Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn
The Louie M. & Betty M. Phillips Foundation is a private foundation based in Nashville, Tennessee. Established in 1978, it supports organizations in health, human services, civic affairs, education and the arts, with priority consideration for organizations serving the greater Nashville community and those with long-standing ties to the founders or foundation leadership.
Key facts about Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn
In short: Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn gave $406K across 87 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), mostly in Tennessee. 26% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 58-1326615
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $405,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 87
- Average grant
- $4,661
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (22 of 85, 2024)
- Total assets
- $4,402,510
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (90% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to apply
- The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The last business day of May for the June meeting and the last business day of October for the November meeting.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.4M
+5.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$406K
+16.7% YoY
Grant Count
87
+26.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-7.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn reported a distributable amount of $465K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 22 of 85 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 58% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 26% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 120% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports a variety of organizations in health, human services, civic affairs, education and the arts. It sets annual budget allocations for funding areas, including education and the arts, to balance competing interests and address a range of community needs.
Its 2024 grantees illustrate the variety of organizations supported. Belmont University describes itself as a Christ-centered, student-focused Christian community providing education. Cumberland Heights Foundation says its mission is to offer hope and healing to people affected by alcohol or drug addiction. The Andrew Jackson Foundation describes its work as preserving Andrew Jackson’s home place, creating learning opportunities and inspiring citizenship. McNeilly Center for Children says it provides affordable child care to Nashville families. These are descriptions of the grantees’ missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 87 grants totaling $405,500. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median of $5,000. The foundation says it most frequently supports general operating needs and programming or project-specific requests, typically in the $1,000–$5,000 range. It also offers sustaining operating, project and program, and capital support. Director-designated grants are initiated internally, and the foundation says uninvited proposals for that type of support will not be considered.
Among the largest reported 2024 grants were $25,000 each to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital and Saint Andrew’s Sewanee School; $18,500 to Swan Ball Initiative; and $15,000 each to Walden’s Puddle and Belmont University. Other grants included $10,000 to Cumberland Heights Foundation, Harpeth Hall School and Crossroads Campus, and $7,500 to Beersheba Springs Medical Clinic.
The foundation’s website separately reports that 84 organizations were awarded $394,000 in 2024.
Review Cycle
The last business day of May for the June meeting and the last business day of October for the November meeting. The foundation generally makes decisions at semi-annual meetings in June and November, and considers only one request per organization during the calendar year.
How to Apply
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Proposals are accepted throughout the year by letter; there is no standard application form. The letter should be no more than two pages and describe the organization and its accomplishments, the program’s objectives and intended beneficiaries, the amount requested in relation to the total need, and how the funds would be used. For an initial inquiry from an organization without a current GivingMatters.com profile, the foundation requests an annual report if available, an IRS tax-exemption letter confirming 501(c)(3) status and that the organization is not a private foundation under Section 509(a), and marketing material. The foundation does not support individuals or their projects, private foundations, political activities, advertising or sponsorships. It does not ordinarily support efforts serving a limited audience or relatively few people, disease-specific organizations, biomedical or clinical research, or tax-supported institutions. Director-designated grants are not open to uninvited proposals.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn
Ready to take the next step with Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation gives priority consideration to organizations serving the greater Nashville community. In 2024, 90% of grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee; the other listed recipient-state shares were Alabama (6%), Colorado (2%), Wisconsin (1%) and Georgia (0%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 87 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $200K (2020) to $406K (2024). In 2024 it made 87 grants totaling $406K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospita ($25K). Together the top 10 received $149K.
Grant Size Distribution
322 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 322 grants of 322 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospita Nashville, TN | To Support Charity | $25,000 |
| Saint Andrew's Sewanee School Sewanee, TN | To Support School | $25,000 |
| Swan Ball Initiative Nashville, TN | To Support Charity | $18,500 |
| Walden's Puddle Joelton, TN | To Support Charity | $15,000 |
| Belmont University Nashville, TN | To Support School | $15,000 |
| Auburn University Foundation Auburn, AL | To Support Charity | $10,000 |
| Cumberland Heights Foundation Nashville, TN | To Support Charity | $10,000 |
| Dinosaur Ridge Morrison, CO | To Support Charity | $10,000 |
| Harpeth Hall School Nashville, TN | To Support School | $10,000 |
| Crossroads Campus Nashville, TN | To Support Charity | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,402,510 | $798,160 | $661,647 | $405,500 |
| 2023 | $4,171,311 | $287,137 | $758,018 | $347,500 |
| 2022 | $4,348,672 | $388,364 | $742,003 | $332,750 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,402,510 | $4,171,311 | $4,348,672 |
| Revenue | $798,160 | $287,137 | $388,364 |
| Expenses | $661,647 | $758,018 | $742,003 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $557,837 | $591,083 | $574,692 |
| Net Investment Income | $693,964 | $121,830 | $224,144 |
| Distributable Amount | $464,980 | $393,252 | $395,972 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Allison Snavely as CEO, Equitable Trust Company as trustee, Blythe Collins as former director, and Clay Johnson, Caldwell Buntin and Rogers Thompson as directors. The foundation’s website identifies Allison Buntin as its CEO.
Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn is led by Allison Snavely, CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2021); all 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Allison Snavely
CEO
Program Advisor → CEO, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$11K (2021) → $131K (2024)
Equitable Trust Company
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
$28K (2020) → $43K (2024)
Caldwell Buntin
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
$500 (2022) → $500 (2024)
Clay Johnson
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
$500 (2024)
Rogers Thompson
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
$500 (2024)
Blythe Collins
Former Director
Director → Former Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$250 (2020) → $250 (2024)
Former officers (6)
- Former: Louie P. Buntin (2020–2023) — Assistant Di
- Former: Argie J. Campbell (2023) — Director
- Former: Elizabeth Buntin (2023) — Director
- Former: Laurel Buntin (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Leigh Buntin Johnson (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Shelby Buntin (2020–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $131K, to Allison Snavely (CEO). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Application contact: Mrs Allison Snavely Ceo
Mailing address: 4400 Harding Pike Suite 310, Nashville, TN 37205
Phone: (615) 714-3370
Website: https://phillipsfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn
How much does Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn give each year?
Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn gave $406K across 87 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $348K across 69 grants.
What is Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn's typical grant size?
Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $4,661, across 87 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn that year got $3K on average.
Where does Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn give grants?
Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn gives mostly in Tennessee: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Alabama (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (67 grants), Birmingham, AL (3 grants), Franklin, TN (3 grants) and Brentwood, TN (2 grants).
Does Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn give general operating support?
Occasionally: 1% of Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 87) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "To Support Charity" (79 grants) and "To Support School" (6 grants).
Who are Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn's largest grantees?
Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn's largest 2024 grantees include Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospita ($25,000), Saint Andrew's Sewanee School ($25,000) and Swan Ball Initiative ($18,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn?
Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn reported $4.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $558K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $465K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn fund?
The foundation supports a variety of organizations in health, human services, civic affairs, education and the arts. It sets annual budget allocations for funding areas, including education and the arts, to balance competing interests and address a range of community needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn's EIN?
Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1326615. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Louie M & Betty M Phillips Foundatn accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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 September 2026.
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