Tennessee Private Grants

The Jackson National Life Insurance Company (Jackson) offers Community grants aimed at strengthening families and increasing economic opportunities. These grants align with Jackson's mission to support non-profits that positively impact individual trajectories and provide stability for families. The program has two main focus areas: Economic Opportunities and Strong Families, reflecting the foundation's strategic priorities to build on stability and help break cycles of poverty and trauma. Under the Economic Opportunities focus, Jackson supports non-profits that provide access to finance, employment, and education. This includes initiatives related to Career Pathways and Job Skills, Financial Education and Coaching, and Homeownership and Wealth Building. The expected outcome is to change individual trajectories by providing the tools and resources necessary for financial independence and stability. While specific measurable results are not explicitly stated, the focus on tangible areas like job skills and homeownership implies a theory of change where targeted interventions lead to improved economic well-being. The Strong Families focus is dedicated to supporting non-profits that help families overcome generational poverty and trauma by addressing their most critical needs. This encompasses programs providing Emergency Shelter, Access to Food, Intervention and care after crisis, Resilient Parenting and accessible Childcare, and Youth Mentoring. The goal is to provide stability and support, leading to a break in cycles of poverty and trauma. The foundation's theory of change here is that by providing foundational support and care, families can achieve greater resilience and well-being. Jackson awards funding to local nonprofits in specific geographic areas, including Lansing, MI, Nashville, TN, and Chicago, IL, through a competitive grant process. The eligibility criteria emphasize support for 501(c)3 tax-exempt organizations, with specific restrictions against funding individuals, private foundations, certain health and disease-specific organizations, religious organizations (unless broadly accessible and free from religious orientation), and schools or school-affiliated sports teams/clubs. This highlights Jackson's commitment to partnering with established non-profits that align with their community-focused mission and strategic priorities.

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 National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB), with generous support from the Wells Fargo Foundation, is offering capacity building grants of $30,000 and customized technical assistance to 10 organizations. This program prioritizes organizations located in Wells Fargo’s priority geographic markets. The primary purpose of this award is to support a nationwide network of Latino- and immigrant-serving organizations to advance culturally relevant approaches to family financial health in low- and moderate-income Latino and immigrant communities. This aligns with the foundation's mission by strengthening the delivery of financial capability services within these communities. The target beneficiaries of this program are Latino- and immigrant-serving organizations, and ultimately, low- and moderate-income Latino and immigrant communities. The program aims to achieve several impact goals, including integrating culturally relevant financial curricula into asset-building programs like homeownership and small business development services, intentionally utilizing financial coaching to prepare participants to access capital for asset-building activities, and improving organizational capacity to track and report financial health outcomes. The program focuses on several key priorities to achieve its goals. These include integrating culturally relevant financial curricula, utilizing financial coaching, improving organizational capacity to track and report financial health outcomes, and prioritizing access to innovative financial products. The financial health outcomes specifically target improving credit, increasing savings, increasing income, and reducing debt. Innovative financial products are also prioritized to boost family financial wellness, with a focus on increasing savings, decreasing debt, or building or establishing credit. Expected outcomes and measurable results include meaningful and measurable impact and change for Latino and immigrant financial health. This will be demonstrated through a comprehensive and specific strategy. The program also expects to strengthen the delivery of financial capability services through grantmaking, technical assistance, and training. The grant period is from October 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofits that integrate, or plan to integrate, culturally relevant financial capability services into existing asset-building programs.

