Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist
Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist is a private foundation based in Nashville, Tennessee. Its 2025 filing reports $2.8 million in grants to 309 recipients.
Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist at a glance
In short: Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist gave $2.8M across 309 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in Tennessee. 6% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,800,000
- +5.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 309
- -6.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,061
- +12.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $37,924,976
- -2.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (11 of 190, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (86% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3100 West End Avenue 700-A, Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 353-7008
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee ($580K across 25 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($5,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,683 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,611 grants of 1,683 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 86% of grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee, 5% to Florida, 3% to Virginia, 2% to Mississippi, and 2% to the District of Columbia. Listed 2025 recipients also included organizations in Montana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 309 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 190 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $15K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 89% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−7%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 95% 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 (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.3M (2021) to $3.0M (2022). In 2025 it made 309 grants totaling $2.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville Zoo at Grassmere Nashville, TN | Colobus Monkey Habitat Exhibit | $325,000 |
| Upward Intuition Inc Pensacola, FL | Safe Skate Spots | $150,000 |
| Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Nashville, TN | The carol k. And robert a. Frist, m.d. Fund. | $142,000 |
| Ensworth School Nashville, TN | Annual Fund | $80,000 |
| Harpeth Hall Nashville, TN | Leading the Way Campaign for the STEM Center | $75,000 |
| United Way of Greater Nashville Nashville, TN | Alexis De Tocqueville Society | $70,000 |
| Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Nashville, TN | The Mary Lauren and Lawson Allen Family Fund. | $64,000 |
| Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Nashville, TN | The Elizabeth and Bryan E. Frist Fund. | $50,000 |
| Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Nashville, TN | The Margaret and Jonathan M. Frist Advised Fund. | $50,000 |
| Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Nashville, TN | The mr. And mrs. W. Harrison frist, jr. Advised fund. | $50,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $37,924,976 | $2,587,841 | $3,499,600 | $2,800,000 | 309 | $2,862,717 | $1,968,755 | $3,012,345 |
| 2024 | $38,836,735 | $3,990,633 | $3,314,997 | $2,650,000 | 330 | $2,707,752 | $3,435,310 | $2,927,101 |
| 2023 | $38,204,915 | $2,358,242 | $3,144,444 | $2,600,000 | 327 | $2,655,129 | $1,865,240 | $2,841,644 |
| 2022 | $38,976,316 | $2,468,089 | $3,703,413 | $3,000,000 | 373 | $3,075,139 | $1,734,229 | $3,080,941 |
| 2021 | $40,182,625 | $6,159,060 | $2,801,949 | $2,250,000 | 344 | — | $5,745,210 | $2,965,126 |
| 2020 | $36,825,514 | $2,295,712 | $2,986,579 | $2,425,000 | 310 | — | $1,912,363 | $2,354,184 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist reported a distributable amount of $3.0M for 2025 — 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 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Ensworth School says its mission is to promote academic excellence and inspire students to become intellectually curious, people of integrity, and contributors to society. Harding Academy says it seeks to educate and inspire young people to become lifelong learners and responsible, caring citizens. The Nature Conservancy describes its mission as conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Other 2025 grants included support for a colobus monkey habitat exhibit, safe skate spots, and community funds.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 309 grants totaling $2,800,000. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $325,000, with a median of $2,500.
Among the largest reported grants were $325,000 to Nashville Zoo at Grassmere for a colobus monkey habitat exhibit; $150,000 to Upward Intuition Inc for safe skate spots; and $142,000 to Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee for the Carol K. and Robert A. Frist, M.D. Fund. Other large grants included $80,000 to Ensworth School for its annual fund, $75,000 to Harpeth Hall for its Leading the Way Campaign for the STEM Center, and $70,000 to United Way of Greater Nashville for the Alexis de Tocqueville Society. Harding Academy received $50,000 for its Foundations for the Future capital campaign.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Robert A. Frist, MD, as president; Mary Frist Barfield as secretary; Thomas F. Frist Jr., MD, and William H. Frist, MD, as vice presidents; and Dorothy Cate Frist as vice president through March 2025.
Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist is led by Robert A. Frist MD, President since 2025 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert A. Frist MD
President
President → Vice President, 2023
Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Frist Barfield
Secretary
President → Vice President, 2024
Vice President → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas F. Frist Jr. MD
Vice President
Vice President → Secretary, 2024
Secretary → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William H. Frist MD
Vice President
Secretary → President, 2024
President → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Dorothy Cate Frist (2020–2025) — Vice President · Filing note: Thru 32025
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist
How much does Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist give each year?
Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist gave $2.8M across 309 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.6M across 330 grants.
What is Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist's typical grant size?
Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $9,061, across 309 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist that year got $10K on average.
Where does Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist give grants?
Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist gives mostly in Tennessee: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (243 grants), Brentwood, TN (11 grants), Franklin, TN (10 grants) and Goodlettsville, TN (5 grants).
Does Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist give general operating support?
Yes: 64% of Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (199 of 309) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Annual Gift." (19 grants), "In Honor of Tracy Frist." (4 grants) and "Annual Giving." (3 grants).
Who are Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist's largest grantees?
Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist's largest 2025 grantees include Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee ($580,000 across 25 grants), Nashville Zoo at Grassmere ($336,250 across 4 grants) and Upward Intuition Inc ($150,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($5,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist?
Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist reported $37.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.0M (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 Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Ensworth School says its mission is to promote academic excellence and inspire students to become intellectually curious, people of integrity, and contributors to society. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist's EIN?
Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-1103568. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Tennessee
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Inc
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United Way of Middle Tennessee Inc
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HCA Healthcare Foundation
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HCA Healthcare Foundation funds community health and health equity, including primary care, basic needs, education, and the arts; its Middle Tennessee Fund serves nine counties, while other initiatives support communities served by HCA Healthcare. In 2024, grants ranged from $1,000 to $9.65 million, with a median of $5,000. It accepts requests through an Applicant Inquiry Form for new applicants and organizations that have not received funding in 18 months; staff provide next steps after review.
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Dollar General Employee Assistance
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/dorothy-cate-and-thomas-f-frist-morg_e66a677b547b4b03af1a1a02d6370bda
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_621103568_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/dorothy-cate-and-thomas-f-frist-morg_e66a677b547b4b03af1a1a02d6370bda},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist'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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