The Dunavant Foundation
The Dunavant Foundation is a supporting organization based in Memphis, Tennessee, established in 1984. It operates as a subordinate organization under the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, serving as a vehicle for philanthropic giving in the Memphis and Shelby County region. The foundation is also known as the William B. "Billy" Dunavant Jr. Foundation.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.6M
-7.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$157K
-93.0% YoY
Grant Count
6
-33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$26K
-89.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary exempt purpose is to assist the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis in carrying out its charitable mission. The foundation accepts property for use exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes that primarily benefit Memphis and Shelby County.
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on education, human services, and philanthropy. Additional giving interests include wildlife and waterfowl conservation.
Grantmaking
Recent grants made by the foundation include:
Ready to take the next step with The Dunavant Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee. However, conservation giving has extended to Mississippi and the prairie pothole region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent (2024):
- Total assets: $1,773,147
- Total revenues: $125,269
- Total expenses: $2,273,359
- Number of employees: 0
Previous Filing (2025):
- Total assets: $1,644,059
- Total giving: $157,000
The foundation maintains a 97% four-star rating based on accountability and finance metrics.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,644,059 | $1,773,147 | $3,922,212 |
| Revenue | $55,053 | $125,269 | $5,251,810 |
| Expenses | $184,141 | $2,273,359 | $21,523,284 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $55,053 | $125,269 | $395,031 |
| 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 6 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Dunavant Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include St Michael Catholic Church ($50,000), The Cotton Museum Inc ($50,000), Artsmemphis ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE FIRST TEE OF TENNESSEE IN MEMPHIS MEMPHIS, TN | GENERAL OPERATIONAL SUPPORT | $12,000 |
| ARTSMEMPHIS MEMPHIS, TN | GENERAL OPERATIONAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| ST MICHAEL CATHOLIC CHURCH MEMPHIS, TN | GENERAL OPERATIONAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| THE COTTON MUSEUM INC MEMPHIS, TN | GENERAL OPERATIONAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS FOUNDATION MEMPHIS, TN | GENERAL OPERATIONAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| DELTA WATERFOWL FOUNDATION BISMARCK, ND | GENERAL OPERATIONAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Tommie Dunavant oversees the foundation as a director and manages its philanthropic activities. She is a practicing psychologist and widow of William "Billy" Dunavant Jr., who established the foundation in 1984 and passed away in September 2021.
Robert M. Fockler is listed as the principal officer.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT M FOCKLER | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| BARBARA S MORA | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| J MARTIN REGAN JR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KELLI DUNAVANT | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TOMMIE SMITH DUNAVANT | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| GARY ZWIERZYNSKI | TREASURER | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2022, the foundation made a transformational $5.5 million gift to the University of Memphis, Billy Dunavant's alma mater. The gift created five endowed professorships and supported academic and athletic facility projects, reflecting Tommie Dunavant's interpretation of Billy's evolving priorities toward academic excellence alongside his longtime support for sports.
The foundation has been active in waterfowl conservation, with Tommie Dunavant joining the Delta Waterfowl Board as a director at large in February 2023. The foundation's $2 million contribution to Delta Waterfowl's Million Duck Campaign represents a significant commitment to habitat restoration and waterfowl population initiatives.
U of M receives $5.5 million Dunavant gift to endow five chairsFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Dunavant Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary exempt purpose is to assist the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis in carrying out its charitable mission. The foundation accepts property for use exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes that primarily benefit Memphis and Shelby County. The foundation's grantmaking focuses on education, human services, and philanthropy. Additional giving interests include wildlife and waterfowl conservation.
How do I apply for a grant from The Dunavant Foundation?
Recent grants made by the foundation include: • **Slingshot Memphis**: $520,000 for general operational support (2024) • **St. Jude Children's Research Hospital**: $500,000 for general operational support (2024) • **University of Memphis**: $5.5 million to create five endowed professorships and support the supply chain program at the Fogelman College of Business and Economics, the Leftwich Tennis Center project, and the football training facility (2022) • **Le Bonheur Children's Hospital**: Dia…
Where does The Dunavant Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee. However, conservation giving has extended to Mississippi and the prairie pothole region.
What size grants does The Dunavant Foundation award?
In 2025, The Dunavant Foundation awarded 6 grants totaling $157K — an average of about $26K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Dunavant Foundation's EIN?
The Dunavant Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1528504. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Dunavant Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Community Foundation
MEMPHIS, TN
Assets
$953.1M
Grants
761
Total Given
$134.3M
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
Thomas Garrott Foundation
ORLANDO, FL
Assets
$15.4M
Grants
47
Total Given
$864K
Crews Family Foundation
GERMANTOWN, TN
Assets
—
Grants
61
Total Given
$5.0M
Christian Community Foundation of
MEMPHIS, TN
Assets
$218.6M
Grants
612
Total Given
$82.3M
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund
ST PETERSBURG, FL
Assets
$1.9B
Grants
6,906
Total Given
$288.7M
Great Oaks Foundation
MEMPHIS, TN
Assets
$27.8M
Grants
22
Total Given
$1.3M
The Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation
MEMPHIS, TN
Assets
$39.8M
Grants
54
Total Given
$1.9M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Dunavant 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 Dunavant Foundation to a real strategy.