Memphis Grizzlies Charitable
Memphis Grizzlies Charitable is a private foundation based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Memphis Grizzlies Foundation describes its work as using the power of sport to transform lives through mentoring and focuses on funding and creating youth mentoring and development programs.
Memphis Grizzlies Charitable at a glance
In short: Memphis Grizzlies Charitable gave $159K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Tennessee. 6% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $159,000
- -34.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,938
- -17.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $817,982
- +1.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (1 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Memphis Grizzlies Charitable
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website says grant requests are available to MENTOR Memphis Grizzlies Partnership members.
- Contact
Mailing address: 191 Beale Street, Memphis, TN 38103-3715
Phone: (901) 205-1234
Website: https://grizzliesfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Memphis Grizzlies Charitable funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Reach Memphis ($20K). Together the top 10 received $133K.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 88 grants of 90 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee. The listed 2025 grantees are based in Memphis, Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Memphis Grizzlies Charitable open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 16 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 94% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 42% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $159K (2025) to $807K (2020). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $159K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Reach Memphis Memphis, TN | Undesignated general operating support - mentoring and leadership programs for high school age students | $20,000 |
| Youth Villages Memphis, TN | Undesignated General Operating Support - Children's Education/Welfare | $20,000 |
| Ucan of Memphis Memphis, TN | Undesignated general operating support - strengthen young adolescents through mentoring, workforce development and bullying awareness | $15,000 |
| Streets Ministries Memphis, TN | Undesignated general operating support - education and mentoring underresourced youth | $15,000 |
| Juvenile Intervention & Faith-Based Follow-up Inc Memphis, TN | Undesignated General Operating Support - Children's Welfare | $15,000 |
| Hope Center Memphis, TN | Undesignated general operating support - prevent illness and promote well-being among the community | $10,000 |
| Peer Power Foundation Memphis, TN | Undesignated general operating support - to mentor and train high performing collegestudents to tutor in high school classrooms | $10,000 |
| New Ballet Ensemble & School Memphis, TN | Undesignated General Operating Support - Children's Education/Welfare/Performing Arts | $10,000 |
| Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory Charter School Inc Memphis, TN | Undesignated general operating support- secondary education and mentoring that engagesocial-emotional development and academic support | $10,000 |
| World Relief Memphis Memphis, TN | Undesignated general operating support- mentoring programs that support youth and families | $7,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Memphis Grizzlies Charitable?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $817,982 | $816,538 | $836,470 | $159,000 | 16 | $674,581 | — | $35,968 |
| 2024 | $805,071 | $1,022,990 | $795,863 | $241,879 | 20 | $635,563 | — | $32,462 |
| 2023 | $614,628 | $859,374 | $868,350 | $251,082 | 18 | $795,310 | — | $27,596 |
| 2022 | $594,407 | $1,102,029 | $820,658 | $275,800 | 20 | $700,256 | $315 | $24,932 |
| 2021 | $373,386 | $983,597 | $810,002 | $369,989 | 16 | — | $577 | $12,648 |
| 2020 | $405,849 | $1,172,462 | $1,505,216 | $806,628 | 17 | — | $212 | $16,147 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Memphis Grizzlies Charitable reported a distributable amount of $36K for 2025 — 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 aim is to increase the number of young people with access to quality mentors who help prepare them for success in college, career, and life. Its support includes mentoring-program development and capacity building, training, technical assistance, program evaluation, stakeholder engagement, and grant opportunities for quality mentoring programs.
In 2025, grants went to organizations whose work included student education and mentoring, children’s welfare, youth development, community well-being, and performing arts. For example, REACH Memphis says it helps high-achieving students from Shelby County public schools succeed through educational experiences, college-readiness support, and mentors. Youth Villages says it helps children and families live successfully. Indie Memphis describes its mission as building community through independent film and supporting filmmakers.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $159,000. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $20,000, with a median of $10,000. Its largest reported grants included $20,000 each to REACH Memphis for general operating support related to mentoring and leadership programs, and Youth Villages for children’s education and welfare. Other notable awards were $15,000 each to UCAN of Memphis, Streets Ministries, and Juvenile Intervention & Faith-Based Follow-Up Inc.
The foundation’s website says members of the MENTOR Memphis Grizzlies Partnership are eligible to request grants or in-kind donations. Its FAQ directs nonprofit grant inquiries to MENTOR Memphis Grizzlies members. Membership benefits and requirements vary by affiliate level; the foundation describes a quality-based membership process for mentoring programs, with Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Pete Pranica, Sean Tuohy, G Staley Cates, J Martin Regan, and Teresa Sloyan as directors; Elliot Perry as president; and Abusheri Ohwofasa as executive director and secretary.
Memphis Grizzlies Charitable is led by Abusheri Ohwofasa, Executive Director & Secretary since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 7 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Abusheri Ohwofasa
Executive Director & Secretary
Executive Director → Executive Director & Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$61K (2020) → $76K (2025)
Elliot Perry
President
Chariman → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
J. Martin Regan
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pete Pranica
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sean Tuohy
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Teresa Sloyan
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
G. Staley Cates
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Jason Wexler (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Michael Conley (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Staley Cates (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $76K, to Abusheri Ohwofasa (Executive Director / Secretary).
Frequently asked questions about Memphis Grizzlies Charitable
How much does Memphis Grizzlies Charitable give each year?
Memphis Grizzlies Charitable gave $159K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $242K across 20 grants.
What is Memphis Grizzlies Charitable's typical grant size?
Memphis Grizzlies Charitable's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $9,938, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Memphis Grizzlies Charitable that year got $5K on average.
Where does Memphis Grizzlies Charitable give grants?
Memphis Grizzlies Charitable gives mostly in Tennessee: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Memphis, TN (16 grants).
Does Memphis Grizzlies Charitable give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Memphis Grizzlies Charitable's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Memphis Grizzlies Charitable's largest grantees?
Memphis Grizzlies Charitable's largest 2025 grantees include Reach Memphis ($20,000), Youth Villages ($20,000) and Ucan of Memphis ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Memphis Grizzlies Charitable?
Memphis Grizzlies Charitable reported $818K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $675K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $36K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Memphis Grizzlies Charitable fund?
The foundation’s stated aim is to increase the number of young people with access to quality mentors who help prepare them for success in college, career, and life. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Memphis Grizzlies Charitable?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Memphis Grizzlies Charitable's EIN?
Memphis Grizzlies Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1356702. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Memphis Grizzlies Charitable accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 29, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 5, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Memphis Grizzlies Charitable funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/memphis-grizzlies-charitable-morg_d0f6529803d947caa30d7de158469131
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_201356702_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Memphis Grizzlies Charitable funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/memphis-grizzlies-charitable-morg_d0f6529803d947caa30d7de158469131},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Memphis Grizzlies Charitable'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.
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