Bradford Family Foundation
The Bradford Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2024, it gave $1,152,511 through 51 grants to charitable organizations, with most grant dollars going to recipients in Tennessee.
Bradford Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Bradford Family Foundation gave $1.2M across 51 grants in 2024 (avg $23K), mostly in Tennessee. 22% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,152,511
- +24.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 51
- +13.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $22,598
- +10.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $15,991,585
- -6.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (11 of 51, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (78% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Bradford Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 530 Belle Meade Blvd, Nashville, TN 37205
Phone: (615) 383-2093
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bradford Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Montgomery Bell Academy ($306K). Together the top 10 received $881K.
Grant Size Distribution
196 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 180 grants of 196 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 78% of grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee, 6% to Georgia, 5% to New York, 3% to California, and 3% to Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 51 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Bradford Family Foundation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 51 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $28K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 78% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 66% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 76% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $368K (2022) to $1.2M (2024). In 2024 it made 51 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery Bell Academy Nashville, TN | General Fund | $305,700 |
| Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN | General Fund | $200,000 |
| Cheekwood Nashville, TN | General Fund | $131,950 |
| St Bonaventure University St Bonaventure, NY | Endowed Scholarship for Robert Dubill | $50,000 |
| St George's Nashville, TN | General Fund | $42,000 |
| Frontline Policy Council Newnan, GA | General Fund | $40,000 |
| Nashville Symphony Nashville, TN | General Fund | $40,000 |
| Friends of Warner Park Nashville, TN | General Fund | $26,175 |
| United Way (Designation Below) 1000 Each Organization Nashville, TN | General Fund | $25,000 |
| Austin Institute Austin, TX | General Fund | $20,000 |
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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 | $15,991,585 | $216,374 | $1,250,242 | $1,152,511 | 51 | $1,159,990 | $370,629 | $1,523,854 |
| 2023 | $17,006,470 | $1,555,525 | $999,876 | $923,632 | 45 | $928,186 | $1,581,101 | $1,202,005 |
| 2022 | $16,457,988 | $4,174,693 | $447,580 | $368,391 | 33 | $373,241 | $1,064,098 | $1,054,159 |
| 2021 | $12,884,415 | $1,129,272 | $736,403 | $695,560 | 38 | $698,272 | $1,135,413 | $962,661 |
| 2020 | $12,599,179 | $946,963 | $615,971 | $600,973 | 29 | — | $1,115,392 | $693,902 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bradford Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M 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 went to organizations including schools and universities, arts and cultural organizations, a policy organization, and a transitional-living provider.
The grantees describe their work in varied ways. Montgomery Bell Academy says it offers young men a college-preparatory experience focused on scholarship, athletics, wisdom, and moral integrity. St. Bonaventure University describes itself as a Catholic university committed to educational excellence in the Franciscan tradition. Frontline Policy Council describes itself as a state-focused biblical organization addressing issues including religious freedom, educational opportunity, human dignity, and principled government. Aphasis House says it provides transitional living homes and training to support people released from incarceration in re-entering society. The Frist Art Museum says it presents and originates exhibitions with related educational programs and community outreach.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 51 grants totaling $1,152,511. Grants ranged from $100 to $305,700, with a median grant of $10,000. The largest grants included $305,700 to Montgomery Bell Academy, $200,000 to Vanderbilt University, and $131,950 to Cheekwood, each for its general fund. Other notable grants included $50,000 to St. Bonaventure University for an endowed scholarship, and $40,000 each to Frontline Policy Council and Nashville Symphony.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Lillian R. Bradford and Bryan R. Bradford as trustees.
Bradford Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Bryan R. Bradford
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Lillian R. Bradford
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: James C. Bradford III (2020–2022) — Trustee
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 Bradford Family Foundation
How much does Bradford Family Foundation give each year?
Bradford Family Foundation gave $1.2M across 51 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $924K across 45 grants.
What is Bradford Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Bradford Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $22,598, across 51 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bradford Family Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does Bradford Family Foundation give grants?
Bradford Family Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Georgia (6%) and New York (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (22 grants), Franklin, TN (3 grants), Atlanta, GA (2 grants) and Princeton, NJ (2 grants).
Does Bradford Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 92% of Bradford Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (47 of 51) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Bradford Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Bradford Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Montgomery Bell Academy ($305,700), Vanderbilt University ($200,000) and Cheekwood ($131,950), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Bradford Family Foundation?
Bradford Family Foundation reported $16.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.5M (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 Bradford Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations including schools and universities, arts and cultural organizations, a policy organization, and a transitional-living provider. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bradford Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bradford Family Foundation's EIN?
Bradford Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-6344538. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Bradford Family Foundation 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
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bradford Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bradford-family-foundation-morg_67ab4127bf894c66a04d7bd84ea4989e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_626344538_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bradford Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bradford-family-foundation-morg_67ab4127bf894c66a04d7bd84ea4989e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Bradford Family Foundation'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.
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