The Tennessee Bar Foundation is a philanthropic organization established by Tennessee attorneys, based in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1982, the Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity with a mission centered on honoring distinguished legal professionals and supporting law-related public interest projects. The organization maintains a small staff of two employees and operates from the Historic Castner-Knott Building in downtown Nashville.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$27.2M
+47.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.0M
+135.3% YoY
Grant Count
32
+18.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$94K
+98.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Tennessee Bar Foundation's mission is to:
- Honor attorneys who have distinguished themselves in the profession by electing them to membership as "Fellows"
- Use the contributions of these Fellows to support law-related public interest projects
- Administer Tennessee's IOLTA (Interest On Lawyers' Trust Accounts) program
The Foundation awards monetary grants to organizations providing civil legal representation to indigent clients. Grant recipients include organizations responsible for defined geographic areas ensuring legal assistance availability across all Tennessee counties, as well as organizations serving smaller geographic areas, specific subject matters, or coordinating pro bono legal services from private practitioners.
The Foundation also supports organizations that work to improve the administration of justice within the state, including those assisting families, children, domestic violence victims, and immigrants with specific legal needs, as well as organizations providing mediation services and offender rehabilitation programs.
Grantmaking
The Foundation administers the IOLTA Grant Program as its primary grantmaking vehicle. Typical grant awards range from $5,000 to $699,222. The Foundation's most recent annual giving totaled $3,036,436.
Review Cycle
of May 8, 2026.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Tennessee, with some activity in Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $27,152,613
- Total Annual Giving: $3,036,436
- Total Revenues: $10,164,516
- Total Expenses: $3,667,476
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $27,152,613 | $18,377,132 | $11,655,415 |
| Revenue | $10,164,516 | $8,615,048 | $1,860,355 |
| Expenses | $3,667,476 | $1,797,210 | $1,819,656 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $930,134 | $1,108,477 | $137,879 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
144 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Tennessee Bar Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Trustees (12-member board with geographic distribution):
- Chair: Sam D. Elliott, Chattanooga
- Chair-Elect: Jeffery P. Boyd, Jackson
- Immediate Past Chair: Jacqueline B. Dixon, Nashville
East Tennessee Trustees: Marcia M. McMurray (Cleveland), Robin L. Miller (Chattanooga), C. Scott Taylor (Knoxville)
Middle Tennessee Trustees: Patrick M. Carter (Columbia), Judge Cynthia C. Chappell (Nashville), Charles K. Grant (Nashville)
West Tennessee Trustees: Marianna "Molly" Williams (Dyersburg), Molly A. Glover (Memphis), Steve Conley (Union City)
Staff:
- Executive Director: John D. Murphy
- Assistant Executive Director: Therese Byrne
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARRI BERNSTEIN ESQ | EXE. DIRECTOR | 40 | $150,675 |
| HON JOHN W WHITWORTH | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| ANGELIA M NYSTROM ESQ | IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR | 1 | — |
| JACQUELINE B DIXON ESQ | CHAIR- ELECT | 1 | — |
| SAM D ELLIOTT ESQ | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| JEFFREY P BOYD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| PATRICK M CARTER ESQ | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| HON CYNTHIA C CHAPPELL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MOLLY A GLOVER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CHARLES K GRANT ESQ | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ROBIN L MILLER ESQ | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| HON D KELLY THOMAS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| C BARRY WARD ESQ | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation announced its 2026 IOLTA Grant Recipients. The organization hosts an annual Fellows' Dinner to honor newly selected Fellows; the 2026 dinner is scheduled for Friday, June 12.
2026 Grant Awards - Tennessee Bar FoundationThe Foundation maintains an active Legal History Project featuring video interviews with distinguished Tennessee legal professionals.
Tennessee Bar Foundation: HomeThe Foundation earned a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a score of 96%, reflecting strong accountability and finance practices with a program expense ratio exceeding 95%.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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