The Hispanic Fund, operating as an affiliate fund of the Community Foundation of Lorain County, is dedicated to improving and promoting socioeconomic and educational opportunities within the Hispanic community in Lorain County, Ohio. This grant program is a direct reflection of the Community Foundation's broader mission to foster community well-being and addresses specific, foundational needs within the local Hispanic population. By focusing on areas such as citizen empowerment, neighborhood revitalization, public safety, and educational achievement, the program aligns with a comprehensive, equity-focused approach to community development. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are non-profit organizations and community members whose projects directly impact the Hispanic community. The program aims to achieve significant positive impacts, including enhanced citizen empowerment, improved living environments through neighborhood revitalization, increased public safety and reduced crime, and a greater understanding and implementation of collaborative solutions to community problems. Ultimately, the program's core objective is to address the root causes of social ills and elevate educational attainment within the Hispanic community, creating a more equitable and thriving environment. To realize these goals, The Hispanic Fund’s grant program prioritizes projects that provide or work to improve several key areas. These priorities include initiatives that empower Hispanic citizens, address neighborhood revitalization or environmental issues, and promote public safety, education, and crime/violence prevention. Furthermore, the fund strategically seeks projects that offer collaborative solutions or new approaches to existing problems, and those that directly tackle the root causes of social challenges within the community. A significant focus is also placed on programs that positively influence Hispanic educational achievement in both public and higher education settings. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed, the focus areas inherently suggest clear expected outcomes. For instance, projects centered on citizen empowerment could lead to increased civic participation and leadership. Educational initiatives would aim for improved academic performance and higher rates of public or higher education enrollment. Similarly, neighborhood revitalization projects would target measurable improvements in local infrastructure and living conditions, and public safety initiatives would work towards a quantifiable reduction in crime rates. The fund's overarching strategic priority is to support initiatives that create lasting, positive change, operating under the theory that empowering and educating the Hispanic community will lead directly to broader societal benefits and an improved overall quality of life.

This program provides financial support to exceptional professional artists in Tennessee across various disciplines, enabling them to further their creative work and enhance the state's cultural landscape.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is inviting proposals for its Cumberland Plateau Stewardship Fund, aiming to restore and enhance critical forest, grassland, and freshwater habitats within the Cumberland Plateau region. This initiative aligns with NFWF's broader mission to sustain, restore, and enhance the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. The program's core strategy involves increasing the voluntary adoption of conservation practices on working agricultural lands, which contributes to NFWF’s strategic priority of supporting wildlife and improving ecological health through sustainable land management. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are the diverse habitats and species within the Cumberland Plateau, as well as landowners and communities in the region who will adopt conservation practices. The impact goals are multifaceted, seeking to improve soil health, water quantity and quality, and carbon sequestration. Ultimately, the program aims to foster resilient ecosystems that support both wildlife and sustainable human activities. The foundation's theory of change is predicated on the idea that by providing financial and technical assistance, they can incentivize conservation practices that lead to measurable environmental improvements and long-term ecological benefits. The program's priorities and focuses are clearly outlined through its program strategies. These include restoring previously mined lands, increasing the adoption of conservation practices on grazing and croplands, establishing, enhancing, and maintaining forest habitats, and restoring instream habitats to support aquatic species. A significant focus is also placed on expanding and coordinating technical assistance and outreach to landowners, recognizing the importance of local engagement and support for successful implementation of conservation efforts. Expected outcomes and measurable results include an increase in acres of restored habitats, improved water quality metrics, enhanced soil health, and greater carbon sequestration. The program anticipates awarding approximately $2.8 million in grants in 2024, with individual grant awards ranging from $250,000 to $750,000. Projects are expected to have a completion time of 24-48 months. Eligibility extends to non-profit organizations, state and local governments, Tribal Governments, and educational institutions, with a preference for projects within identified focal areas of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. The program’s success will be measured by the extent to which these conservation practices are adopted and the subsequent environmental benefits realized across the Cumberland Plateau.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is seeking proposals for its Southeast Aquatics Fund to voluntarily conserve aquatic habitats in the southeastern United States and Texas. This grant program directly aligns with NFWF's mission to sustain, restore, and enhance the nation's fish, wildlife, and plants. The fund's priorities are informed by the Longleaf Forests and Rivers Business Plan, adopted in 2018 and updated in 2023, which aims to conserve the extraordinary biodiversity across the Southeast. The primary target beneficiaries of this program are aquatic ecosystems and the diverse array of species that inhabit them, particularly those identified as focal species in the Conasauga River (GA) and Middle Coosa (AL) watersheds. These include various endemic and native fishes like the Alabama shiner, banded sculpin, blue shiner, and trispot darter. The impact goal is to advance specific goals and objectives of the Longleaf Forests and Rivers Business Plan and other relevant conservation plans, ultimately leading to healthier aquatic habitats. The program prioritizes work in northern Alabama and Georgia due to measurement and monitoring constraints, with funding available for a wide range of activities in the Conasauga River (GA) and Locust Fork and Middle Coosa (AL) watersheds. Projects benefiting the focal species in these areas will receive priority. The strategic priorities of the NFWF, as evidenced by the Longleaf Forests and Rivers Business Plan, emphasize a suite of aquatic species as indicators of healthy aquatic habitats in prioritized watersheds, reflecting a theory of change that by protecting these indicator species, the broader ecosystem health will improve. Expected outcomes include the conservation of aquatic habitat, the advancement of specific goals outlined in the Longleaf Forests and Rivers Business Plan, and positive impacts on focal species populations. While not explicitly detailed as "measurable results" in the provided text, the focus on indicator species suggests that the health and population trends of these species would serve as key metrics for success. Projects are anticipated to have a completion time of 24–36 months, with grant awards ranging from $150,000 to $500,000 from approximately $8.45 million available in 2024.

