Foundations that fund organizations in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for Chattanooga nonprofits
438 private foundations gave $79M to Chattanooga organizations in their latest filings; 33 of the 100 that say either way accept applications.
1,680 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Chattanooga around $48K. 49 of these funders are based in Tennessee; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 438
- Accept applications
- 33
- of 100 that state a policy
- Dollars to Chattanooga
- $79M
- latest filings
- Grants
- 1,680
- Typical median grant
- $48K
- Based in TN
- 49%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to Chattanooga organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nmi Foundation | Chattanooga, TN | 3 | $9.0M | $1.0M | Preselected only | Establishment and funding of the sharon mills sustainabilit…; Supports the capital renovation campaign providing the foll…; Supports sourcing and purchase of fresh vegetables and frui… |
| Benwood Foundation Inc | Chattanooga, TN | 100 | $7.2M | $23K | Yes | General operating support; Periscope artist entrepreneur training; Creative entrepreneur training |
| Lyndhurst Foundation Inc | Chattanooga, TN | 99 | $6.1M | $20K | Yes | To match LH Associates contributions; General Operating Support; LH Associates matching program |
| The Gary W Rollins Foundation C/O Rfa Management Co LLC | Atlanta, GA | 2 | $5.9M | $2.9M | Preselected only | Display for medal of honor receipient & general operating f…; Gwr college of business |
| The Maclellan Foundation Inc | Chattanooga, TN | 75 | $4.7M | $10K | Yes | For general operating support.; For various charitable purposes including spiritual formati…; For building organizational capacity. |
| Robert F Stone Foundation Aka Bobby Stone Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 103 | $3.5M | $5,000 | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted; Charitable Event; BSF Local Music Fund |
| Tucker Foundation | Ooltewah, TN | 27 | $3.0M | $10K | Yes | Relay for life; Pups4patriots tennessee; General support - imagine arts education initiative |
| Jack and Charlotte Frost Family Foundation | Signal Mountain, TN | 19 | $2.9M | $79K | Preselected only | Program support |
| Robert L & Kathrina H Maclellan Founda Foundation | Chattanooga, TN | 28 | $2.3M | $75K | Yes | For general operating support.; For education of youth and children.; For outreach to families. |
| Kennedy Foundation Inc | Chattanooga, TN | 8 | $2.2M | $92K | Yes | To support a public charity; To provide funding for a professorship; To fund a new building for the nursing school |
| Ua for Helene Fuld Health Trust 10-205620 | New York, NY | 1 | $2.0M | $2.0M | Preselected only | Program support |
| Hamico Inc | Chattanooga, TN | 47 | $1.8M | $10K | Preselected only | Donation |
| Tennessee Health Foundation Inc | Chattanooga, TN | 14 | $1.2M | $6,250 | Yes | 2024 hickey match; Leadership board 1:1 match, 2024 mcghee; 2024 culver boys and girls match |
| Weldon F Osborne Foundation Inc | Chattanooga, TN | 69 | $1.2M | $10K | Yes | Program support; Operating; General operating |
| Orion & Emma B Hurlbut Tr Fbo Memorial Fd | Chattanooga, TN | 5 | $1.1M | $150K | Preselected only | To fund free psycho-oncology, industrial arts, family progr…; To provide cancer-related services to the underserved cance…; To be used toward indigent cancer patient screenings. to he… |
| Stoneypeak Foundation | Atlanta, GA | 1 | $1.0M | $1.0M | Preselected only | To support the mission of developing boys and men though th… |
| Act Foundation Inc | Atlanta, GA | 1 | $956K | $956K | Preselected only | Special project support |
| Hugh and Charlotte Maclellan Charitable Charitable Trust | Chattanooga, TN | 33 | $944K | $10K | Preselected only | For general operating support.; For outreach to youth and children.; For education of youth and children. |
| Frank Jb & Emma S Varallo Foundation | Chattanooga, TN | 1 | $900K | $900K | Yes | Operating funds |
