Scarlett Family Foundation
The Scarlett Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Nashville, Tennessee. Established in 2006 by Joe and Dorothy Scarlett, it supports educational opportunity in Middle Tennessee through college scholarships and grants to nonprofit organizations.
Key facts about Scarlett Family Foundation
In short: Scarlett Family Foundation gave $9.2M across 258 grants in 2025 (avg $36K), mostly in Tennessee. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 20-1980932
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $9,210,731
- Grants made (2025)
- 258
- Average grant
- $35,701
- Median grant
- $13,019
- Total assets
- $249,341,853
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (93% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Review the Foundation’s key initiatives and grant eligibility checklist. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$249.3M
+3.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$9.2M
+21.6% YoY
Grant Count
258
-25.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$36K
+64.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Scarlett Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $13.0M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How Scarlett Family Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+14%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 80% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to advocate, invest, and work to ensure that all students in Middle Tennessee have access to a high-quality education. Its four grantmaking initiatives are career readiness, principal and teacher leadership, literacy, and mentorship. The Foundation also identifies college and career readiness, high-quality schools, and advocacy among its key initiatives.
The Foundation partners with local nonprofit organizations and institutions. Its grantees include organizations with a range of education-related missions: for example, Instruction Partners says it strengthens instructional leadership so teachers can improve student learning, and Nashville Teacher Residency says it develops and licenses teachers for schools in Middle Tennessee. KIPP Nashville describes its work as creating academically excellent schools that prepare students for college, career, and beyond; Oasis Center says it supports youth, families, schools, and neighborhoods.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Foundation reported 258 grants totaling $9,210,731. Grants ranged from $1,250 to $443,700, with a median of $13,019.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Scarlett Family Foundation
Ready to take the next step with Scarlett Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s mission and grant initiatives focus on Middle Tennessee. Its website identifies 40 eligible counties in the region. In 2025, 93% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee; the other reported recipient-state shares were New York (4%), Ohio (1%), Washington, D.C. (1%), and Kentucky (0%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 258 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
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
2,023 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY Nashville, TN | SUPPORT FOR PIONEROS PROGRAM AND PRINCIPAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM | $443,700 |
| NASHVILLE CLASSICAL Nashville, TN | SUPPORT FOR APPRENTICE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AND NASHVILLE CLASSICAL WEST | $395,000 |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA NASHVILLE-CHATTANOOGA New York, NY | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS | $375,000 |
| KIPP NASHVILLE Nashville, TN | SUPPORT FOR MASTER TEACHERS PROGRAM AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF HIGH SCHOOLS | $350,000 |
| PURPOSE PREPARATORY ACADEMY Nashville, TN | SUPPORT FOR DEANS OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION AND INSTRUCTION LEADERS | $344,020 |
| TENNESSEE EDUCATORS OF COLOR ALLIANCE Clarksville, TN | SUPPORT FOR ASPIRING LEADERS PROGRAM | $285,000 |
| CONEXION AMERICA Nashville, TN | SUPPORT FOR ESCALERA & PARENTS AS PARTNERS | $280,000 |
| OASIS CENTER INC Nashville, TN | SUPPORT FOR OASIS COLLEGE CONNECTION | $252,436 |
| INSTRUCTION PARTNERS Nashville, TN | SUPPORT FOR INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT | $250,000 |
| STATE COLLABORATIVE ON REFORMING EDUCATION (SCORE) Nashville, TN | SUPPORT FOR LITERACY AND POST-SECONDARY WORK | $250,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $249,341,853 | $20,931,117 | $12,293,053 | $9,210,731 |
| 2024 | $240,277,580 | $86,776,319 | $10,743,840 | $7,577,332 |
| 2023 | $162,450,430 | $11,491,025 | $10,717,274 | $8,399,277 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $249,341,853 | $240,277,580 | $162,450,430 |
| Revenue | $20,931,117 | $86,776,319 | $11,491,025 |
| Expenses | $12,293,053 | $10,743,840 | $10,717,274 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $10,469,295 | $8,488,450 | $9,360,610 |
| Net Investment Income | $19,707,085 | $85,519,100 | $10,199,361 |
| Distributable Amount | $13,023,789 | $8,948,750 | $8,533,546 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Tara Anne Scarlett as president and CEO; Joseph H. Scarlett Jr. as chairman; Jennifer Scarlett as treasurer; and Tom Parrish as secretary. It lists Dorothy F. Scarlett, Andrew S. Scarlett, Michael Peacock, Karla Jackson, Keri Randolph, and Jamie Woodson as directors.
Scarlett Family Foundation is led by Tara Anne Scarlett, President & CEO on every filing since 2021; 2 of 10 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Tara Anne Scarlett
President & CEO
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$25K (2021) → $37K (2025)
Joseph H. Scarlett Jr.
Chairman
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Andrew S. Scarlett
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Dorothy F. Scarlett
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Karla Jackson
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Michael Peacock
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Jamie Woodson
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Keri Randolph
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Tom Parrish
Secretary
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$241K (2021) → $294K (2025)
Jennifer Scarlett
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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
Contact
Application contact: Scarlett Family Foundation - Katie
Mailing address: PO Box 103255, Nashville, TN 37215-2728
Phone: (615) 440-9183
Email: info@scarlettfoundation.org
Website: https://scarlettfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Scarlett Family Foundation
How much does Scarlett Family Foundation give each year?
Scarlett Family Foundation gave $9.2M across 258 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $7.6M across 348 grants.
What is Scarlett Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Scarlett Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $13,019, and its average grant was $35,701, across 258 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Scarlett Family Foundation give grants?
Scarlett Family Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (97 grants), Antioch, TN (18 grants), Clarksville, TN (12 grants) and Brentwood, TN (11 grants).
Does Scarlett Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 258 grants with a stated purpose on Scarlett Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Tuition" (212 grants) and "Support for Operations" (5 grants).
Who are Scarlett Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Scarlett Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Lipscomb University ($443,700), Nashville Classical ($395,000) and Teach for America Nashville-Chattanooga ($375,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 13% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Scarlett Family Foundation?
Scarlett Family Foundation reported $249.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $10.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $13.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Scarlett Family Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to advocate, invest, and work to ensure that all students in Middle Tennessee have access to a high-quality education. Its four grantmaking initiatives are career readiness, principal and teacher leadership, literacy, and mentorship. The Foundation also identifies college and career readiness, high-quality schools, and advocacy among its key initiatives. The Foundation partners with local nonprofit organizations and institutions. Its grantees include organizations wi…
How do I apply for a grant from Scarlett Family Foundation?
Review the Foundation’s key initiatives and grant eligibility checklist. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Scarlett Family Foundation's EIN?
Scarlett Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1980932. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Scarlett Family Foundation by hand.
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