The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SSARE) Education Grants program is designed to fund education and outreach activities that benefit the sustainable agriculture community. This grant directly aligns with SSARE's mission to promote efforts in farmer innovations, community resilience, business success, agricultural diversification, and best management practices. The core objective is to support projects that develop sustainable agriculture systems or move existing systems towards sustainability. The primary beneficiaries of these grants are farmers and farming communities, including those involved in indigenous agriculture producing for community food systems. Academic institutions, non-profits, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), 1890 land-grant university faculty/extension cooperators, 1862 land-grant universities, other colleges and universities, and government agencies are eligible to apply, acting as facilitators for these educational initiatives. The impact goals are centered on fostering a more sustainable, resilient, and economically viable agricultural sector through knowledge dissemination and practical application. Education Grants prioritize projects that clearly articulate what is being taught, to whom, and how the goals will be accomplished. Focus areas include experiential learning (demonstrations, on-farm tours, field days, workshops), integrative approaches (conferences, seminars, course curriculum), and reinforcement methods (fact sheets, bulletins, videos, online technologies). SSARE also encourages proposals on quality of life topics, such as heirs property, farmers’ markets, food hubs, local/regional processing, and urban agriculture systems, emphasizing the social health of farming systems. Expected outcomes include the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices, enhanced farmer innovation, increased community resilience, improved business success for agricultural enterprises, and greater agricultural diversification. Projects should yield results that are realistic, acceptable to farmers, logical, and capable of leading to tangible actions and benefits described in the proposal. The grant projects are strictly focused on education and outreach, with no research component, and are paid by reimbursement of allowable expenses. The foundation's strategic priorities are evident in the grant requirements, which mandate that project outcomes focus on sustainable agriculture systems and clearly demonstrate how education and outreach efforts will be implemented and evaluated. The theory of change underpinning this program is that by providing targeted education and outreach, knowledge and best practices will be transferred to farmers and communities, leading to the development and widespread adoption of sustainable agricultural methods and improved quality of life within farming systems. Project maximums are $50,000, with a duration limited to two years. Applicants from the Southern region, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, are eligible. Farmers involved in these projects must have farming/ranching as their primary occupation or part-time farming with at least $1,000 of documented annual income from their operation, with exceptions for indigenous agriculture.

