Joe C Davis Foundation

The Foundation reported 108 grants totaling $8,209,800 in 2025. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $2,200,000, with a median of $23,000.

Among the largest reported grants were $2,200,000 to Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program for program support; $550,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee for capital and operating support; $503,800 to Aventura Community School for capital support; and $500,000 to Volunteer Schools DBA Nashville Incubator for operating support. Other notable awards included $375,000 to Little Wonders Early Learning Center for capital and capacity-building support, $338,000 to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee for several initiatives and operating support, and $188,000 to Crossroads Campus for capacity-building and operating support.

The Foundation offers operational grants for unrestricted support to community-anchored nonprofits and transformational grants. Its website describes operational priorities including early childhood education, out-of-school time, adult education, workforce development, housing stability, basic needs, healthcare clinics, mental health counseling, community-based resource centers, immigration and refugee-serving organizations, and victim and survivor support services.

For operational grants, new or returning applicants—organizations that have not received operational funding from the Foundation in the past three years—may submit a letter of interest. The 2026 application window is June 1 through September 30, for potential funding in 2027. The letter of interest requests the organization’s mission, financial need, problem statement, theory of change and organizational solution, and current fiscal-year budget. After submission, next steps may include a phone call or site visit; decisions are to be shared by December 1.

Applicants must have active 501(c)(3) status, an EIN registered with a Davidson County address and/or provide a major portion of services to Davidson County residents, maintain a current and complete organizational profile, and work in education, community and social services, or healthcare. Operational grants are not available for organizations or programs related to higher education, disability, disease-specific work, older adults, advocacy, research, or national and international organizations. The Foundation also excludes individuals, event sponsorships and fundraising events, and programs primarily focused on arts and culture, environmental causes, religious purposes, or communities outside Nashville.