Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
(formerly Nashville Community Foundation, Inc.)
Contact information:
3833 Cleghorn Avenue, No. 400
Nashville, TN 37215-2519
Phone: 615-321-4939
Fax: 615-327-2746
E-mail: mail@cfmt.org
Website: http://www.cfmt.org/
Type of foundation: Community foundation
Types of grants: Program development.
Description: Established in 1991, the Foundation is dedicated to enriching the quality of life in middle Tennessee. It serves as a leader, catalyst and resource for philanthropy and strives to build a permanent endowment for the community. Gifts are made to the arts and humanities, conservation and preservation, environment, education, employment and training, health and human services, housing and economic and community development. The Foundation is particularly interested in proposals that help address unmet needs in the community. Proposals are accepted for Unrestricted and Field of Interest funds.
Field of Interest Funds are established by donors who support a particular charitable endeavor or cause. The Board has the ability to make Discretionary Grants from these Funds.
The Foundation also makes grants through its Arts Build Communities grant program which provides funds for a variety of arts projects. Grants range from $500 to $3,000. This program is funded by the Tennessee General Assembly and administered in cooperation with the Tennessee Arts Commission and designated agencies throughout Tennessee.
Sample grants:
- $200,000 to Nashville Public Television, Nashville, TN for general operating support (2009).
- $20,000 to Graywolf Press, Saint Paul, MN (independent publisher) (2009).
- $10,000 to Middle Tennessee State University Foundation, Murfreesboro, TN for WMOT FM 89.5 radio (2009).
- $10,000 to Public Radio Capital, Boulder, CO for general operating (2009).
Fit for public broadcasting: The Foundation has made multiple gifts for public media in multiple states, but its primary interest is in Tennessee. Public media appears to be a good fit for the Foundation's focus on community development, as well as arts and education. The Foundation has made eight grants for media projects over the past year, totaling $390,000.
Eligibility: Giving is limited to the 40 counties comprising the middle Tennessee area. No support for private foundations, religious or sectarian purposes, private schools or fundraising feasibility studies. No grants for fundraising events, debt retirement, annual and capital campaigns, endowment campaigns, advertising, sponsorships, trips, conferences, computers or equipment.
Deadline: The application deadline for Unrestricted and Field of Interest grants is in early August. The Foundation makes application forms available online.
How to apply: The Foundation accepts proposals only for Unrestricted and Field of Interest funds. Interested applicants should review the Foundation guidelines. To apply, organizations should download and complete the appropriate application form and then mail it to the Foundation. Faxed or e-mailed applications are not accepted.
Giving range: The average gift for radio/television/media is approximately $50,000. The Foundation has made gifts as high as $10 million.
Assets: $319,146,618 (2008)
Total giving: $79,825,120 (2008)
