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Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation

Public charity · Grantmaker Chattanooga, TN EIN: 62-1536731 Website

Chattanooga Christian Community, legally known as The Generosity Trust, is based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Its stated purpose is to empower Christian generosity through donor-advised funds, ministry-student scholarships, support for new Christian ministries, and community-connection services.

Key facts about Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation

In short: Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation gave $36.4M across 567 grants in 2024 (avg $64K), mostly in Tennessee. 21% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

EIN
62-1536731
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$36,405,358
Grants made (2024)
567
Average grant
$64,207
Median grant
$18,250
New grantees (estimate)
21% first-time grantees (121 of 564, 2024)
Total assets
$136,092,846
Primary geography
Tennessee (55% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$136.1M

+22.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$36.4M

+11.7% YoY

Grant Count

567

+5.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$64K

+5.8% YoY

Is Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation open to new grantees?

21%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 121 of 564 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $54K; repeat grants $67K. How we count

Medians: $10K first-time, $20K repeat.

  • 67% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 49% from 2021 to 2024. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The Generosity Trust describes itself as a donor-driven community foundation founded in 1965 by Dora Maclellan Brown. Its stated purpose is to empower Christian generosity, guided by the values Diligent, Aware, Faithful, and Strategic.

Its giving supports ministries and nonprofits, including organizations with religious, educational, community, and human-service missions. For example, Covenant College describes its mission as exploring and expressing the preeminence of Jesus Christ, educating Christians to engage culture, and pursuing biblical justice and mercy. Chattanooga Christian School says it prepares students to lead and serve while representing Christ; First Things First says it provides relationship resources; and On Point says it partners with schools and communities to help youth thrive.

The Trust also operates community initiatives. Sharing God’s Goodness supports small area ministries and nonprofits that are African American-led and/or serve African Americans. Unidos en Compasión focuses on churches, ministries, and nonprofits serving Latino families and individuals in the Chattanooga metro area.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the filing lists 567 grants totaling $36,405,358. The listed grants ranged from $5,002 to $2.5 million, with a median of $18,250. Separately, the organization reports making $38.1 million in grants to 1,350 organizations through 10,614 grants that year.

Invitation Only

, after which a leadership committee vets and selects grantees and presents recommendations to members. The circle says it typically grants to 4–8 organizations per year. For Unidos en Compasión, applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits or churches doing work in the greater Chattanooga area; applications are by invitation only, and organizations are asked to introduce themselves with a one-page description letter.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The Trust reports that more than $19 million of its 2024 grantmaking stayed in the Chattanooga area, while its giving also reached organizations nationwide. In the 2024 filing’s grant-dollar distribution, Tennessee received 55%, Georgia 15%, North Carolina 12%, Texas 4%, and Florida 3%.

Some initiatives have narrower geographic requirements: the Dora Maclellan Brown Ministry Scholarships are for candidates from the greater Chattanooga area, and Unidos en Compasión serves the greater Chattanooga area.

Grant Distribution by State

49states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 567 itemized grants.

Cities

ChattanoogaAtlantaHixsonWashingtonColorado SpringsNashvilleOrlandoLookout MTNDaltonClevelandWinston-SalemAlpharettaCharlotteSignal MountainBirminghamRinggoldDallasMariettaOoltewahLookout Mountain

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$10M$20M$30M$40M1,085 grants2020 436 grants2021 468 grants2022 537 grants2023 567 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $24.4M (2021) to $36.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 567 grants totaling $36.4M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Crossnore School & Children's Home: $2.5MCrossnore School & Children'sHome$2.5MLookout Mountain Presbyterian Church: $2.0MLookout Mountain PresbyterianChurch$2.0MBible in the Schools: $1.5MBible in the Schools$1.5MCovenant College: $1.2MCovenant College$1.2MGrace Peace Church: $1.0MGrace Peace Church$1.0M100FOLD: $1.0M100FOLD$1.0MChattanooga Chamber Foundation: $860KChattanooga Chamber Foundation$860KBethlehem Centers: $737KBethlehem Centers$737KChattanooga Christian School: $644KChattanooga Christian School$644KNational Christian Foundation Atlanta: $526KNational Christian FoundationAtlanta$526K

The largest 2024 recipient was Crossnore School & Children's Home ($2.5M). Together the top 10 received $12.0M.

