The Day Foundation
The Day Foundation is a private foundation based in Memphis, Tennessee. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, with most grant dollars going to recipients in Tennessee.
The Day Foundation at a glance
In short: The Day Foundation gave $11.5M across 31 grants in 2024 (avg $370K), mostly in Tennessee. 16% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $11,461,994
- -5.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 31
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $369,742
- -5.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $159,451,113
- +5.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (5 of 31, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Day Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 5100 Wheelis Drive 300, Memphis, TN 38117
Phone: (901) 682-2431
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Day Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Youth Villages ($3.0M). Together the top 10 received $9.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
155 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 62 grants of 155 (40%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee and 2% to recipients in Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Day Foundation open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 31 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $90K; repeat grants $424K. How we count
Medians: $70K first-time, $113K repeat.
- 68% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 26% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 156% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $7.1M (2022) to $12.2M (2023). In 2024 it made 31 grants totaling $11.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Youth Villages Memphis, TN | National Growth Plan | $3,000,000 |
| St Paul Catholic School Memphis, TN | Operating Support | $2,000,000 |
| Rhodes College Memphis, TN | Scholarships | $1,220,000 |
| Memphis Allies Memphis, TN | Operating Support | $1,000,000 |
| Junior Achievement of Memphis Memphis, TN | Operating Support | $800,000 |
| Alliance Healthcare Services Memphis, TN | Operating Support | $500,000 |
| Porter-Leath Children's Center Memphis, TN | Operating Support | $500,000 |
| Christian Brothers High School Memphis, TN | Operating Support | $335,000 |
| The Catholic Diocese of Memphis Memphis, TN | Operating Support | $287,500 |
| Calvary Episcopal Church Memphis, TN | Operating Support | $250,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $159,451,113 | $15,661,802 | $13,042,682 | $11,461,994 | 31 | $11,746,395 | $14,970,317 | $7,543,542 |
| 2023 | $151,808,164 | $27,985,804 | $13,733,293 | $12,183,139 | 31 | $12,576,462 | $27,289,356 | $6,603,892 |
| 2022 | $145,059,253 | $8,500,406 | $8,821,622 | $7,105,193 | 28 | $7,339,892 | $7,367,190 | $7,155,440 |
| 2021 | $169,845,102 | $13,483,345 | $10,709,870 | $9,072,400 | 32 | $9,297,548 | $10,902,617 | $7,915,549 |
| 2020 | $170,038,097 | $13,711,953 | $9,260,834 | $7,787,320 | 33 | — | $12,507,767 | $6,154,620 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Day Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.5M for 2024 — 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 available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants went to organizations including schools and colleges, youth-serving organizations, and providers of mental health and developmental services. Youth Villages describes its mission as helping children and families live successfully. Alliance Healthcare Services says it provides outpatient counseling, case management, crisis services, and other mental health services. Rhodes College describes itself as a liberal arts college that aims to prepare students for learning, service, and leadership.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 31 grants totaling $11,461,994. Awards ranged from $4,000 to $3,000,000, with a median grant of $100,000. In 2023, it made 31 grants totaling $12,183,139; in 2022, it made 28 grants totaling $7,105,193.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $3,000,000 to Youth Villages for a national growth plan; $2,000,000 to St. Paul Catholic School for operating support; $1,220,000 to Rhodes College for scholarships; $1,000,000 to Memphis Allies for operating support; and $800,000 to Junior Achievement of Memphis for operating support. Other grants included $500,000 each to Alliance Healthcare Services and Porter-Leath Children’s Center for operating support, and $250,000 to Mayo School of Health Sciences for operating support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists J Richard Buchignani as president and trustee, Charlotte A Henderson as vice president-treasurer and trustee, and C Thomas Whitman as trustee as necessary.
The Day Foundation is led by J. Richard Buchignani, President & Trustee on every filing since 2020; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
J. Richard Buchignani
President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$130K (2020) → $135K (2024)
Charlotte A. Henderson
Vp-Treasurer & Trustee
On filings since 2023
20 hrs/week
$79K (2023) → $135K (2024)
C. Thomas Whitman
Trustee As Necessary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: William G. Griesbeck (2020–2023) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $135K, to J Richard Buchignani (President/Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Day Foundation
How much does The Day Foundation give each year?
The Day Foundation gave $11.5M across 31 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $12.2M across 31 grants.
What is The Day Foundation's typical grant size?
The Day Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $369,742, across 31 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Day Foundation that year got $90K on average.
Where does The Day Foundation give grants?
The Day Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Memphis, TN (28 grants).
Does The Day Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 90% of The Day Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (28 of 31) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Day Foundation's largest grantees?
The Day Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Youth Villages ($3,000,000), St Paul Catholic School ($2,000,000) and Rhodes College ($1,220,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Day Foundation?
The Day Foundation reported $159.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $11.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Day Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants went to organizations including schools and colleges, youth-serving organizations, and providers of mental health and developmental services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Day Foundation?
The foundation 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 Day Foundation's EIN?
The Day Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 64-6025122. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Day Foundation 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 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Day Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Day Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-day-foundation-morg_71cf20b275fb447588a8533bba105b15
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_646025122_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Day Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-day-foundation-morg_71cf20b275fb447588a8533bba105b15},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Day 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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