Tennessee Social Advocacy Grants

The Spirit of Humanity Award, offered by the Legacy Foundation, recognizes individuals, civic groups, organizations, or groups of individuals who inspire the Foundation's vision through their leadership and action. This annual award aligns directly with the Legacy Regional Community Foundation's mission: "creates a stronger future for our area by building endowments, providing informed leadership & connecting donors to critical needs of the region." The award seeks to honor those whose contributions reflect this core mission, thereby reinforcing the Foundation's strategic priority of fostering community betterment through leadership and impactful initiatives. The target beneficiaries of this award are individuals or groups residing in or around the Cowley/Sumner County area who have demonstrated uncommon leadership or action within the past 12 months. The impact goal is to celebrate and highlight those who embody the Foundation's values, inspiring others to contribute to the region's strength. By recognizing these efforts, the Foundation aims to cultivate a stronger sense of community and encourage ongoing engagement in addressing critical local needs. The program prioritizes actions that genuinely reflect the Foundation's mission, emphasizing leadership and contributions that may or may not be financial. This broad definition ensures that a wide range of impactful activities are considered. The focus is on inspiring positive change and demonstrating a commitment to the well-being of the community, aligning with the Foundation's theory of change that recognizing exemplary community service fosters a more engaged and resilient region. Expected outcomes include increased public awareness of the Legacy Regional Community Foundation's mission and values, a stronger sense of community pride, and the encouragement of further civic engagement. Measurable results would include the number of nominations received, the visibility of the awardees' stories in the Foundation gallery, and the anecdotal evidence of inspired community action following the award. The award serves as a tangible expression of the Foundation's commitment to informed leadership and connecting donors to critical needs, ultimately contributing to a more robust future for the area.

The West End Home Foundation's grant program is designed to enhance the quality of life for older adults in Middle Tennessee by supporting and sustaining a comprehensive system of care. The Foundation's mission is directly aligned with this goal, focusing on various key impact areas to ensure older adults receive the necessary support. These areas include advocacy, enrichment and socialization, food and nutrition, healthcare, housing, transportation, wellness and supportive care, and special projects that complement the Foundation's mission. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are older adults, specifically those aged 60 and older in the Middle Tennessee counties of Cheatham, Davidson, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson, and Wilson. The impact goals are to provide meaningful social interaction, lifelong learning opportunities, nutritional support, comprehensive healthcare, safe and affordable housing, accessible transportation, and services that promote healthy aging. The Foundation aims to address the unique needs of this demographic through a broad spectrum of programs. The Foundation prioritizes projects specifically designed to meet the unique needs of adults age 60 and older. It focuses on programs within its identified key impact areas and evaluates requests based on community needs, available resources, impact on the target population, agency capacity, and success in delivering high-quality services with demonstrated outcomes. The types of grants awarded include Program funding for specific projects (new or ongoing) and Capital funding for infrastructure investments such as equipment, technology, and facility maintenance or expansion. Expected outcomes include improved quality of life for older adults, enhanced access to essential services, increased social engagement, better health outcomes, and greater housing security. The Foundation seeks measurable outcomes, requiring applicants to demonstrate their capacity to deliver services that achieve these meaningful results. All grants are awarded for a period of one year, indicating a focus on annual impact and evaluation. The West End Home Foundation's strategic priority is to administer a competitive grants process that ensures funding is directed to organizations capable of delivering the highest quality of service with demonstrated outcomes. Their theory of change is rooted in the belief that by supporting a comprehensive system of care across various critical areas, they can significantly improve the well-being and independence of older adults in Middle Tennessee, fostering healthy aging and community engagement.

The Thomas W. Briggs Foundation, established in 1986 in Salt Lake City by Roy W. and Elizabeth E. Simmons, is committed to fostering virtues of good citizenship in Memphis, Tennessee. The Foundation prioritizes funding for organizations and projects that align with its focus areas: Arts, Civic, Education, Social Services, and Youth. These projects should promote health improvement, community health access and/or health education, encourage healthy behaviors, support prevention initiatives, and provide direct health services to the uninsured within the Foundation's 103-county service area, excluding Johnson and Wyandotte counties. Grant renewed every year. Annual semiyearly deadline: August 1st and February 1st

This funding opportunity supports projects that preserve historic resources, such as surveys and restorations, benefiting the public and requiring matching funds from the grantee.

This funding program provides financial support to community-based organizations that empower youth aged 12 to 20 through established, youth-led urban greening initiatives focused on social and environmental justice in select states.

READY Community Foundations, part of ARC's READY Appalachia initiative, offers no-cost training to community foundations in Appalachia. Participants will build skills in financial management, fundraising, grantmaking, and strategic planning. Eligible foundations can apply for up to $25,000 in funding to implement capacity-building projects post-training. Applications are due by July 5, 2024.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for innovative healthcare projects aimed at improving services and access for underserved populations in Tennessee's rural counties.

The department is providing up to $25,000 in one-time funding to faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with the purpose of creating respite ministries or programs that provide people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families with a safe place of rest. An example of faith-based respite includes providing a church activity with trained staff for people with disabilities so that parents can enjoy a night out. The grant is designed to provide flexibility to applying organizations to build a respite plan that meets the needs of their faith community. DIDD has $500,000 of total funding for this grant program. It is accepting applications for funding until June 14, 2024. Questions about the grant can be directed to [email protected].

This grant provides funding to local nonprofits and community organizations for initiatives that address community needs and promote positive impact in areas where the company operates.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations, local governments, and public schools in selected states to implement sustainability initiatives, workforce development, and community resilience programs that enhance the quality of life and economic vitality in their communities.

This funding opportunity supports Tennessee-based nonprofit organizations and local government entities in creating community-focused arts projects that enhance access to the arts and improve quality of life.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in West Tennessee for community-driven projects that benefit local residents across various sectors, excluding operating support and individual grants.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, and government agencies in Williamson County to implement local solutions addressing the opioid crisis through prevention, treatment, and recovery initiatives.

This grant provides financial support to organizations and initiatives that improve the economic, social, cultural, and educational quality of life for residents in Monroe County.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations partnering with hospitals to improve health outcomes for vulnerable and underserved populations in their communities.

This initiative provides training and funding opportunities for nonprofit organizations in the Appalachian region to strengthen their operations and better serve their communities.

This funding opportunity provides multi-year support to local organizations in Memphis and Shelby County that are dedicated to creating safe and resilient neighborhoods by addressing the root causes of crime and insecurity through community-driven solutions.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in the Greater Memphis area that are focused on creating sustainable, positive change in health, education, social justice, arts, and community development.

This program provides funding for businesses, nonprofits, community groups, churches, and educational institutions to implement projects that enhance neighborhood beauty, foster community engagement, and celebrate local culture in Jackson.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Middle Tennessee that enhance the quality of life for older adults through various supportive services and programs.