Atticus Trust
Atticus Trust is a private foundation based in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2024, it reported $1,035,000 in grants to nine organizations, including Nashville-area sustainability and parks organizations and environmental law and conservation organizations in Tennessee, Washington, DC, Virginia, and New York.
Atticus Trust at a glance
In short: Atticus Trust gave $1.0M across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $115K), top state Tennessee. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,035,000
- -1.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- -10.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $115,000
- +9.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $12,928,708
- -1.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (40% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Atticus Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 150347, Nashville, TN 37215-0347
Phone: (615) 902-3483
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Atticus Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Urban Green Lab Inc ($308K). Together the top 9 received $1.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 34 grants of 53 (64%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 40% of grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee, 29% to Washington, DC, 19% to Virginia, and 12% to New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How Atticus Trust gives
- Giving grew 331% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 89% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $240K (2021) to $1.4M (2020). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $1.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Green Lab Inc Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $308,000 |
| Environmental Law Institute Washington, DC | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $300,000 |
| Southern Environmental Law Center Charlottesville, VA | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $200,000 |
| Natural Resources Defense Council New York, NY | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $125,000 |
| One Generation Away Franklin, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $30,000 |
| Nashville Parks Foundation Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $25,000 |
| Society of St Andrew Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $20,000 |
| Turnip Green Creative Reuse Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $15,000 |
| Nashville Tree Foundation Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $12,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Atticus Trust?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $12,928,708 | $1,045,134 | $1,265,882 | $1,035,000 | 9 | $1,088,693 | $726,698 | $1,219,962 |
| 2023 | $13,150,119 | $1,655,085 | $1,331,722 | $1,050,000 | 10 | $1,177,842 | $1,448,755 | $1,031,801 |
| 2022 | $12,826,756 | $466,121 | $1,326,998 | $1,074,000 | 9 | $1,163,740 | $316,492 | $1,093,062 |
| 2021 | $13,687,633 | $2,013,776 | $508,771 | $240,000 | 3 | $338,330 | $1,843,335 | $1,211,645 |
| 2020 | $12,103,790 | $246,275 | $1,656,524 | $1,434,450 | 22 | — | $175,847 | $947,977 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Atticus Trust reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in areas including environmental sustainability, environmental law, conservation, parks, and urban forestry. For example, Urban Green Lab describes its mission as teaching communities to live sustainably through education and programming focused on environmental sustainability, food waste reduction, and climate resilience. The Southern Environmental Law Center says it works to protect clean air and water, a livable climate, and the region’s natural treasures and biodiversity. Nashville Parks Foundation says it enhances public parks and recreational opportunities while promoting sustainable growth of the park system.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $1,035,000 through nine grants. Grants ranged from $12,000 to $308,000, with a median of $30,000. Its largest grants were $308,000 to Urban Green Lab, $300,000 to the Environmental Law Institute, $200,000 to the Southern Environmental Law Center, and $125,000 to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Other recipients included One Generation Away ($30,000), Nashville Parks Foundation ($25,000), Society of St Andrew ($20,000), Turnip Green Creative Reuse ($15,000), and Nashville Tree Foundation ($12,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Martin S Brown as Trustee & Trust Committee member. It lists Margaret Declercq, Susannah Scott-Barnes, Elizabeth M Brown, and Sara Brown Fleishman as Trust Committee members.
Atticus Trust's 2024 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Martin S. Brown
Trustee & Trust Committee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth M. Brown
Trust Committee Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margaret Declercq
Trust Committee Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sara Brown Fleishman
Trust Committee Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susannah Scott-Barnes
Trust Committee Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Atticus Trust
How much does Atticus Trust give each year?
Atticus Trust gave $1.0M across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.1M across 10 grants.
What is Atticus Trust's typical grant size?
Atticus Trust's median grant in 2024 was $30,000, and its average grant was $115,000, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Atticus Trust give grants?
Atticus Trust's top state is Tennessee, with 40% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (29%) and Virginia (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (5 grants).
Who are Atticus Trust's largest grantees?
Atticus Trust's largest 2024 grantees include Urban Green Lab Inc ($308,000), Environmental Law Institute ($300,000) and Southern Environmental Law Center ($200,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 78% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Atticus Trust?
Atticus Trust reported $12.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Atticus Trust fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in areas including environmental sustainability, environmental law, conservation, parks, and urban forestry. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Atticus Trust?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Atticus Trust's EIN?
Atticus Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1796390. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Atticus Trust accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Atticus Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Inc
Nashville, TN
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee supports nonprofits across a range of needs, including housing, disaster relief, education, health, public safety, and the arts. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $8,500, with amounts ranging widely; it primarily serves Middle Tennessee, with 76% of 2024 grant dollars going to Tennessee recipients. Special Interest Grant applications are submitted through its grants portal; no new competitive Community Impact cycle is planned for fiscal year 2026–2027.
Assets
$832.0M
Grants
2,450
Total Given
$107.1M
MSB Cockayne Fund Inc
Nashville, TN
MSB Cockayne Fund Inc supports preselected charitable organizations, including schools, environmental and conservation groups, civic design, and health-related organizations. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $600,000, with a median of $10,000, and most funding went to Tennessee and California. It does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$25.1M
Grants
111
Total Given
$3.2M
W L Lyons Brown Foundation
Louisville, KY
The W L Lyons Brown Foundation’s 2025 grants supported varied charitable work, with 66% of grant dollars going to Kentucky and 33% to Tennessee; its reported grants ranged from $2,000 to $11.38 million, with a median of $12,000, though totals included large distributions during dissolution. It gave only to preselected organizations, did not accept unsolicited requests, and its final filing indicates it has wound down and stopped grantmaking.
Assets
—
Grants
21
Total Given
$34.1M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Freedom Together Foundation
New York, NY
The foundation funds work to strengthen multiracial democracy and build community and worker power, racial and gender justice, movement infrastructure, reproductive health, medical research, and community institutions. In 2024, its grants ranged from $5,000 to $14 million, with a median of $500,000; its largest shares went to organizations in Washington, DC, New York, California, Massachusetts, and Illinois. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.4B
Grants
595
Total Given
$470.0M
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
More similar funders
More Funders in Tennessee
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Atticus Trust's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Atticus Trust down — hundreds of funders to go?