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
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.
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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
No grants recorded for .
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
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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