The Aslan Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Knoxville, Tennessee, established in 1994. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since January 2020. It supports the greater Knoxville community through three primary charitable initiatives: grantmaking to nonprofit organizations, public-private partnerships with the City of Knoxville, and direct funding of foundation-owned projects.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$122.0M
+4.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$918K
-17.8% YoY
Grant Count
58
-34.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
+26.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Aslan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Aslan Foundation embraces the mission of preserving beauty, advancing livability, and supporting cultural assets in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Primary funding priorities include:
- Arts and culture
- Animal welfare
- Land conservation
- Historic preservation
- Parks and recreational facilities
- Child and family welfare
- Health care
- Literacy programs
- Environmental preservation
Grantmaking
The Aslan Foundation supports 501(c)(3) organizations serving the greater Knoxville area.
Ready to take the next step with The Aslan Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in the greater Knoxville, Tennessee area, though its grantmaking has extended to organizations in New York and California.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $116,855,580 to $117,000,000
- Total Revenue: $2,626,302
- Total Expenses: $4,484,806
- Total Liabilities: $1,700,000
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $121,969,079
- Total Giving: $917,911
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $121,969,079 | $116,855,580 | $108,126,568 |
| Revenue | $2,724,142 | $2,626,302 | $4,018,676 |
| Expenses | $4,832,385 | $4,484,806 | $4,119,313 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $9,695,253 | $7,817,049 | $6,701,434 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,456,836 | $1,581,350 | $3,479,347 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,767,734 | $3,572,404 | $3,684,413 |
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
234 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Aslan Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Young-williams Center ($275,000), Big Ears Festival ($229,167), Tri-star Arts ($80,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| JENNIFER LAY SHYU BROOKLYN, NY | ARTIST GRANT - 2023 | $1,700 |
| MANDY ANNETTE CANO VILLALOBOS GRAND RAPIDS, MI | ARTIST GRANT - 2023 | $1,700 |
| NAVA DUNKELMAN BROOKLYN, NY | ARTIST GRANT - 2023 | $1,700 |
| ROBERT HUTCHISON SEATTLE, WA | ARTIST GRANT - 2023 | $1,700 |
| ADRIENNE MACKEY SEATTLE, WA | ARTIST GRANT - 2024 | $1,700 |
| AMY BOONE-MCCREESH BALTIMORE, MD | ARTIST GRANT - 2024 | $4,979 |
| ANDREW SCHNEIDER BROOKLYN, NY | ARTIST GRANT - 2024 | $3,036 |
| BARRY GABRIEL MARTINEZ HOUSTON, TX | ARTIST GRANT - 2024 | $3,400 |
| CAMERON P DOWNEY MINNEAPOLIS, MN | ARTIST GRANT - 2024 | $3,157 |
| CATHERINE GALASSO BROOKLYN, NY | ARTIST GRANT - 2024 | $3,279 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Aslan Foundation was established by Lindsay Young in 1994. The foundation was guided by Lindsay Young, his twin brother Robert Young, and Robert's wife Rachael Young. All three were devoted to animal welfare and shared interests in preserving beauty and supporting cultural assets in Knoxville.
The foundation currently employs 7 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LINDSAY Y MCDONOUGH | TREASURER | — | — |
| MARK K WILLIAMS | SECRETARY | — | — |
| ROBERT S YOUNG | PRESIDENT | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Aslan Foundation fund?
The Aslan Foundation embraces the mission of preserving beauty, advancing livability, and supporting cultural assets in Knoxville, Tennessee. **Primary funding priorities include:** • Arts and culture • Animal welfare • Land conservation • Historic preservation • Parks and recreational facilities • Child and family welfare • Health care • Literacy programs • Environmental preservation
How do I apply for a grant from The Aslan Foundation?
The Aslan Foundation supports 501(c)(3) organizations serving the greater Knoxville area. **Grant Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $1 to $325,000 • In 2023, the foundation made grants totaling approximately $743,971 across 35+ grants • Recent notable grants include: • Big Ears Festival: $250,000 (2023) • Tri-Star Arts: $80,000 (2023) • Knoxville Museum of Art: $75,000 (2023) **Foundation-Managed Projects:** The foundation funds and manages projects on its own properties to serve th…
Where does The Aslan Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in the greater Knoxville, Tennessee area, though its grantmaking has extended to organizations in New York and California.
What size grants does The Aslan Foundation award?
In 2024, The Aslan Foundation awarded 58 grants totaling $918K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Aslan Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Aslan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Aslan Foundation's EIN?
The Aslan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-1520208. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Aslan Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Maclellan Center for Global Christian Ed
CHATTANOOGA, TN
Assets
$592K
Grants
1
Total Given
$48K
Anne Bransford Wallace Foundation
NASHVILLE, TN
Assets
$553K
Grants
40
Total Given
$43K
Springplace Presbyterian Church 280-5019032
KNOXVILLE, TN
Assets
$140K
Grants
1
Total Given
$6K
United Way of East Tennessee
JOHNSON CITY, TN
Assets
$3.4M
Grants
12
Total Given
$202K
One Family Memphis
MEMPHIS, TN
Assets
$6.4M
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Southeast Center for Cooperative Development
NASHVILLE, TN
Assets
$388K
Grants
1
Total Given
$20K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Aslan Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Aslan Foundation to a real strategy.