The opioid remediation grant program, launched by the City of Naperville, offers reimbursement-based grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, with a total of $100,000 approved for the initiative. The program's core mission is to combat the opioid crisis locally by funding interventions that align with Approved Abatement Programs under settlement restrictions. This initiative reflects a strategic priority of the city government to directly address a critical public health issue and foster community well-being and safety. The funding mechanism requires grantees to accrue costs before seeking reimbursement. The primary target beneficiaries of this strategic grant program are Naperville residents directly or indirectly affected by opioid misuse. This includes individuals struggling with opioid addiction, their families, and the wider community impacted by the social and health consequences of the crisis. The defined impact goals are comprehensive: to reduce opioid overdoses, expand access to essential treatment and recovery services, prevent opioid misuse from starting, and promote effective harm reduction strategies. The program's theory of change is rooted in supporting evidence-based, comprehensive interventions to create a healthier and safer environment for all residents. The grant program prioritizes a broad range of services that qualify as Approved Abatement Programs. Key focus areas include the expansion of distribution for Naloxone and other FDA-approved overdose reversal drugs, as well as providing medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for uninsured or underinsured individuals. Additionally, the grants aim to expand overall treatment and recovery support services, such as residential care, intensive outpatient treatment, and recovery housing. Specific priority populations and interventions are also highlighted. These include support for screening and treatment services for pregnant and postpartum women, the establishment of warm hand-off programs for individuals beginning recovery, and the implementation of evidence-based education within school-based and youth-focused programs to prevent opioid misuse. Further priorities encompass syringe service programs, community drug disposal initiatives, and broader public education campaigns to enhance community awareness. Expected outcomes include a measurable reduction in both opioid overdose fatalities and non-fatal overdoses, a significant increase in the number of individuals receiving effective opioid treatment and recovery support, and a verifiable decrease in overall opioid misuse rates, particularly among the youth population. The program anticipates an expansion of access to life-saving Naloxone and MAT, along with improved support for vulnerable groups like pregnant and postpartum women. Measurable results will be rigorously tracked through specific metrics to ensure accountability and assess effectiveness. Key metrics include the number of Naloxone kits distributed, the number of individuals served by various treatment programs, participation rates in educational initiatives, and the overall volume of medications safely disposed of through community programs. These measurable results are central to confirming the efficacy of the city's strategic investment in mitigating the opioid crisis.

This grant provides operational funding to qualified arts organizations in Tennessee to support their year-round public arts programming and promote accessibility and advocacy within the community.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that develop innovative resources and services to help adults in the middle or late stages of their careers with reskilling, upskilling, and career navigation, particularly those who are unemployed or underemployed.

This grant provides financial support to established arts organizations in Tennessee with a strong track record, helping them cover operational costs while promoting cultural excellence.

This grant recognizes and supports young entrepreneurs and new business owners who demonstrate trustworthiness and positively impact their communities through ethical business practices.

This program provides financial support and resources to small businesses in select U.S. cities that are dedicated to community upliftment and have been impacted by COVID-19.

