Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc
Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Memphis, Tennessee. It supports nonprofit organizations working to make a measurable difference in Memphis and to create and sustain a welcoming community for all.
Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc gave $692K across 27 grants in 2025 (avg $26K), mostly in Tennessee. 44% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $691,550
- +8.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 27
- -10.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $25,613
- +20.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $17,513,616
- +2.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 44% first-time grantees (12 of 27, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation’s website says applications are by invitation. Interested organizations should complete an interest form and begin discussions before the relevant cycle’s discussion deadline; invitations follow those discussions. Applicants must communicate through the organization’s Executive Director. Core Funding eligibility requires 501(c)(3) status, a Memphis office, primarily serving Memphis rather than beyond Shelby County, and an organizational profile on the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis’s LIVEGIVEmidsouth.org. The Equity Fund also requires the Executive Director to identify as BIPOC and the organization to primarily serve BIPOC communities, defined as more than 50% of the population served. Equity Fund grantees are expected to provide quarterly informal updates, which may include a site visit or conversation with the foundation’s Executive Director. A 2023 filing describes a written request with the organization’s tax-exemption letter, board list, funding sources, history and goals, financial statements, current operating budget, and specific proposed use of the grant.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists August 1 and February 1. For the 2026–2027 cycles, the foundation lists June 10, 2026 and December 10, 2026 as discussion deadlines; proposals are due August 1, 2026 and February 1, 2027, respectively.
- Deadline
- The filing lists August 1 and February 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc
Mailing address: PO Box 40105, Memphis, TN 38174
Phone: (901) 680-0276
Website: https://briggsmemphis.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc
Who Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Overton Park Conservancy ($70K). Together the top 10 received $453K.
Grant Size Distribution
148 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 140 grants of 148 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s funding guidelines require Core Funding applicants to maintain a Memphis office and primarily serve the city of Memphis, not beyond Shelby County, Tennessee. Its 2025 grants went to recipients in Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
44%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 27 grantees (44%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $32K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 0% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+12%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $475K (2023) to $704K (2020). In 2025 it made 27 grants totaling $692K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Overton Park Conservancy Memphis, TN | Program Support | $70,000 |
| Neighborhood Christian Center Memphis, TN | Program Support | $60,000 |
| RedZone Ministries Memphis, TN | Program Support | $60,000 |
| Christopher A Pugh Center Cordova, TN | Program Support | $50,000 |
| Circuit Playhouse Inc Memphis, TN | Program Support | $50,000 |
| Alcy Ball Development Corporation Memphis, TN | Program Support | $40,000 |
| World Relief Memphis, TN | Program Support | $40,000 |
| Beautiful Spirited Women Memphis, TN | Program Support | $33,000 |
| Creative Aging Memphis, TN | Program Support | $25,000 |
| Dorothy Day House of Hospitality Inc Memphis, TN | Program Support | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation’s filing type is Form 990-PF, a private foundation. In 2025, 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $17,513,616 | $806,030 | $1,011,250 | $691,550 | 27 | $798,588 | $583,758 | $822,561 |
| 2024 | $17,073,239 | $1,045,596 | $1,110,696 | $635,300 | 30 | $741,075 | $834,807 | $790,849 |
| 2023 | $15,738,522 | $954,754 | $980,690 | $475,000 | 25 | $569,921 | $724,629 | $763,507 |
| 2022 | $14,922,943 | $1,400,812 | $1,157,967 | $619,750 | 28 | $865,719 | $1,066,567 | $799,656 |
| 2021 | $18,180,278 | $673,963 | $1,028,032 | $629,000 | 38 | — | $442,962 | $849,735 |
| 2020 | $15,701,335 | $420,219 | $1,022,360 | $703,500 | 37 | — | $192,908 | $725,566 |
| 2019 | $15,215,250 | $765,027 | $1,015,150 | $671,533 | 38 | — | $507,721 | $738,865 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $823K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to create and sustain a welcoming community for all Memphis by supporting and leveraging nonprofit organizations and leaders. It supports work that transforms and impacts Memphis, elevates educational achievement, contributes to socioeconomic advancement, promotes community pride, and encourages a sense of welcome and neighborly action.
