Graham Foundation

KNOXVILLE, TN EIN: 31-1497257 Website

The Graham Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1997 and based in Knoxville, Tennessee. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization classified as a private grantmaking foundation under the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE).

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$241K

-47.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$378K

+16.6% YoY

Grant Count

+5.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$9K

+11.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Graham Foundation reported a distributable amount of $14K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The Graham Foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations with a focus on:

Education
Community development
Health, including medical research
Social services
Children and youth
Christian organizations and causes
Missionary endeavors
Youth programs
Amateur sports competitions

Grantmaking

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The Graham Foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in Tennessee, with additional giving in Texas and West Virginia.

Grant Distribution by State

Tennessee $1.5M (92%)

Texas $33K (2%)

Alabama $19K (1%)

Florida $14K (1%)

West Virginia $11K (1%)

Ohio $10K (1%)

Kansas $10K (1%)

Mississippi $8K (0%)

+6 more states

States

Alabama Arizona Colorado Florida Illinois Kansas Mississippi North Carolina New York Ohio Tennessee Texas Virginia West Virginia

Cities

AndersonvilleBirminghamCaryvilleCharlotteChicagoColorado SpringsCorrytonDublinGarlandGreenevilleHoustonKnoxvilleMaryvilleMemphisMerrifieldMiamiNashvilleNew AlbanyNew YorkOak Ridge

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of December 2024:

Total assets: $241,354
Total revenue: $162,340
Total expenses: $381,762
Total liabilities: $0

As of December 2023:

Total assets: $462,836
Total revenues: $401,569
Total expenses: $333,834

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$241,354	$462,836	$399,176
Revenue	$162,340	$401,569	$287,275
Expenses	$381,762	$333,834	$428,825
Qualifying Distributions	$378,100	$324,250	$412,901
Net Investment Income	$2,340	$132,881	$12,061
Distributable Amount	$13,503	$10,672	$31,400

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

226 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Providence Church ($130,000), Emerald Youth Foundation ($75,000), Fellowship of Christian Athletes ($75,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
Alzheimer's Association Knoxville, TN	Eliminate Alzheimer's Disease through the advancement of research	$1,000
Billy Graham Association Charlotte, NC	Missions	$1,000
Black Oak Heights Baptist Church Knoxville, TN	Night to Shine Ministry	$3,000
Carter High Football Booster Club Strawberry Plains, TN	Football Program	$1,200
Carter High School Strawberry Plains, TN	Sponsorship	$2,250
Central Missionary Clearing House Houston, TX	Missionary Endeavors	$5,000
Choice Resource Center Oak Ridge, TN	Donation - Operational Support	$1,000
Cross Ministries Knoxville, TN	Missionary Endeavors	$1,100
Emerald Youth Foundation Knoxville, TN	Youth Programs	$75,000
Fellowship of Christian Athletes Knoxville, TN	Missionary Endeavors	$75,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Tim A Graham	Trustee	2	—

Recent Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2023

The foundation made 47 grants in 2023 and continues active grantmaking focused on its core mission areas of Christian organizations, youth programs, and community support initiatives.

Graham Foundation announces 2025 Grants to Individuals

Contact Information

Address: PO Box 12489, Knoxville, TN 37912-0489

Telephone: 865-693-7000

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Graham Foundation fund?

The Graham Foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations with a focus on: • Education • Community development • Health, including medical research • Social services • Children and youth • Christian organizations and causes • Missionary endeavors • Youth programs • Amateur sports competitions

How do I apply for a grant from Graham Foundation?

**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2024: $378,100 • Typical award range: $100–$175,000 • Recent grants include $100,000 to Providence Church for Brazil Missions, $60,000 to Emerald Youth Foundation for Youth Programs, and $15,000 to Knox Area Rescue Ministries for general annual contribution to help feed and shelter homeless **Types of Support:** • Equipment • Research • Sponsorships • General support • Project support

Where does Graham Foundation make grants?

The Graham Foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in Tennessee, with additional giving in Texas and West Virginia.

What size grants does Graham Foundation award?

In 2024, Graham Foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $378K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Graham Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Graham Foundation reported a distributable amount of $14K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.