Grant Size Distribution

3,093 grants across all recorded years

2481<$50K305$50–100K201$100–250K69$250–500K17$500K–1M20$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 2,481 grants of 3,093 (80%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Crossnore School & Children's Home Crossnore, NCOrganizational Support$2,500,000
Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church Lookout Mountain, TNOrganizational Support$1,991,461
Bible in the Schools Chattanooga, TNOrganizational Support$1,530,282
Covenant College Lookout Mountain, GAOrganizational Support$1,162,441
Grace Peace Church Ooltewah, TNOrganizational Support$1,046,475
100FOLD Waco, TXOrganizational Support$1,035,000
Chattanooga Chamber Foundation Chattanooga, TNOrganizational Support$860,250
Bethlehem Centers Chattanooga, TNOrganizational Support$737,413
Chattanooga Christian School Chattanooga, TNOrganizational Support$644,188
National Christian Foundation Atlanta Alpharetta, GAOrganizational Support$526,100

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grant sum Grant count
2024 $136,092,846 $53,564,266 $39,611,404 $36,405,358 567
2023 $111,393,597 $35,668,780 $35,283,633 $32,595,526 537
2022 $101,270,137 $38,520,924 $31,190,251 $29,852,811 468
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$20M$40M$60M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$136,092,846$111,393,597$101,270,137
Revenue$53,564,266$35,668,780$38,520,924
Expenses$39,611,404$35,283,633$31,190,251
Net Investment Income$4,771,332$2,770,059$3,417,053

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 16, 2022)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Bruce Zeiser as chair, Betsy Brown as vice chair, Karen Welborn as treasurer, and Eric Youngblood as secretary. It also lists John Gandy, Reggie Madison, Michael Mathis, Bart Rolen, Michael Tremain, and David Worland as board members.

Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation is led by James R. Barber, President on every filing since 2020; 2 of 12 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • James R. Barber

    President

    On filings since 2020

    60 hrs/week

    $145K (2020) → $165K (2024)

  • Bruce Zeiser

    Chair

    Secretary → Chairman, 2023

    Chairman → Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rhonda Burditt

    Director of Finance & Accounting

    New on the 2024 filing

    45 hrs/week

    $90K (2024)

  • Bart Rolen

    Board Member

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Betsy Brown

    Vice Chair

    Board Member → Vice Chairman, 2023

    Vice Chairman → Vice Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Eric Youngblood

    Secretary

    Board Member → Secretary, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Karen Welborn

    Treasurer

    Board Member → Treasurer, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Gandy

    Board Member

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Reggie Madison

    Board Member

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael Tremain

    Board Member

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • David Worland

    Board Member

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael Mathis

    Board Member

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (5)
  • Former: Tom Glenn (2020–2023) — Board Member
  • Former: John Baney (2023) — Board Member
  • Former: Charles F. Monroe (2020–2022) — Vice Chairman
  • Former: Bill Lane (2020) — Chairman
  • Former: Gary L. Hathaway (2020) — Board Member

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.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

James R Barber — President: $165KJames R BarberPresident$165KRhonda Burditt — Director of Finance & Accounting: $90KRhonda BurdittDirector of Finance & Accounting$90K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $165K, to James R Barber (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 345 Frazier Avenue Unit 205, Chattanooga, TN 37405
Phone: (423) 266-5257
Website: https://thegenerositytrust.org

Frequently asked questions about Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation

How much does Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation give each year?

Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation gave $36.4M across 567 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $32.6M across 537 grants.

What is Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation's typical grant size?

Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $18,250, and its average grant was $64,207, across 567 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation that year got $54K on average.

Where does Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation give grants?

Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Georgia (15%) and North Carolina (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chattanooga, TN (175 grants), Atlanta, GA (18 grants), Hixson, TN (12 grants) and Colorado Springs, CO (10 grants).

Does Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 567 grants with a stated purpose on Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Organizational Support" (567 grants).

Who are Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation's largest grantees?

Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Crossnore School & Children's Home ($2,500,000), Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church ($1,991,461) and Bible in the Schools ($1,530,282), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation?

Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation reported $136.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $53.6M.

What does Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation fund?

The Generosity Trust describes itself as a donor-driven community foundation founded in 1965 by Dora Maclellan Brown. Its stated purpose is to empower Christian generosity, guided by the values Diligent, Aware, Faithful, and Strategic. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation?

Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check thegenerositytrust.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation's EIN?

Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-1536731. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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