| M J Murdock Charitable Trust | Vancouver, WA | 2 | $850K | $425K | Yes | Program support; Program expansion |
| Charter Fund Inc D/B/A Charter School Growth Fund | Broomfield, CO | 3 | $845K | $125K | Yes | Charter school growth; Charter school capacity-building |
| The Greg and India Keith Foundation | Charlotte, NC | 1 | $830K | $830K | Yes | Contributions |
| George R Johnson Family Foundation | Cleveland, TN | 28 | $640K | $14K | Yes | Program support; Children educational program; Art education |
| Footprint Foundation Inc | Chattanooga, TN | 40 | $637K | $5,000 | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted; the 'Notes in Nature' event in collaboration with reflectio…; African American Cemetery Fund |
| Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation | Signal Mountain, TN | 13 | $624K | $40K | Preselected only | Program support |
| Publix Super Markets Charities Inc | Lakeland, FL | 20 | $583K | $5,500 | Yes | Organization's charitable purpose |
| Schillhahn-Huskey Foundation | Chattanooga, TN | 21 | $581K | $20K | Preselected only | Program support; Program support and capital campaign |
| The John M Gessell Charitable Trust Dtd 8-20-99 | Sewanee, TN | 1 | $469K | $469K | Preselected only | General operating account |
| The Anna Sue and Bob Shaw Foundation | Dalton, GA | 8 | $410K | $50K | Yes | Support |
| Bishop Family Foundation | Signal Mountain, TN | 8 | $400K | $45K | Yes | Clef medical camps campaign; Stability program; Truck for project restore |
| The Rosenthal Foundation | Richmond, VA | 1 | $377K | $377K | Preselected only | Fund programorganization needs |
| Lillian L Colby Charitable Fdn Ia | Chattanooga, TN | 14 | $360K | $25K | Yes | General operating |
| Sharpe Family Foundation Inc | Soddy Daisy, TN | 19 | $326K | $4,000 | Preselected only | Program assistance |
| Beacon Foundation Charitable Trust | Kennesaw, GA | 6 | $310K | $45K | Preselected only | Fund "imagine! initiative" to help provide hamilton county,…; Operational support and tbri training; Provide support for food, medical services, clothing, and t… |
| McKenzie Foundation D/B/A the McKenzie Foundation | Chattangooga, TN | 17 | $305K | $10K | Preselected only | Operating funds; Operating fund |
| Frank P Pierce Foundation Inc | Chattanooga, TN | 7 | $285K | $25K | Preselected only | Charitable distribution for 2025 medal of honor celebration; Charitable distribution; Charitable distribution for 75th anniversary campaign |
| R Brad Martin Family Foundation | Chattanooga, TN | 12 | $284K | $13K | Preselected only | Program related |
| Pathfinder Foundation Inc | Wilmington, DE | 6 | $265K | $11K | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted; Employee Scholarship Fund; Cartter Scholars Scholarship Fund |
| Clifton and Clara Ward Foundation | Nashville, TN | 5 | $265K | $20K | Preselected only | Operating fund |
| Southern Company Gas Charitable Foundation Inc | Atlanta, GA | 11 | $263K | $25K | Preselected only | Operates a regional food bank distributing food to partner…; Provides shelter and supportive services for individuals ex…; Supports economic development and community initiatives |
| American Water Charitable Foundationinc | Camden, NJ | 21 | $252K | $3,000 | Yes | General purpose |
| Coker Foundation | Chattanooga, TN | 4 | $247K | $50K | Preselected only | General operations; Charger fund; Endowment program |
| Godsey Foundation Inc | Chattanooga, TN | 4 | $240K | $45K | Preselected only | General unrestricted |
| Stoller Foundation | Houston, TX | 2 | $221K | $111K | Yes | Operations and other grants; 100fold |
| John Templeton Foundation | West Conshohocken, PA | 2 | $218K | $109K | Yes | For general support; Mental health first responders for spiritual yearning among… |
| Commonwealth Transfusion Foundation | Glen Allen, VA | 2 | $213K | $107K | Preselected only | General support, commonwealth transfusion foundation specia… |
| Gates Foundation | Seattle, WA | 1 | $200K | $200K | Yes | Public awareness and analysis |
| The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc | Milwaukee, WI | 1 | $200K | $200K | Yes | To support general operations |
