City Leadership
City Leadership's mission is to recruit, develop, and catalyze leaders for the benefit of the city of memphis. The organization was founded in order to maximize the leadership capital and potential of memphis. City Leadership strives to recruit talented individuals to memphis, to develop leaders and organizations in memphis, and to accelerate (I.e. Catalyze) collaborative projects for the benefit of the city.
City Leadership at a glance
In short: City Leadership reported $193 in grants paid in 2025 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Grants paid (2025)
- $193 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- -98.9% vs 2024
- Total assets
- $1,801,799
- +19.2% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $2,619,127
- -5.5% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $2,469,349
- +10.8% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
Who City Leadership funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
19 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 19 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $193 (2025) to $90K (2023). In 2025 it reported $193 in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Collegiate School of Memphis Memphis, TN | General Operations | $17,522 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,801,799 | $2,619,127 | $2,469,349 | $193 | Total only | — |
| 2024 | $1,511,423 | $2,771,388 | $2,229,548 | $17,522 | 1 | — |
| 2023 | $1,044,836 | $2,243,545 | $2,301,896 | $90,388 | 9 | — |
| 2022 | $1,119,699 | $2,029,294 | $2,201,891 | $79,675 | 9 | $-3,466 |
| 2021 | $971,651 | $2,281,732 | $2,062,085 | $59,937 | Total only | $-2,171 |
| 2020 | $767,648 | $1,627,980 | $2,018,996 | — | — | $-3,030 |
| 2019 | $1,156,631 | $2,094,171 | $2,086,160 | — | — | $168 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About City Leadership
Based on IRS filings
City Leadership is a public charity focused on public and societal benefit, based in Memphis, TN. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.8M in total assets. In 2025, it reported $193 in grants paid as a total on its IRS filing, without an itemized list.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
City Leadership is led by John R. Carroll, Executive Director since 2022 (on filings since 2019); 2 of 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John R. Carroll
Executive Director
President → Executive Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$179K (2019) → $191K (2025)
Marcus E. Lewis
Chairman & Treasurer
Treasurer → Chairman & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clayton Sanderson
Operations Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$97K (2024) → $146K (2025)
Tom Marino
Secretary
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matt Brennan
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Grant Edwards (2019–2023) — Operations Director
- Former: John W. Bryson (2019–2021) — Chairman
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $191K, to John R Carroll (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about City Leadership
How much does City Leadership give each year?
City Leadership reported $193 in grants paid in 2025 on its 2025 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2024 it gave $18K across 1 grant.
How large is City Leadership?
City Leadership reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.6M.
What is City Leadership?
City Leadership is a public charity focused on public and societal benefit, based in Memphis, TN. It holds $1.8M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does City Leadership operate?
City Leadership has awarded grants in Tennessee.
What is City Leadership's EIN?
City Leadership's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4337862. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 10, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 1, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 10, 2022)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work City Leadership funds
Public, Societal Benefit Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in City Leadership's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Tennessee
Christian Community Foundation of Memphis
Memphis, TN
The foundation supports a broad range of U.S. charities through donor-advised funds, with a particular focus on Christian ministries and community transformation in Memphis; its Hope for Memphis Fund serves eligible Gospel-centered nonprofits in the Memphis metro area. Its 2025 grants had a median of $22,050, and it accepts applications for the Hope for Memphis Fund during its stated application cycle.
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Community Foundation of Greater Memphis Inc
Memphis, TN
The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis supports community needs, nonprofit capacity building, and donor-directed and theme-based grants, with awards across West Tennessee, eastern Arkansas, and northern Mississippi. Its 2025 grants had a median of $20,200, though amounts varied widely; unsolicited requests are accepted only through specific application-based opportunities, not stated as a general process.
Assets
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The Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation
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The Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation funds community and systems-level work to help Memphis families thrive, including education, housing, food equity, employment, and neighborhood development; its Building Strong Families initiative focuses on ZIP codes 38126 and 38106. In 2024, grants ranged from $1,000 to $650,000, with a median of $17,500; Innovation Grants are $10,000–$25,000. It provides application materials on its website, but the profile does not explicitly say whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
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Crews Family Foundation
Germantown, TN
The Crews Family Foundation supports Tennessee organizations working in education, child and family services, health, food assistance, and community development. In 2024, it made 61 grants ranging from $1,000 to $2.14 million, with a median grant of $12,500. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
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Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc
Memphis, TN
The Thomas W Briggs Foundation supports nonprofits making lasting, measurable impact in Memphis, including work in education, socioeconomic advancement, community pride, and belonging, with priority for underresourced communities. Its 2025 grants ranged from $100 to $70,000, with a median of $20,000. Applications are by invitation; interested organizations should submit an interest form and discuss their proposal with the foundation before the cycle deadline.
Assets
$17.5M
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Total Given
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John Dustin Buckman Charitable Trust
Memphis, TN
The trust directs about half its income to needy causes benefiting children, supporting children’s health, education, advocacy, and community organizations. Its 2025 grants ranged from $10,000 to $349,020, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations in Tennessee, mainly Memphis. It accepts requests without restricting giving to preselected organizations; applicants should briefly describe their purpose and intended use of funds.
Assets
$20.9M
Grants
19
Total Given
$1.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in Tennessee
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City Leadership down — hundreds of funders to go?