The Frist Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Established in 1982 by Hospital Corporation of America (originally as the HCA Foundation), the foundation became fully independent in 1994 and was renamed The Frist Foundation in 1997 to honor the philanthropic legacy of its founding directors, Dr. Thomas F. Frist Sr. and Dr. Thomas F. Frist Jr. For over 40 years, the foundation has been dedicated to sustaining and improving the quality of life in Nashville and the broader Middle Tennessee area by investing in nonprofit organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$195.6M
-2.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$58.2M
+219.7% YoY
Grant Count
174
+1.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$335K
+214.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Frist Foundation reported a distributable amount of $33.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Frist Foundation seeks to build a stronger Nashville by supporting agencies that address broad community challenges including housing, food insecurity, and access to childcare, as well as organizations leading collaborative community efforts. The foundation's work is guided by the vision of making people's lives "just a little bit better."
Primary Focus Areas:
- Arts & Culture
- Food Insecurity
- Health Disparities
- Human Services
- Immigrants & Refugees
- Nonprofit Infrastructure
- Unhoused Neighbors
The foundation prioritizes grants that enhance the capacity of nonprofits, expanding their reach and impact across the community. Beyond grantmaking, the foundation advises nonprofits on community engagement, development, talent acquisition, and strategic growth. The foundation has played a key role in major community initiatives including establishing the Frist Art Museum, founding The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, launching the Young Leaders Council, and co-founding the Middle Tennessee Donors Forum.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$1,000 to $5,000,000
Average Grant
Approximately $106,501
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Frist Foundation primarily serves Davidson County and Nashville, Tennessee, with a broader commitment to the Middle Tennessee area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $195,569,602
- Total revenues: $55,695,044
- Total expenses: $60,582,599
- Total liabilities: $6,620,000
Historical Assets (2023):
- Total assets: $200,236,459
- Total giving: $23.1 million
- Total expenses: $20.9 million
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) organization; tax-exempt since March 1983 (EIN: 62-1134070)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $195,569,602 | $200,236,459 | $197,507,620 |
| Revenue | $55,695,044 | $23,118,814 | $36,088,932 |
| Expenses | $60,582,599 | $20,889,281 | $31,322,490 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $59,166,123 | $19,083,587 | $30,185,727 |
| Net Investment Income | $23,347,534 | $8,391,804 | $20,894,718 |
| Distributable Amount | $33,300,002 | $28,911,153 | $27,080,894 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Frist Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee ($5,000,000), Frist Art Museum ($1,100,000), Friends of Warner Parks Inc ($700,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY OF NASHVILLE NASHVILLE, TN | HOPE LODGE SUPPORT DIRECTED BY TRISHA ELCAN | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT DIRECTED BY CHUCK ELCAN | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN PRAIRIE BOZEMAN, MT | GENERAL SUPPORT DIRECTED BY TRISHA ELCAN | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS OF NASHVILLE NASHVILLE, TN | TIFFANY CIRCLE SUPPORT DIRECTED BY JENNIFER FRIST | $10,000 |
| ASMT INC (AUTISM TENNESSEE) NASHVILLE, TN | EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM SUPPORT DIRECTED BY BILLY AND JENNIFER FRIST | $5,000 |
| AUTISM SOCIETY OF AMERICA ROCKVILLE, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT DIRECTED BY JENNIFER AND BILLY FRIST | $25,000 |
| AUTISM SPEAKS BOONE, IA | GENERAL SUPPORT DIRECTED BY JENNIFER AND BILLY FRIST | $25,000 |
| BE THE MATCH FOUNDATION MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL SUPPORT DIRECTED BY CHUCK ELCAN | $10,000 |
| BELMONT UNIVERSITY NASHVILLE, TN | IN MEMORY OF JOSEPH VANCE RUSSELL, DIRECTED BY JULIE AND TOMMY FRIST | $10,000 |
| BOOK'EM NASHVILLE, TN | SUPPORT FOR A VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board & Executive Leadership:
- Patricia Frist Elcan — President and Chairman
- Corinne Bergeron — Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer
- Colette Easter — Treasurer
- Anne Reeves Axe — Secretary
- Charles Elcan — Director
- Jennifer Frist — Director
- Julie Frist — Director
- Thomas F. Frist Jr. — Director Emeritus
- Thomas F. Frist III — Director
- William R. Frist — Director
- Lauren Elcan Ingram — Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PATRICIA FRIST ELCAN | PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| CHARLES ELCAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JENNIFER FRIST | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JULIE FRIST | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| THOMAS F FRIST JR | DIRECTOR EMERITUS | 1 | — |
| THOMAS F FRIST III | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| WILLIAM R FRIST | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LAUREN ELCAN INGRAM | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CORINNE BERGERON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CEO | 40 | $300,000 |
| COLETTE EASTER | TREASURER | 30 | $101,521 |
| ANNE REEVES AXE | SECRETARY | 40 | $84,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2024 Grants:**
$23,547,632 to GS Daf (GSPF) for Frist Foundation Donor Advised Fund Gift
The Frist Foundation Awards $5 Million Grant to Propel Early ...$5,000,000 to Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to support the launch of the Nashville Early Education Coalition (NEEC)
The Frist Foundation Awards $5 Million Grant to Propel Early ...$5,000,000 to Nashville Public Library Foundation for the Begin Bright Program
$1,000,000 to the HCA Healthcare Hope Fund in support of HCA Healthcare colleagues impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton
The Frist Foundation gives $1 million to the HCA Healthcare Hope Fund in$1,000,000 to Clarksville-Montgomery County Long-Term Relief Group
Clarksville-Montgomery County Long-Term Relief Group Announces $1M GrantContact Information
Address: 3100 West End Avenue, Suite 1200, Nashville, TN 37203-1348
Phone: (615) 292-3868
Email: askfrist@fristfoundation.org
Website: fristfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Frist Foundation fund?
**Mission:** The Frist Foundation seeks to build a stronger Nashville by supporting agencies that address broad community challenges including housing, food insecurity, and access to childcare, as well as organizations leading collaborative community efforts. The foundation's work is guided by the vision of making people's lives "just a little bit better." **Primary Focus Areas:** • Arts & Culture • Food Insecurity • Health Disparities • Human Services • Immigrants & Refugees • Nonprofit Infras…
How do I apply for a grant from The Frist Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $1,000 to $5,000,000 • Average grant: Approximately $106,501 • Median grant: $20,000 • Annual giving: Approximately $18.2 million (2023) • Number of grants: 171 (2023); 174 grants reported in 2024 filings **Types of Grants:** *General Grants:* The foundation funds projects that increase service capacity or ensure long-term sustainability, including capital needs, creation of earned revenue streams, and consulting expenses for strategic planning or finan…
Where does The Frist Foundation make grants?
The Frist Foundation primarily serves Davidson County and Nashville, Tennessee, with a broader commitment to the Middle Tennessee area.
What size grants does The Frist Foundation award?
In 2024, The Frist Foundation awarded 174 grants totaling $58.2M — an average of about $335K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Frist Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Frist Foundation reported a distributable amount of $33.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Frist Foundation's EIN?
The Frist Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-1134070. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Frist Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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