Tennessee · Grantmakers

Foundations That Fund Arts & Culture in Tennessee

Imperigo has identified 386 funders that made 5,566 grants totaling $369.7M to 475 arts & culture organizations in Tennessee, with a median grant of $12K. Every figure below is drawn from IRS Form 990 filings through 2025.

Arts & Culture Funding in Tennessee

Total granted $369.7M
Funders 386
Grants 5,566
Organizations funded 475

Top Funders — page 2 of 4

26. The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga Inc
204 grants to 23 organizations · largest $75K · through 2023 · 2.5% of their giving
$2.2M
27. Tennessee Technology Development Corp
6 grants to 1 organization · largest $305K · through 2024 · 3.4% of their giving
$1.5M
28. Frontline Fellowship Inc
1 grant to 1 organization · largest $209K · through 2022 · 100.0% of their giving
$209K
29. The Dunavant Foundation
7 grants to 5 organizations · largest $500K · through 2024 · 4.1% of their giving
$982K
30. Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation
1 grant to 1 organization · largest $200K · through 2019 · 18.2% of their giving
$200K
31. Memphis Center City Development Corporation
1 grant to 1 organization · largest $500K · through 2022 · 7.0% of their giving
$500K
32. West Tn Healthcare Foundation Inc
9 grants to 3 organizations · largest $443K · through 2024 · 4.2% of their giving
$832K
33. Memorial Foundation Inc
32 grants to 23 organizations · largest $100K · through 2020 · 3.6% of their giving
$969K
34. The National Society of Colonial Dames America in the State of Tn
6 grants to 1 organization · largest $46K · through 2024 · 100.0% of their giving
$139K
35. Arkansas Community Foundation Inc
21 grants to 2 organizations · largest $329K · through 2024 · 1.1% of their giving
$2.5M
36. Opera Memphis Endowment Foundation
6 grants to 1 organization · largest $22K · through 2024 · 100.0% of their giving
$126K
37. Youth Programs Inc
1 grant to 1 organization · largest $500K · through 2025 · 5.0% of their giving
$500K
38. East Tennessee Historical Society Foundation
4 grants to 1 organization · largest $31K · through 2024 · 100.0% of their giving
$119K
39. Ten Credit Union
4 grants to 1 organization · largest $58K · through 2023 · 33.7% of their giving
$110K
40. The Howard Fund
5 grants to 4 organizations · largest $100K · through 2023 · 9.6% of their giving
$190K
41. Jewish Foundation of Memphis
54 grants to 15 organizations · largest $63K · through 2024 · 1.9% of their giving
$917K
42. Knoxville Cbid Management Corporation DBA Downtown Knoxville Alliance
20 grants to 6 organizations · largest $24K · through 2024 · 9.8% of their giving
$174K
43. Chattanooga Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Inc
3 grants to 3 organizations · largest $71K · through 2021 · 10.8% of their giving
$153K
44. Social Impact Fund
3 grants to 1 organization · largest $250K · through 2024 · 2.4% of their giving
$600K
45. National Basketball Association Foundation
6 grants to 3 organizations · largest $300K · through 2024
$1.3M
46. Harper House Music Foundation Inc
2 grants to 2 organizations · largest $50K · through 2024 · 19.2% of their giving
$68K
47. Delta Dental of Tennessee Inc
19 grants to 8 organizations · largest $125K · through 2024 · 2.2% of their giving
$578K
48. United Way of Middle Tennessee Inc
34 grants to 10 organizations · largest $232K · through 2025
$1.4M
49. Sharing the Vision Inc
1 grant to 1 organization · largest $50K · through 2025 · 26.3% of their giving
$50K
50. Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation
37 grants to 21 organizations · largest $302K · through 2024
$1.1M

Funders are ordered by how much of their overall giving goes to arts & culture work in Tennessee, not by dollar totals alone — a foundation that concentrates its giving here is usually a better prospect than a larger one for which this is a rounding error. 16 of the funders counted here are donor-advised fund sponsors, which grant on behalf of individual donors and accept no applications; they are marked and ranked last.

Other Causes Funded in Tennessee

About This Data

A grant appears here when a funder reported it on its IRS Form 990 and the recipient organization is classified under the NTEE group covering arts & culture work, with an address in Tennessee. Grants are counted from the 2025 filing year backward.

Some 990 grant schedules list a recipient by name and address without an EIN, and those grants cannot be matched to a classification — so the totals above represent identifiable arts & culture funding in Tennessee, not every dollar that reached the sector. Figures are a floor, not a ceiling.

Looking for organizations rather than funders? Browse all nonprofits in Tennessee

Research Tennessee funders in depth

Full grant histories, recipient lists, officer compensation, multi-year financials, and exports for every foundation Imperigo tracks.