Memorial Foundation Inc
Memorial Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Madison, Tennessee. Established in April 1994 with an endowment generated from the sale of Nashville Memorial Hospital’s assets, it partners with nonprofit organizations to improve quality of life in its community and help create a community where all people are healthy, whole, and safe.
Memorial Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Memorial Foundation Inc gave $4.4M across 182 grants in 2024 (avg $24K), mostly in Tennessee. 6% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,374,880
- -17.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 182
- -6.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $24,038
- -12.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $135,065,021
- -1.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (11 of 182, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Memorial Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation states on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website says organizations must contact the Foundation and arrange a brief meeting to determine potential eligibility before submitting each request. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations and may not be private foundations under Section 509(a). The website also requires an up-to-date organizational profile on GivingMatters.com. Applications request organizational background, a funding-request description, need and impact, goals and outcome measures, and funding commitments; required attachments include a board roster, budget, most recent audit or specified unaudited statements, and IRS determination letter.
- Contact
Mailing address: 855 Skyline Ridge Drive, Madison, TN 37115
Phone: (615) 822-9499
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Memorial Foundation Inc
Who Memorial Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Fiftyforward Madison Station ($200K). Together the top 10 received $920K.
Grant Size Distribution
918 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 773 grants of 918 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s website identifies Davidson, Sumner, and Robertson counties as the communities served by its grantmaking. Its application guidelines say it funds organizations serving people in the geographic area served by Nashville Memorial Hospital and does not consider requests outside that area. In 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to Tennessee recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 182 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Memorial Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 182 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $25K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $16K repeat.
- 69% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 24% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 86% 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 filings (2019–2024). 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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $4.4M (2024) to $6.1M (2022). In 2024 it made 182 grants totaling $4.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fiftyforward Madison Station Madison, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $200,000 |
| Fellowship of Christian Athletes Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $100,000 |
| YWCA of Nashville and Middle TN Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $90,000 |
| Operation Stand Down Tennessee Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $85,000 |
| Siloam Health Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $80,000 |
| Stars Nashville Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $80,000 |
| Agape Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $75,000 |
| Interfaith Dental Clinic of Nashville Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $75,000 |
| Sexual Assault Center Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $75,000 |
| Hope Family Health Services Westmoreland, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $60,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $135,065,021 | $5,276,337 | $6,348,865 | $4,374,880 | 182 | $5,621,393 | $5,272,433 | $6,545,619 |
| 2023 | $136,429,313 | $7,865,401 | $7,278,328 | $5,330,020 | 194 | $6,569,639 | $7,440,857 | $6,348,121 |
| 2022 | $128,755,477 | $10,339,105 | $8,664,985 | $6,053,424 | 186 | $7,383,024 | $9,293,708 | $6,375,604 |
| 2021 | $144,950,295 | $26,657,914 | $8,897,845 | $5,723,060 | 193 | $6,836,749 | $24,284,641 | $6,828,801 |
| 2020 | $135,627,067 | $4,079,307 | $7,767,924 | $5,782,650 | 163 | — | $3,440,735 | — |
| 2019 | $137,679,502 | $4,807,992 | $7,795,258 | $5,642,751 | 183 | — | $4,341,125 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Memorial Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $6.5M for 2024 — 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 stated mission is to partner with nonprofit organizations to improve quality of life in the community. Its website identifies support areas including access to quality health care; human and social services; education; senior citizen enrichment; youth and childhood development; substance abuse programs; and community services. It also says it seeks to respond to immediate, critical community needs.
Examples of the kinds of organizations it has supported include Operation Stand Down Tennessee, which says it serves military veterans and their families through crisis, career, connection, and community services; STARS Nashville, which says it offers young people prevention, intervention, and treatment services; and Interfaith Dental Clinic of Nashville, which says it provides affordable dental care and oral health services to low-income families and people over age 65.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 182 grants totaling $4,374,880. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $200,000, with a median grant of $15,000.
Among the largest reported awards were $200,000 to FiftyForward Madison Station; $100,000 to Fellowship of Christian Athletes; $90,000 to YWCA of Nashville and Middle TN; $85,000 to Operation Stand Down Tennessee; and $80,000 each to Siloam Health and STARS Nashville. Other notable awards included $75,000 each to AGAPE, Interfaith Dental Clinic of Nashville, and Sexual Assault Center, and $60,000 each to Hope Family Health Services, Project Return, and Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. The filing lists the purpose for these awards as furthering one or more of the recipient charities’ exempt purposes.