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is currently accepting applications for its Lillian Ashley Fund, a grant program established by Manchester, Tennessee native Lillian Ashley. This endowment reflects Lillian's desire to give back to her beloved community, focusing on areas close to her heart: children, animals, and environmental conservation within Coffee County. The program's core mission aligns with the foundation's broader goal of supporting community well-being by channeling resources to vital local initiatives. The primary beneficiaries of the Lillian Ashley Fund are the children, youth, and animals of Coffee County, as well as local environmental and conservation efforts. The fund aims to support the overall well-being of children and youth, provide for the care and welfare of animals, and bolster initiatives that protect and preserve the environment. The expected outcomes include improved quality of life for young residents, enhanced care and protection for animals, and a healthier, more sustainable environment within the county. The fund's strategic priorities are clearly defined: supporting the well-being of children and youth, ensuring the care and welfare of animals, and promoting environment and conservation efforts. These focus areas are intended to create a tangible impact on the community, addressing specific needs identified by the donor. While measurable results are not explicitly detailed in terms of specific metrics, the grant period of December 1, 2024, to November 30, 2025, suggests an expectation of progress within that timeframe, contributing to the broader theory of change that targeted funding can lead to significant positive community development in these key areas. Eligible organizations for this grant include 501(c)(3) public charities and governmental entities such as libraries or departments. Nonprofits can request grants up to a maximum of $15,000, with the overall fund size ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. This targeted approach allows the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, through the Lillian Ashley Fund, to strategically invest in local organizations that are directly addressing the program's goals and contributing to the sustained betterment of Coffee County's children, animals, and environment.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations that provide stable housing and empower low- and moderate-income communities, focusing on vulnerable populations such as working families, youth, seniors, and veterans.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is offering Ag Research Grants to fund agricultural research projects conducted between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2026, with potential for extension. This program aims to address continued priorities of the agricultural industry within the Commonwealth. The Department’s mission alignment is evident in its focus on scientific studies that improve various aspects of agriculture, from economic impact and farm management to animal health and innovative technologies, ultimately benefiting the state’s agricultural sector and its stakeholders. The target beneficiaries of these grants are researchers and institutions capable of conducting impactful agricultural studies. The program's impact goals are broad, aiming to enhance agricultural sustainability, economic viability, and public well-being within Pennsylvania. Specific goals include mitigating pest infestations, understanding the economic impacts of agricultural practices, improving food security programs, advancing energy efficiency in agriculture, addressing animal health concerns, and fostering innovation in manufacturing and robotic technologies within the sector. The Department's priorities and focuses are diverse, encompassing ongoing multi-year research projects, general agriculture, energy in agriculture, life science, manufacturing, and robotic technology. Within general agriculture, there is interest in food action plans, the impact of food assistance programs (Double Up Food Bucks, Senior Food Nutrition Program, Farmers Market Nutrition Program, TEFAP), surplus food recovery, consumer affairs reporting on food prices, workforce analysis, economic impact studies, urban agriculture capacity and stewardship, land access barriers for BIPOC farmers, and soil testing/remediation. Energy in agriculture focuses on mapping energy generation from agricultural products, reducing greenhouse gases, and Agrivoltaics. In the life science category, the Department seeks to address wildlife crop damage, the impact of Medicare rule changes on fresh food access, One Health initiatives, animal health and productivity, diagnosis of animal diseases, animal welfare, and dairy industry recommendations related to Federal Milk Marketing Order and the PA Milk Board Over-Order Premium, as well as Chronic Wasting Disease strategy development. Manufacturing research is encouraged in areas like food production residual waste, organic processing incentives, biodegradable packaging, pharmaceutical/industrial uses for milk proteins, and conversion of spent mushroom substrate to bio-char. Finally, robotic technology research aims to understand current and future farmer technology use and assess Augmented Reality applications in Pennsylvania's animal and plant industries. The expected outcomes include the development of evidence-based strategies for pest control, improved farm management practices impacting the Chesapeake Bay, enhanced food security through program analysis, validated consumer information, and a better understanding of the agricultural workforce and urban agriculture. In energy, outcomes will include new methods for energy generation, greenhouse gas reduction strategies, and optimized Agrivoltaics implementation. Life science research is expected to lead to improved animal health, productivity, and welfare, as well as informed policy recommendations for the dairy industry and effective strategies for Chronic Wasting Disease. Manufacturing research will contribute to sustainable waste management and innovative product development, while robotics research will drive technological adoption in farming. The Department's strategic priorities are to address critical challenges and opportunities facing Pennsylvania agriculture, leveraging scientific research to achieve measurable results. Their theory of change is that by funding targeted research in these key areas, they can provide actionable insights and innovative solutions that will directly benefit farmers, agricultural businesses, consumers, and the environment. All funding is contingent upon budget appropriations, indicating a commitment to sustained investment in agricultural progress as a core component of the state's economic and environmental health.

This funding supports Southern nonprofit organizations and government entities in enhancing their artistic programming and professional development through travel and training opportunities.

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.

This grant provides funding for innovative arts education projects that engage diverse communities in hands-on learning experiences across various art forms outside of traditional school settings.