| Choicedata Foundation Inc | Knoxville, TN | 1 | $200K | $200K | Preselected only | To use the funds from this award only for the designated ch… |
| Bill and Crissy Haslam Foundation | Knoxville, TN | 1 | $198K | $198K | Preselected only | General operating support |
| The Haslam 3 Foundation Inc | Knoxville, TN | 1 | $198K | $198K | Yes | Education access |
| Lebovitz Family Charitable Trust | Chattanooga, TN | 6 | $180K | $4,200 | Yes | To support a public charity; Educational & cultural; To support annual campaign |
| Riverview Foundation Inc | Chattanooga, TN | 4 | $177K | $40K | Preselected only | Aetna mountain trails - phase ii; "my thriving garden" native plant project; Dade county community forest project |
| Metta Tree Foundation 43-59869 | Chicago, IL | 1 | $175K | $175K | Preselected only | General support |
| Hoff Family Charitable Foundation | Hartselle, AL | 1 | $173K | $173K | Preselected only | General support |
| The Educational Foundation of America C/O Intentional Philanthropy | Bethesda, MD | 1 | $150K | $150K | Preselected only | Salary and benefits arts director, arts programming, and st… |
| Regions Foundation | Birmingham, AL | 2 | $150K | $75K | Preselected only | Small business program |
| Chattanooga Ophthalmological Foundation | Chattanooga, TN | 3 | $145K | $32K | Preselected only | Replacement of outdated microscope to assist in patient sur…; To provide eye care to undeserved children in the chattanoo…; Providing eye care to low income, uninsured patients in the… |
| Lonnie & Kitty Strickland Charitable Foundation | Chattanooga, TN | 13 | $129K | $10K | Preselected only | Donation |
| Hazel Montague Hutcheson Foundation C/O John L Hutcheson IV Trustee | Chattanooga, TN | 35 | $128K | $2,000 | Yes | Unrestricted grant |
| In Him Resources Foundation | Chattanooga, TN | 16 | $128K | $2,500 | Yes | General |
| The Hacker and Kitty Caldwell Family Foundation Inc | Chattanooga, TN | 11 | $125K | $1,100 | Yes | General operations; Annual fund on behalf of kate caldwell nevin; Lindy hop |
| Jansen Family Foundation | Las Vegas, NV | 1 | $120K | $120K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Brown Whitworth Reynolds Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 3 | $120K | $25K | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted; Whitfield/Murray Feeding Programs |
| Armat Foundation Inc | Winston Salem, NC | 1 | $120K | $120K | Preselected only | Ronnie thomas scholarship/pat woolsey plaque |
| Eleanor's Foundation Inc | Franklin, TN | 1 | $116K | $116K | Preselected only | Animal rescue |
| The Elsa & Peter Soderberg Charitable | Boca Grande, FL | 1 | $110K | $110K | Preselected only | General |
| The Spencer Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $110K | $110K | Yes | Can mentoring improve adolescent girls' educational outcome… |
| Arthur E & Roberta M Yates Crut | Birmingham, AL | 1 | $105K | $105K | Preselected only | General operating |
| The Arnold Foundation Inc | Norcross, GA | 3 | $105K | $50K | Preselected only | To further the charitable purpose of the organization. |
| The Chrysalis Foundation | Chattanooga, TN | 9 | $102K | $5,000 | Yes | Operating fund |
| J Squared Family Foundation | Houston, TX | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | Contribution |
| Leptas Foundation Trust | Denver, CO | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | General support |
| Day Family Foundation Inc | Chattanooga, TN | 2 | $100K | $50K | Yes | Tuition assistance |
| Jstlwf | Athens, TN | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | Public charity |
| Jesus Calling Foundation | Brentwood, TN | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | Charitable gift |
| The Martino Foundation | Tampa, FL | 2 | $96K | $48K | Preselected only | General donation |
| Two Eagles Foundation Inc | Tomahawk, WI | 2 | $95K | $48K | Preselected only | Tuition assistance |
| Chattanooga Red Wolves Foundation Inc | Tampa, FL | 3 | $94K | $1,037 | Preselected only | General donation; Youth soccer |
