The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc
The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations including schools, religious organizations, community-support organizations, and arts and environmental organizations.
The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc gave $264K across 31 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in Tennessee. 10% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $264,000
- -8.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 31
- -6.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,516
- -2.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $5,553,909
- +1.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (3 of 30, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (80% 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 The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 605 Chestnut Street 1700, Chattanooga, TN 37450
Phone: (931) 924-5519
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Born This Way Foundation ($32K). Together the top 10 received $162K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($49,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
153 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 153 grants of 153 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 80% of grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee, 12% to New York, and 8% to Virginia. The filing reports 0% for North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 30 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 90% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−12%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 86% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $264K (2025) to $300K (2023). In 2025 it made 31 grants totaling $264K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $49,000 |
| Born This Way Foundation New York, NY | Operating Funds | $32,000 |
| Good Shepherd Church Decherd, TN | Operating Funds | $30,000 |
| Good Samaritan Ministries Decherd, TN | Operating Funds | $20,000 |
| Seton Foundation Monteagle, TN | Operating Funds | $18,000 |
| South Cumberland Community Fund Monteagle, TN | Operating Funds | $15,000 |
| University of the South Sewanee, TN | University Relations | $15,000 |
| Sewanee Parent Organization Sewanee, TN | Operating Funds | $10,000 |
| Montgomery Bell Academy Nashville, TN | Operating Funds | $8,000 |
| Southern Environmental Law Center Charlottesville, VA | Operating Funds | $8,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc?
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 | $5,553,909 | $358,634 | $291,308 | $264,000 | 31 | $272,380 | $339,839 | $317,976 |
| 2024 | $5,486,583 | $452,766 | $327,203 | $288,000 | 33 | $295,669 | $435,480 | $292,233 |
| 2023 | $5,361,020 | $880,019 | $344,815 | $300,000 | 30 | $311,336 | $862,679 | $272,766 |
| 2022 | $4,825,816 | $717,871 | $323,379 | $300,000 | 29 | $304,617 | $700,675 | $317,304 |
| 2021 | $4,431,324 | $255,347 | $302,939 | $276,000 | 30 | — | $239,245 | $307,334 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $318K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School describes its mission as providing a college preparatory education within an inclusive Christian community, while Born This Way Foundation says it empowers young people to support their mental health and build a kinder, braver world. South Cumberland Community Fund describes its work as supporting nonprofits across the plateau through project grants and organizational support.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 31 grants totaling $264,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $39,000, with a median grant of $5,000.
Among its largest 2025 grants were $39,000 to St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School for its annual fund; $32,000 to Born This Way Foundation for operating funds; $30,000 to Good Shepherd Church for operating funds; and $20,000 to Good Samaritan Ministries for operating funds. Other grants included $18,000 to Seton Foundation, $15,000 each to South Cumberland Community Fund and the University of the South, and $10,000 to Sewanee Parent Organization and an individual recipient and St. Agnes School.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ellen L. Woods as president and trustee; Margaret C. Woods as chairman and trustee; Caroline T. Woods as vice president and trustee; and Cecil W. Van Devender, Benjamin J. Polansky, and William G. Denkler as trustees.
The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc is led by Ellen L. Woods, President & Trustee on every filing since 2021; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ellen L. Woods
President & Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Margaret C. Woods
Chairman & Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Benjamin J. Polansky
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caroline T. Woods
Vice President & Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cecil W. Van Devender
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William G. Denkler
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc
How much does The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc give each year?
The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc gave $264K across 31 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $288K across 33 grants.
What is The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $8,516, across 31 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc that year got $9K on average.
Where does The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc give grants?
The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc gives mostly in Tennessee: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (12%) and Virginia (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (15 grants), Sewanee, TN (4 grants), Decherd, TN (2 grants) and Monteagle, TN (2 grants).
Does The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 94% of The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (29 of 31) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Born This Way Foundation ($32,000), Good Shepherd Church ($30,000) and Good Samaritan Ministries ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($49,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc?
The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc reported $5.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $272K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $318K (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 The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, St. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and 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 The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-1504440. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-cartinhour-woods-foundation-inc-morg_1bf6f81a4bf54ccdb7220038fa4a1b20
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_621504440_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-cartinhour-woods-foundation-inc-morg_1bf6f81a4bf54ccdb7220038fa4a1b20},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc'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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