Fentress County Education and Community
Fentress County Education and Community is a private foundation based in Jamestown, Tennessee. It supports community-enhancement grants to organizations and governmental entities in Fentress County, and provides technical and university scholarships to Fentress County high school students.
Fentress County Education and Community at a glance
In short: Fentress County Education and Community gave $22K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Tennessee. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $21,950
- +48.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- +30.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,688
- +14.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $961,611
- -1.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Fentress County Education and Community
- How to Apply
-
Scholarship applicants must complete the application, essay, and two recommendations and participate in an interview. The foundation’s filing lists April 1 as the deadline; it does not specify a year, so this is not presented as an open or current deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: Jo Ella Hancock
Mailing address: 302 Gaudin Avenue, Jamestown, TN 38556
Phone: (931) 261-7768
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Fentress County Education and Community funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was York Agricultural Institute ($6K across 5 grants). Together the top 9 received $22K.
Grant Size Distribution
56 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 56 grants of 56 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s filing describes community-enhancement grants in Fentress County, Tennessee. All 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee. Its scholarship applications are open to Fentress County, Tennessee, residents.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
How Fentress County Education and Community gives
- Giving grew 57% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 116% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $7K (2021) to $22K (2025). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $22K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fentress Food Bank Jamestown, TN | Community Enhancement | $3,000 |
| Handful of Harvest Soup Kitchen Jamestown, TN | Community Enhancement | $3,000 |
| Roane State Foundation Harriman, TN | Community EnhancementDual Enrollment Fees For stu | $3,000 |
| York Agricultural Institute Jamestown, TN | YAI Track | $3,000 |
| Fentress Senior Center Jamestown, TN | Senior Prom | $2,000 |
| UT Extension Jamestown, TN | Community Enhancement | $2,000 |
| Jamestown Rotary Jamestown, TN | Christmas Shopping Spree for needy families | $1,500 |
| York Agricultural Institute Jamestown, TN | Renaissance | $1,500 |
| Fentress County Chamber of Commerc Jamestown, TN | Community Enhancement | $1,000 |
| York Agricultural Institute Jamestown, TN | Special Ed Trips | $750 |
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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 | $961,611 | $-13,582 | $56,452 | $21,950 | 13 | $54,550 | $34,581 | $46,958 |
| 2024 | $979,423 | $42,007 | $48,976 | $14,800 | 10 | $47,179 | $42,007 | $45,968 |
| 2023 | $961,687 | $19,232 | $43,073 | $13,520 | 13 | $39,953 | $87,027 | $47,231 |
| 2022 | $1,013,333 | $-132,637 | $48,158 | $14,000 | 12 | $46,115 | $4,053 | $54,173 |
| 2021 | $1,199,408 | $332,598 | $30,122 | $6,600 | 8 | — | $317,894 | $45,915 |
| 2020 | $886,083 | $74,823 | $37,307 | $18,263 | 15 | — | $65,349 | $40,307 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Fentress County Education and Community reported a distributable amount of $47K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing describes grants for community enhancement in Fentress County, Tennessee, and scholarships for technical and university study. Its 2025 grant list includes support for food assistance, dual-enrollment fees, school activities, senior programming, and community enhancement.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave 13 grants totaling $21,950. Grant amounts ranged from $200 to $3,000, with a median of $1,500. Among the largest grants were $3,000 each to Fentress Food Bank and Handful of Harvest Soup Kitchen for community enhancement; $3,000 to Roane State Foundation for dual-enrollment fees; and $3,000 to York Agricultural Institute for its track program. Other listed grants included $2,000 to Fentress Senior Center for a senior prom and $1,500 to Jamestown Rotary for a Christmas shopping spree for needy families.
For scholarships, the foundation’s filing says students must submit an application with an essay and two recommendations, then be interviewed. Applications are accepted from any Fentress County, Tennessee, resident. The filing also states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ella Hancock as Executive Director; Leon Stepp as Chairman; Julie Linder as President; and Becky Copeland, Todd Burnett, and Bill Phipps as responsible for scholarships.
Fentress County Education and Community is led by Julie Linder, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Julie Linder
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
o Ella Hancock
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leon Stepp
Chairman
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Becky Copeland
Scholarships
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bill Phipps
Scholarships
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Todd Burnett
Scholarships
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: James Kirby (2020–2024) — Vice Chairman
- Former: Sandy Blevins (2020–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Jody Hancock (2020–2021) — Executive Director
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 Fentress County Education and Community
How much does Fentress County Education and Community give each year?
Fentress County Education and Community gave $22K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $15K across 10 grants.
What is Fentress County Education and Community's typical grant size?
Fentress County Education and Community's median grant in 2025 was $1,500, and its average grant was $1,688, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Fentress County Education and Community give grants?
Fentress County Education and Community gives mostly in Tennessee: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Jamestown, TN (12 grants).
Does Fentress County Education and Community give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Fentress County Education and Community's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Enhancement" (5 grants).
Who are Fentress County Education and Community's largest grantees?
Fentress County Education and Community's largest 2025 grantees include York Agricultural Institute ($5,950 across 5 grants), Fentress Food Bank ($3,000) and Handful of Harvest Soup Kitchen ($3,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Fentress County Education and Community?
Fentress County Education and Community reported $962K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $55K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $47K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Fentress County Education and Community fund?
The foundation’s filing describes grants for community enhancement in Fentress County, Tennessee, and scholarships for technical and university study. Its 2025 grant list includes support for food assistance, dual-enrollment fees, school activities, senior programming, and community enhancement. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Fentress County Education and Community?
Scholarship applicants must complete the application, essay, and two recommendations and participate in an interview. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Fentress County Education and Community's EIN?
Fentress County Education and Community's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1537858. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 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 May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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