The Foundation emphasizes data-driven, trauma-informed organizations and prefers grants with significant, lasting impact. Its guidelines exclude funding for individuals; certain publications; churches and religious organizations for projects primarily benefiting their own members, subject to an exception for qualifying church-based programs; national disease-research projects; event advertising or sponsorship; lobbying or political purposes; accumulated debt; certain school capital projects; and multi-year operating grants. The Board retains discretion to approve grants outside the guidelines. The Foundation has no application deadlines, and its Board meets throughout the year. It says each organization should submit no more than one application in a 12-month period.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Scott S. Perry as President; Jackson Routh as Vice President, Programs and Grants; David E. McKee as Chair; Varina F. Buntin as Vice Chair; and Alfonzo Alexander as Secretary. Other listed directors are Frank E. Gordon, Frank Grace Jr., Shanna L. Jackson, Beth Little, and Kim Crane Mallory. The Foundation’s website says its trustees serve as volunteers.
Memorial Foundation Inc is led by Scott S. Perry, President on every filing since 2019; 2 of 24 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Scott S. Perry
President
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$279K (2019) → $320K (2024)
David E. McKee
Chair
Director → Chair, 2021
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Springer
Director
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Beth Little
Director
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Fleming Wilt
Director
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frank E. Gordon
Director
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frank Grace Jr.
Director
Director - Chair → Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
George C. Paine II
Director
Director - Secretary → Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
J. Edward Pearson Jr.
Director
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eddie Phillips
Director
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gini Pupo-Walker
Director
Trustee Emeritus → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melvin J. Malone
Director
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shanna L. Jackson
Director
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
V. Seenu Reddy
Director
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emily Pruett
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
I. Michele Williams
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Crane Mallory
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Will Morrow
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jackson Routh
Vice President, Programs & Grants
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$146K (2019) → $199K (2024)
Alfonzo Alexander
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Drew R. Maddux Sr.
Trustee Emeritus
Director → Trustee Emeritus, 2022
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frank M. Bumstead
Trustee Emeritus
Director - Vice Chair → Trustee Emeritus, 2021
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jo Sanders
Trustee Emeritus
Director → Trustee Emeritus, 2022
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Varina F. Buntin
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2021
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Judy Milliken (2019–2023) — Former Vice President & Finance
- Former: Michele Williams (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: L. Dale Beck (2021–2023) — Trustee Emeritus
- Former: Morgan Hayes (2023) — Controller
- Former: Allison Demarcus (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Charles W. Fentress (2019–2022) — Trustee Emeritus
- Former: William P. Puryear (2019–2022) — Past Chair
- Former: Charles B. Beck (2021) — Trustee Emeritus
- Former: Margaret Dolan (2021) — Director
- Former: H. Eddie Phillips (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Virginia Pupo-Walker (2019–2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 $320K, to Scott S Perry (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Memorial Foundation Inc
How much does Memorial Foundation Inc give each year?
Memorial Foundation Inc gave $4.4M across 182 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $5.3M across 194 grants.
What is Memorial Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Memorial Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $24,038, across 182 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Memorial Foundation Inc that year got $14K on average.
Where does Memorial Foundation Inc give grants?
Memorial Foundation Inc gives mostly in Tennessee: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (139 grants), Hendersonville, TN (7 grants), Franklin, TN (7 grants) and Gallatin, TN (5 grants).
Who are Memorial Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Memorial Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Fiftyforward Madison Station ($200,000), Fellowship of Christian Athletes ($100,000) and YWCA of Nashville and Middle TN ($90,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 9% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Memorial Foundation Inc?
Memorial Foundation Inc reported $135.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.5M (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 Memorial Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to partner with nonprofit organizations to improve quality of life in the community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Memorial Foundation Inc?
The Foundation states on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Memorial Foundation Inc's EIN?
Memorial Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-1202302. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Does Memorial Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 3, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 31, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Memorial Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Memorial Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/memorial-foundation-inc-morg_7dfd225d8aa24cf7ba407d3e397785dd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_621202302_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Memorial Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/memorial-foundation-inc-morg_7dfd225d8aa24cf7ba407d3e397785dd},
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 Memorial Foundation Inc'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.
Memorial Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?