The Powell Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2000 and based in Brentwood, Tennessee. The foundation was created by the late James J. "Jim" Powell Sr. (1937-2022) and his wife Sandra Powell. Jim Powell founded Powell Construction Company and began his philanthropic work in 1980 by funding scholarships at regional universities, formalizing these efforts through the foundation's establishment. The foundation continues under family leadership and operates with no employees, maintaining Jim Powell's legacy of supporting education and the arts in East Tennessee.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$30.7M
Annual Giving
$1.7M
Grant Count
41
Avg Grant Size
$41K
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Powell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $834K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving focuses on:
- Educational Scholarships: Supporting approximately 200 students annually at the University of Tennessee and East Tennessee State University
- Institutional Support: Direct grants to University of Tennessee Foundation and East Tennessee State University
- Athletic Programs: Particularly women's basketball at supported universities
- Music Programs: Including the Sandra G. Powell Music Professorship and Powell Choral programs
- Community Support: Including United Way of East Tennessee Highlands
- Arts and Culture: Support for organizations such as the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra
- Human Services: Including rehabilitation and head injury services
Grantmaking
How to Apply
**: No public application process information is available. Decisions are made at trustee discretion as a private foundation.
Ready to take the next step with The Powell Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily serves East Tennessee, with particular emphasis on:
- Johnson City area
- Knoxville area
- East Tennessee region generally
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $31,567,449
- Total Revenue: $17,343,470
- Total Expenses: $1,266,558
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $30,737,247
- Total Giving: $1,661,295
The foundation maintains substantial assets relative to annual giving, indicating a long-term commitment to sustained philanthropic activity.
| Metric | 2024 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $30,737,247 | $15,490,537 | $13,497,179 |
| Revenue | $1,132,112 | $2,820,170 | $1,015,566 |
| Expenses | $1,962,314 | $826,812 | $1,001,870 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,661,295 | $677,500 | $817,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $830,902 | $1,135,843 | $872,977 |
| Distributable Amount | $834,203 | $751,330 | $861,252 |
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
135 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include East Tennessee State University ($235,000), University of Tennessee ($200,000), University of Tennessee ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BUMC BRENTWOOD, TN | BUILDING FUND | $50,000 |
| BUMC BRENTWOOD, TN | YOUTH CHOIR SCHOLARSHIPS | $10,000 |
| BUMC BRENTWOOD, TN | BUILDING FUND | $50,000 |
| BUMC BRENTWOOD, TN | SCHOLARSHIP | $5,000 |
| BUMC BRENTWOOD, TN | SCHOLARSHIP | $5,000 |
| BUMC BRENTWOOD, TN | BUILDING FUND | $50,000 |
| BUMC BRENTWOOD, TN | BUILDING FUND | $50,000 |
| BUMC DAY SCHOOL BRENTWOOD, TN | SCHOLARSHIP | $20,000 |
| CRUMLEY HOUSE LIMESTONE, TN | ANNUAL GIFT | $60,000 |
| DAVIS HOUSE FRANKLIN, TN | ANNUAL GIFT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Founder: James J. "Jim" Powell Sr. (1937-2022)
- Co-Founder: Sandra Powell
The foundation continues under family leadership.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SANDRA POWELL | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JAMES J POWELL JR | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
| MICHAEL POWELL | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JENNIFER VON DE HEIDEN | PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 2105 Key Dr, Brentwood, TN 37027-5431
- Phone: 423-794-6095
- EIN: 62-1819796
- Tax-Exempt Status: 501(c)(3), tax-exempt since August 2000
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Powell Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving focuses on: • **Educational Scholarships**: Supporting approximately 200 students annually at the University of Tennessee and East Tennessee State University • **Institutional Support**: Direct grants to University of Tennessee Foundation and East Tennessee State University • **Athletic Programs**: Particularly women's basketball at supported universities • **Music Programs**: Including the Sandra G. Powell Music Professorship and Powell Choral programs • **Community Sup…
How do I apply for a grant from The Powell Foundation?
**Grant Amounts**: Typical awards range from $2,500 to $235,000, with significant variation between individual scholarships and major institutional gifts. **Annual Giving**: $1,661,295 (2024) **Recent Grant Activity**: The foundation made 28 grants in 2023, including: • Johnson City Symphony Orchestra: $35,000 (Concert Aid) and $10,000 (Annual Gift) • Crumley House Head Injury Rehabilitation: $5,000 (Annual Gift) **Application Process**: No public application process information is available. D…
Where does The Powell Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily serves East Tennessee, with particular emphasis on: • Johnson City area • Knoxville area • East Tennessee region generally
What size grants does The Powell Foundation award?
In 2024, The Powell Foundation awarded 41 grants totaling $1.7M — an average of about $41K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Powell Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Powell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $834K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Powell Foundation's EIN?
The Powell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-1819796. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Powell 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 Powell 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 Powell Foundation to a real strategy.