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.
Scarlett Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Scarlett Family Foundation gave $9.2M across 258 grants in 2025 (avg $36K), mostly in Tennessee. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $9,210,731
- +21.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 258
- -25.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $35,701
- +64.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $13,019
- Total assets
- $249,341,853
- +3.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (93% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Scarlett Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Review the Foundation’s key initiatives and grant eligibility checklist. The Foundation may follow up and request additional information. The stated checklist includes alignment with its priorities, measurable outcomes, two years of financial and programmatic results, and the applicable minimum operating budget and revenue-source requirements.
- 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
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Scarlett Family Foundation
Who Scarlett Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lipscomb University ($444K). Together the top 10 received $3.2M.
Organizations only. It also paid 210 individual scholarships ($2,366,394), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
2,023 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,836 grants of 2,023 (91%).
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 an individual recipient (4%), Ohio (1%), Washington, D.C. (1%), and Kentucky (0%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 258 itemized grants.
States
Cities
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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $6.5M (2021) to $9.2M (2025). In 2025 it made 258 grants totaling $9.2M.
Grants by year
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 |
Ready to take the next step with Scarlett Family Foundation?
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 | $249,341,853 | $20,931,117 | $12,293,053 | $9,210,731 | 258 | $10,469,295 | $19,707,085 | $13,023,789 |
| 2024 | $240,277,580 | $86,776,319 | $10,743,840 | $7,577,332 | 348 | $8,488,450 | $85,519,100 | $8,948,750 |
| 2023 | $162,450,430 | $11,491,025 | $10,717,274 | $8,399,277 | 381 | $9,360,610 | $10,199,361 | $8,533,546 |
| 2022 | $163,054,305 | $18,551,241 | $10,325,230 | $8,044,710 | 470 | $8,925,237 | $17,525,689 | $9,390,280 |
| 2021 | $154,782,621 | $18,155,064 | $8,358,571 | $6,536,581 | 566 | — | $17,312,652 | $8,964,012 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
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.
Among the largest 2025 awards were $443,700 to Lipscomb University for its Pioneros Program and Principal Leadership Program; $395,000 to Nashville Classical for its Apprentice School Leadership Program and Nashville Classical West; $375,000 to Teach For America Nashville-Chattanooga for programs; and $350,000 to KIPP Nashville for its Master Teachers Program and Managing Director of High Schools. Other notable awards included $344,020 to Purpose Preparatory Academy for deans of curriculum and instruction and instructional leaders, $285,000 to Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance for its Aspiring Leaders Program, and $252,436 to Oasis Center for Oasis College Connection.
For organizational grants, the Foundation’s guidance asks applicants to align with one or more key initiatives, propose clear and measurable outcomes, and demonstrate at least two years of financial and programmatic results. Organizations based in Davidson or Williamson Counties must have a minimum operating budget of $250,000; organizations in the other 38 eligible Middle Tennessee counties must have a minimum budget of $100,000. All organizations should have at least three revenue sources. The Foundation asks grant seekers to review its priorities and eligibility checklist; it says it will follow up and may request more information.
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $294K, to Tom Parrish (Secretary). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
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 (36 grants) and Madison, TN (2 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. It also paid 210 individual scholarships ($2,366,394), which are not listed by name. 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). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
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. See mission & focus areas ↑
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 October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work Scarlett Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Scarlett Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Scarlett Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/scarlett-family-foundation-morg_f1a23e5cf84b4ca3bd0bff406956c36c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_201980932_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Scarlett Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/scarlett-family-foundation-morg_f1a23e5cf84b4ca3bd0bff406956c36c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Scarlett Family Foundation'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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