| William F Bryan Trust | Birmingham, AL | 5 | $93K | $19K | Preselected only | General operating |
| McCulloch Harry Moore Tuw | Orlando, FL | 2 | $87K | $44K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Helen and Harry Saul Foundation | Brentwood, TN | 2 | $85K | $43K | Preselected only | General operations |
| Lakeridge Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 1 | $85K | $85K | Preselected only | To support their mission |
| Art Bridges Inc | Fort Worth, TX | 3 | $82K | $20K | Preselected only | To support exhibition hosting costs and to support programs…; Support for initiatives that provide logistical and strateg…; To support evaluation activities to better understand audie… |
| Sonscope Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 4 | $81K | $23K | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted; Baylor Fund |
| Global Commissioned Builders | Colorado Springs, CO | 1 | $80K | $80K | Preselected only | Bible study training & creating resources in 190 countries |
| Agape Love Foundation | Cleveland, TN | 2 | $80K | $40K | Yes | General purpose |
| Shein Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $80K | $80K | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted |
| Don Lawrence Living Trust | Amarillo, TX | 1 | $75K | $75K | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| St Vincents Urology Research Fund | Rye, NY | 1 | $75K | $75K | Preselected only | Urology education and research |
| Crichton Family Foundation | Columbia, TN | 5 | $75K | $15K | Yes | General support |
| Carson-Myre Charitable Foundation | Paducah, KY | 1 | $75K | $75K | Yes | Support christian ministry |
| Grandview Foundation Inc | Chattanooga, TN | 6 | $74K | $10K | Preselected only | General charitable support |
| The Bbc Foundation | Fort Oglethorpe, GA | 10 | $67K | $4,500 | Preselected only | Operating funds; Award |
| A Family Foundation | Birmingham, AL | 6 | $65K | $7,500 | Preselected only | Support family services; Support community through arts; Eliminate hunger |
| Feeding the Future Inc | Chattanooga, TN | 3 | $64K | $4,800 | Preselected only | food assistance; End Childhood Hunger |
| George and Deborah Mehl Family Foundation Inc C/O W Stuart Dornette | Cincinnati, OH | 1 | $60K | $60K | Preselected only | General purposes |
| The Fullgraf Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 3 | $58K | $18K | Preselected only | Chattanooga green prix events including the goblin class fo…; General & Unrestricted; To provide support for the 2024 and 2025 green prix events… |
| Beth and Thomas a Lupton Family Foundation | Hixson, TN | 5 | $57K | $5,000 | Preselected only | Operating expenses |
| The Kendeda Fund | Wilmington, DE | 2 | $55K | $28K | Preselected only | Operating Reserve Fund; for participation in Kendeda Fund's sustainability cohort |
Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV, latest electronic return per foundation (2026-10-28). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own checkbox on Part XV line 2. Grants to individuals excluded.
Common questions
Which foundations give to nonprofits in Chattanooga, Tennessee?
Nmi Foundation, Benwood Foundation Inc, Lyndhurst Foundation Inc, The Gary W Rollins Foundation C/O Rfa Management Co LLC, The Maclellan Foundation Inc and 95 others reported grants to Chattanooga organizations on their latest Form 990-PF.
How do I approach a foundation that doesn't accept applications?
A foundation that checks "contributes only to preselected organizations" on its 990-PF won't review a cold proposal. Look at who it funds, find a shared board member, grantee or advisor, and ask for an introduction. Foundations that accept applications usually list a contact and deadlines in Part XV; we show that text on each foundation's page.
Is this list complete?
No. It covers private foundations (Form 990-PF filers) whose latest electronic return lists at least one grant to an organization in Chattanooga. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.