Memphis Center City
MEMPHIS CENTER CITY is a public charity based in Memphis, Tennessee. Its stated mission is to assist private development projects, and its recent grants include storefront and tenant improvement grants, as well as a downtown grant.
Key facts about Memphis Center City
In short: Memphis Center City gave $1.1M across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $68K), mostly in Tennessee. 81% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 58-1330667
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,081,292
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- Average grant
- $67,581
- Median grant
- $33,747
- New grantees (estimate)
- 81% first-time grantees (13 of 16, 2025)
- Total assets
- $13,111,126
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$13.1M
+5.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+35.1% YoY
Grant Count
16
-11.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$68K
+52.0% YoY
Is Memphis Center City open to new grantees?
81%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 16 grantees (81%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $40K; repeat grants $188K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $80K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 organization states its mission as “ASSIST PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.” Its 2025 grants included awards designated for storefronts, tenant improvements, a downtown grant, and a special grant incentive.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, MEMPHIS CENTER CITY gave 16 grants totaling $1,081,292. Grant amounts ranged from $15,000 to $445,298, with a median of $33,747.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars in filing year 2025 went to recipients in Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 16 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
104 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DOWNTOWN MEMPHIS COMMISSION Memphis, TN | DOWNTOWN GRANT | $445,298 |
| 400 MAIN LLC Memphis, TN | STOREFRONT GRANTS | $80,000 |
| ORPHEUM THEATER GROUP Memphis, TN | SPECIAL GRANT INCENTIVE | $80,000 |
| CALIBER HOMES LLC Collierville, TN | STOREFRONT GRANTS | $60,000 |
| 383-385 SOUTH MAIN INVESTORS LLC Memphis, TN | STOREFRONT GRANTS | $60,000 |
| COREY KLEIN - KLEIN FITNESS Memphis, TN | STOREFRONT GRANTS | $58,500 |
| MONROE ASSOCIATES LLC Memphis, TN | STOREFRONT GRANTS | $40,000 |
| H&S PRINTING CO Memphis, TN | STOREFRONT GRANTS | $37,494 |
| ZIO MATTO LLC Memphis, TN | TENANT IMPROVEMENT GRANT | $30,000 |
| AFTER BURNERS CIGAR LOUNGE - MARVIN RODDY Memphis, TN | TENANT IMPROVEMENT GRANT | $30,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants given | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $13,111,126 | $2,250,295 | $1,579,646 | $1,081,292 | 16 |
| 2024 | $12,465,355 | $1,345,075 | $1,445,086 | $800,262 | 18 |
| 2023 | $12,203,798 | $1,738,728 | $1,631,052 | $1,877,047 | 23 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13,111,126 | $12,465,355 | $12,203,798 |
| Revenue | $2,250,295 | $1,345,075 | $1,738,728 |
| Expenses | $1,579,646 | $1,445,086 | $1,631,052 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $498,070 | $582,756 | $307,456 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 13, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists TANJA MITCHELL as chairperson; DACQUIRI BAPTISTE as secretary; KEVIN BREWER as treasurer; and CHANDELL RYAN as president and CEO. Directors listed are WILLIAMS BRACK, CARL PERSON, VICTORIA YOUNG ROBINSON, ANGEL PRICE, LISA BROWN-TUCKER, and SURAYYAH HASAN.
Memphis Center City is led by Chandell Ryan, President & CEO on every filing since 2024; none of the 10 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Chandell Ryan
President & CEO
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tanja Mitchell
Chairperson
Board Member → Chairperson, 2024
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carl Person
Director
Member → Board Member, 2020
Board Member → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Angel Price
Director
Board Member → Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Brown-Tucker
Director
Board Member → Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Surayyah Hasan
Director
Board Member → Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Williams Brack
Director
Board Member → Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Victoria Young Robinson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Brewer
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dacquiri Baptiste
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Patrick Hillard (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Victoria Young (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Anton Mack (2019–2023) — Chairperson
- Former: Benjamin Orgel (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Deni Carr Reilly (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Paul Young (2021–2023) — President & CEO
- Former: Demar Roberts (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Elizabeth Low (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Julie Lansky (2019–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Michael B Chance (2019–2022) — Chairman
- Former: Ray Brown (2019–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Sharon Leicham (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Terry Woodard (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Jennifer Oswalt (2020) — President & CEO
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 114 N Main Street, Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: (901) 575-0550
Website: https://downtownmemphiscommission.com
Frequently asked questions about Memphis Center City
How much does Memphis Center City give each year?
Memphis Center City gave $1.1M across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $800K across 18 grants.
What is Memphis Center City's typical grant size?
Memphis Center City's median grant in 2025 was $33,747, and its average grant was $67,581, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Memphis Center City that year got $40K on average.
Where does Memphis Center City give grants?
Memphis Center City gives mostly in Tennessee: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Memphis, TN (15 grants).
Does Memphis Center City give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on Memphis Center City's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Storefront Grants" (6 grants) and "Tenant Improvement Grant" (6 grants).
Who are Memphis Center City's largest grantees?
Memphis Center City's largest 2025 grantees include Downtown Memphis Commission ($445,298), 400 Main LLC ($80,000) and Orpheum Theater Group ($80,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Memphis Center City?
Memphis Center City reported $13.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.3M.
What does Memphis Center City fund?
The organization states its mission as “ASSIST PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.” Its 2025 grants included awards designated for storefronts, tenant improvements, a downtown grant, and a special grant incentive.
How do I apply for a grant from Memphis Center City?
In filing year 2025, MEMPHIS CENTER CITY gave 16 grants totaling $1,081,292. Grant amounts ranged from $15,000 to $445,298, with a median of $33,747. The largest award was $445,298 to DOWNTOWN MEMPHIS COMMISSION for a downtown grant. Other notable awards included $80,000 to 400 MAIN LLC for storefront grants and $80,000 to ORPHEUM THEATER GROUP for a special grant incentive. Storefront grants also included $60,000 to CALIBER HOMES LLC, $60,000 to 383-385 SOUTH MAIN INVESTORS LLC, and $58,500 to…
What is Memphis Center City's EIN?
Memphis Center City's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1330667. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Memphis Center City by hand.
Explore Open Grants
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Memphis Center City down — hundreds of funders to go?