The Dettwiller Foundation is a private foundation based in Nashville, Tennessee, established to foster the charitable legacy of Fred Dettwiller. The foundation was granted tax-exempt status in November 2015 and operates as a grantmaking organization with a staff of two employees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$251.3M
+1.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$14.1M
+64.8% YoY
Grant Count
152
+100.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$93K
-17.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dettwiller Foundation reported a distributable amount of $12.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to foster Fred Dettwiller's charitable legacy through grantmaking that supports a diverse range of initiatives, including:
- Religious organizations and faith-based initiatives
- Educational programs
- The arts
- Health and human services
- Law enforcement and first responder support
The foundation maintains a geographic focus on Tennessee.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$10,000 to $30,000
Average Grant
amount: $30,400
Review Cycle
with two cycles per year
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Tennessee, with primary funding focus on the state.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- Total assets (2024): $251.3 million
- Total assets (2023): $247.9 million
Annual Activity:
- Total annual income (2024): $50.7 million
- Total revenues (2023): $35.9 million
- Total expenses (2023): $9.5 million
- Total giving (2024): $14.1 million
Revenue Composition (2023):
- Total grants and contributions: $27.5 million
- Investment income and dividends: $9.5 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $251,279,506 | $247,860,875 | $221,816,696 |
| Revenue | $18,767,963 | $35,857,802 | $199,508,488 |
| Expenses | $15,380,170 | $9,457,289 | $1,707,110 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $14,130,968 | $8,573,833 | $1,520,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $11,143,089 | $9,029,804 | $3,298,007 |
| Distributable Amount | $12,878,194 | $12,045,462 | $2,246,848 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
206 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Dettwiller Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Centerstone ($1,000,000), Cumberland Heights ($1,000,000), Boys & Girls Club of Middle Tn ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER NASHVILLE, TN | GENERAL FUND | $200,000 |
| ALIVE HOSPICE NASHVILLE, TN | GENERAL FUND | $45,000 |
| ANCORATN NASHVILLE, TN | GENERAL FUND | $75,000 |
| ARROWMONT SCHOOL OF ARTS & CRAFTS GATLINBURG, TN | GENERAL FUND | $25,000 |
| ARTISTS IN CHRISTIAN TESTIMONY INTL BRENTWOOD, TN | GENERAL FUND | $25,000 |
| BAREFOOT REPUBLIC CAMP NASHVILLE, TN | GENERAL FUND | $20,000 |
| BEAUTY TABLE BRENTWOOD, TN | GENERAL FUND | $25,000 |
| BEWELL IN SCHOOL NASHVILLE, TN | GENERAL FUND | $60,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS NASHVILLE, TN | GENERAL FUND | $100,000 |
| BIG TABLE NASHVILLE, TN | GENERAL FUND | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- John Curley - Director/President
- Leslie Wood - Director/Secretary
- Victoria Victory - Director
- George F Dettwiller II - Principal Officer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN CURLEY | DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT | 32.5 | $187,116 |
| LESLIE WOOD | DIRECTOR/SECRETARY | 32.5 | $212,115 |
| VICTORIA VICTORY | DIRECTOR | 32.5 | $212,115 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Dettwiller Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to foster Fred Dettwiller's charitable legacy through grantmaking that supports a diverse range of initiatives, including: • Religious organizations and faith-based initiatives • Educational programs • The arts • Health and human services • Law enforcement and first responder support The foundation maintains a geographic focus on Tennessee.
How do I apply for a grant from Dettwiller Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation makes approximately 50 grants annually • Grant range: $10,000 to $30,000 • Median grant amount: $10,000 • Average grant amount: $30,400 • Total annual giving: approximately $1.5 million **Recent Grants (2023):** • YWCA Nashville and Middle Tennessee: $1,600,000 • The Nashville Symphony: $1,250,000 • Centerstone of Tennessee: $1,000,000 **Application Process:** • Fixed deadlines with two cycles per year • First-time applicants or those not funded in the last …
Where does Dettwiller Foundation make grants?
Tennessee, with primary funding focus on the state.
What size grants does Dettwiller Foundation award?
In 2024, Dettwiller Foundation awarded 152 grants totaling $14.1M — an average of about $93K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Dettwiller Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Dettwiller Foundation reported a distributable amount of $12.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Dettwiller Foundation's EIN?
Dettwiller Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-4954786. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Dettwiller Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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