The Samuel M Fleming Foundation
The Samuel M Fleming Foundation is a private foundation based in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2024, it gave $715,000 through 42 grants to charitable organizations, with most grant dollars going to recipients in Tennessee.
The Samuel M Fleming Foundation at a glance
In short: The Samuel M Fleming Foundation gave $715K across 42 grants in 2024 (avg $17K), mostly in Tennessee. 14% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $715,000
- +16.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 42
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $17,024
- +16.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $8,303,818
- +19.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (6 of 42, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (79% 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 Samuel M Fleming 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: PO Box 59324, Nashville, TN 37205
Phone: (615) 386-7302
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Samuel M Fleming Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Miss Porter's School ($85K). Together the top 10 received $471K.
Grant Size Distribution
196 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 184 grants of 196 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 79% of grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee, 12% to Connecticut, 3% each to Oklahoma and Texas, and 1% to Kentucky.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 42 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Samuel M Fleming Foundation open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 42 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $9K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 83% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 31% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 105% 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 $525K (2020) to $715K (2024). In 2024 it made 42 grants totaling $715K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Miss Porter's School Farmington, CT | Charitable | $85,000 |
| Kipp Academy Nashville, TN | Charitable | $70,000 |
| Teacher for America Nashville, TN | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Cumberland Heights Foundation Inc Nashville, TN | Charitable | $48,000 |
| Gilda's Club Nashville Nashville, TN | Charitable | $48,000 |
| Tpac Nashville, TN | Charitable | $44,000 |
| Heritage Foundation Franklin, TN | Charitable | $38,000 |
| Nashville Opera Nashville, TN | Charitable | $35,000 |
| First Presbyterian Church Nashville, TN | Charitable | $32,500 |
| Ensworth School Nashville, TN | Charitable | $20,000 |
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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 | $8,303,818 | $2,157,992 | $886,909 | $715,000 | 42 | $764,250 | $1,048,512 | $725,600 |
| 2023 | $6,977,233 | $329,482 | $772,716 | $614,542 | 42 | $663,392 | $228,491 | $649,887 |
| 2022 | $7,431,460 | $130,270 | $819,292 | $635,570 | 40 | $684,120 | $187,494 | $666,936 |
| 2021 | $8,138,792 | $693,147 | $722,606 | $547,594 | 38 | $595,919 | $581,350 | $688,169 |
| 2020 | $8,145,688 | $230,984 | $671,825 | $525,081 | 34 | — | $187,932 | $585,152 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Samuel M Fleming Foundation reported a distributable amount of $726K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including education, addiction services, the arts, and historical preservation. For example, Miss Porter’s School says it educates young women to become informed, bold, resourceful, and ethical global citizens; Cumberland Heights Foundation says it provides hope and healing to people affected by alcohol or drug addiction; and Nashville Ballet says it creates, performs, teaches, and promotes dance.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 42 grants totaling $715,000. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $85,000, with a median of $10,000. Its largest grants included $85,000 to Miss Porter’s School, $70,000 to KIPP Academy, $50,000 to Teacher for America, $48,000 each to Cumberland Heights Foundation and Gilda’s Club Nashville, and $44,000 to TPAC. The filing lists the grant purposes as charitable.
Other 2024 recipients included Heritage Foundation ($38,000), Nashville Opera ($35,000), First Presbyterian Church ($32,500), Ensworth School ($20,000), Folds of Honor Foundation ($20,000), and Battle of Franklin Trust ($13,500).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists five co-trustees: Samuel Fleming Wilt, Joanne F Hayes, Sam Anderson Banks, Toby Wilt III, and Marshall Elizabeth Wilt.
The Samuel M Fleming Foundation's 2024 filing lists 5 officers; 4 of 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Joanne F. Hayes
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
$250 (2024)
Samuel Fleming Wilt
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$50K (2020) → $50K (2024)
Sam Anderson Banks
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2023
$250 (2024)
Toby Wilt III
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2023
$250 (2024)
Marshall Elizabeth Wilt
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Alden H. Smith Jr. (2020–2021) — Secretary
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 $50K, to Samuel Fleming Wilt (Co-Trustee). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Samuel M Fleming Foundation
How much does The Samuel M Fleming Foundation give each year?
The Samuel M Fleming Foundation gave $715K across 42 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $615K across 42 grants.
What is The Samuel M Fleming Foundation's typical grant size?
The Samuel M Fleming Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $17,024, across 42 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Samuel M Fleming Foundation that year got $14K on average.
Where does The Samuel M Fleming Foundation give grants?
The Samuel M Fleming Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Connecticut (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (26 grants), Franklin, TN (4 grants) and Fort Worth, TX (2 grants).
Does The Samuel M Fleming Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 42 grants with a stated purpose on The Samuel M Fleming Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (42 grants).
Who are The Samuel M Fleming Foundation's largest grantees?
The Samuel M Fleming Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Miss Porter's School ($85,000), Kipp Academy ($70,000) and Teacher for America ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Samuel M Fleming Foundation?
The Samuel M Fleming Foundation reported $8.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $764K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $726K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Samuel M Fleming Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including education, addiction services, the arts, and historical preservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Samuel M Fleming 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 Samuel M Fleming Foundation's EIN?
The Samuel M Fleming Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-2026295. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Samuel M Fleming 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Samuel M Fleming Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-samuel-m-fleming-foundation-morg_ad4840df1b3b4ce59f461e8d3b823177
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_582026295_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Samuel M Fleming Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-samuel-m-fleming-foundation-morg_ad4840df1b3b4ce59f461e8d3b823177},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Samuel M Fleming 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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