Respiratory Disease Fund

The Respiratory Disease Fund is a competitive grant program administered by the East Tennessee Foundation. Established in 1991, the fund was created to support initiatives that address respiratory health concerns in Knox County, Tennessee. The East Tennessee Foundation, a regional philanthropic organization, manages a portfolio of funds and charitable programs with a mission to build permanent charitable resources for its 25-county service area in East Tennessee. The Respiratory Disease Fund contributes to this mission by channeling resources into projects that aim to diagnose, treat, research, prevent, and ultimately cure respiratory diseases affecting residents in Knox County. The fund is focused on initiatives that have a direct connection to reducing respiratory disease within the county. While applicant organizations are not required to be based in Knox County, their proposed work must benefit residents of the county and align closely with the fund’s objectives. The program supports organizations that can demonstrate a clear strategy and operational capacity to contribute meaningfully to the reduction of respiratory disease through programming, service delivery, public health initiatives, or research activities. For the 2026 cycle, the application window opens on May 4, 2026, and closes on May 29, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Organizations may apply for grants ranging from $10,000 to $20,000, with awarded amounts distributed over a two-year grant period. The grant term begins on August 1, 2026, and concludes on July 31, 2028. Grant announcements and disbursements will occur in August 2026. This opportunity is not offered on a rolling basis and is not explicitly marked as recurring, so future availability is uncertain. Eligible applicants must be classified as 501(c)(3) public charities, units of government, or public educational institutions. Organizations without nonprofit status may still apply if they are fiscally sponsored by an established nonprofit organization. Required documentation includes proof of tax status or fiscal sponsorship, recent financial statements or IRS filings, an operating budget, and a list of current board members and project staff. Applicants must also confirm adherence to East Tennessee Foundation’s Diversity and Non-Discrimination Statement, affirming non-discriminatory practices across various personal and demographic characteristics. The application must be submitted through the foundation's grantmaking portal. A tutorial is available to guide applicants through the submission process. The foundation’s Grantmaking Team, including Director Ashley Siferd Butler and Assistant Director Brooke Anguiano, is available to address inquiries via phone or email. While the foundation welcomes applications from faith-based organizations, proposals with explicitly religious content or restrictive participation based on religious affiliation will not be considered for funding. This grant does not support requests for debt retirement, endowments, general fundraising campaigns, or capital campaigns. It is strictly focused on programmatic or project-based efforts tied to respiratory health outcomes in Knox County. All applicants must ensure their proposals fall within the fund’s guidelines and are thoroughly supported by required documentation to be considered for funding.