouraged:
- Animal Welfare
- Arts and Humanities
- Community Development, Improvement & Planning
- Conservation and Environment
- Education
- Employment and Training
- Food, Food Security, Agriculture & Nutrition
- Housing and Shelter
- Human Services-Emergency/Temporary Needs
- Human Services-Children & Youth
- Human Services-Aging Adults
- Human Services-Women & Men
- Human Services-New Americans
Jumpstart Grants:
Are you a new organization addressing a pressing community issue from a different perspective? If so, consider applying for a JumpStart grant. This pilot program has been created to support grassroots organizations that received tax-exempt status between 2021 – 2023.
To be eligible, you must have active programming in place offering early but promising results.
Request Amount:
- General Operations or Program Support: Grants may be requested up to a maximum of $20,000.
- JumpStart Program: Grants may be requested up to a maximum of $5000
Like what you saw?
We have 10,000+ more grants for you.
Create your 14-day free account to find out which ones are good fits for your nonprofit.
Not ready yet? Browse more grants.