The City of Knoxville’s Community Agency Grants program offers financial support to nonprofit organizations operating within the city that have maintained consistent operations for at least five years and are registered with the Tennessee Secretary of State as charitable organizations. This annual funding initiative is administered through the Mayor’s Office and plays a key role in achieving the City’s strategic goals by bolstering the social fabric of the Knoxville community.
The program emphasizes two primary funding categories: Arts & Culture and Community and Social Services. These grants are not intended for homeless service providers, who are instead directed to apply through the separate Homeless Grant process administered by the Housing and Neighborhood Development division. Organizations applying must demonstrate a clear alignment with the City’s outlined goals and priorities, which are detailed in the accompanying guidance documents and cover areas such as public safety, neighborhood cohesion, environmental sustainability, and economic resilience.
Eligible applicants must submit their applications via the ZoomGrants platform, which opens for submissions on January 22, 2026, with a firm deadline of February 17, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. To assist prospective applicants, ZoomGrants will provide training on how to use its platform on January 23 and January 27, 2026. Interested organizations can obtain access to these training sessions by contacting Jennifer Searle via email. Additional online assistance is available through ZoomGrants University.
The grant program supports projects that align with the City's overarching goals, including enhancing public safety through crisis prevention and response, fostering vibrant neighborhoods through inclusive cultural activities and housing initiatives, promoting environmental sustainability, and advancing economic equity through education and workforce development. These focus areas are reflected in the City's FY2026-27 goals and priorities document, which frames how nonprofit activities are expected to complement municipal strategies.
The review process for Community Agency Grants is guided by how well applications align with these goals and how effectively applicants demonstrate capacity to deliver meaningful community outcomes. While the specific evaluation criteria are not fully detailed, applications are expected to show clear alignment with city priorities, include measurable goals, and indicate fiscal and operational accountability.
Inquiries about the program, submission process, or training opportunities should be directed to Jennifer Searle of the Mayor's Office, who serves as the primary contact. Notification timelines, award amounts, and performance periods are not specified in the available materials and may vary by year and project scope. The program operates on an annual cycle and is expected to recur, making it a predictable source of funding for qualified Knoxville-based nonprofit organizations.