Funding may support annual operating activities that help existing efforts scale, capacity building, capital support, innovative efforts, multi-year gifts, and programs or projects. The foundation says it does not fund debt reduction or legal services, endowments, government agencies, hospitals or healthcare initiatives, primarily religious activities, public or private schools or school districts, seminars, or sponsorship activities.
Examples of grantees illustrate the range of work supported. Overton Park Conservancy, which received $70,000 in 2025, describes its mission as managing the forest and parkland areas of Overton Park. Circuit Playhouse Inc, which received $50,000, says it produces a diverse repertoire of theater for the Memphis community and provides artistic, access, outreach, and educational opportunities. Alcy Ball Development Corporation, awarded $40,000, says it connects and empowers neighborhood residents to develop a thriving community. Dorothy Day House of Hospitality, awarded $25,000, says it provides whole families with shelter, food, clothing, social services, and assistance with permanent housing, employment, and education or vocational training.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 27 grants totaling $691,550 in 2025, compared with 30 grants totaling $635,300 in 2024 and 25 grants totaling $475,000 in 2023. In 2025, grants ranged from $100 to $70,000, with a median of $20,000. The foundation’s FAQ describes annual giving as about $750,000, divided between two funding cycles, and says it reviews around 12 proposals per cycle—10 for Core Funding and two for the Equity Fund. It occasionally makes multi-year grants.
Among the largest 2025 awards were $70,000 to Overton Park Conservancy, $60,000 each to Neighborhood Christian Center and RedZone Ministries, $50,000 each to Christopher A Pugh Center and Circuit Playhouse Inc, and $40,000 each to Alcy Ball Development Corporation and World Relief. These grants were listed for program support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation lists Donna Nash as Executive Director. Its 2025 board members are Allison Cates, Erika Conley, Meg Crosby, Lynn Evans, Larry Jensen, Demetri Patikas, Douglas Scarboro, Carol Seamans, Rufus Smith, J. Lawrence Turner, Kathy Gale Uhlhorn, and Hunter Witherington.
Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc is led by Donna Nash, Executive Director since 2022 (on filings since 2021); 1 of 12 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Donna Nash
Executive Director
Executive Director Starting Dec → Executive Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$58K (2021) → $67K (2025)
Allison cates
Chair & Director
Review Committtee Chair & Director → Vice Chair & Director, 2022
Vice Chair & Director → Chair & Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$400 (2019) → $0 (2025)
carol Seamons
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$400 (2020) → $0 (2025)
demetri patikas
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$400 (2019) → $0 (2025)
DOUGLAS sCARBORO
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$400 (2019) → $0 (2025)
hunter witherington
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$400 (2019) → $0 (2025)
KENNETH S ROBINSON
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$200 (2019) → $0 (2025)
v lynn evans
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$200 (2019) → $0 (2025)
Larry Jensen
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rufus Smith
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Keva Latham
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
meg crosby
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$400 (2019) → $0 (2025)
Former officers (5)
- Former: Gwen P. Owen (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: James D. Witherington Jr. (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Lawrence Jenson (2019–2021) — Vice Chair & Director
- Former: Margaret Craddock (2019–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Kathleen D. Blair (2019–2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $67K, to Donna Nash (Executive director).
Frequently asked questions about Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc
How much does Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc give each year?
Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc gave $692K across 27 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $635K across 30 grants.
What is Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $25,613, across 27 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc that year got $18K on average.
Where does Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc give grants?
Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc gives mostly in Tennessee: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Memphis, TN (25 grants).
Does Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (27 grants).
Who are Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Overton Park Conservancy ($70,000), Neighborhood Christian Center ($60,000) and RedZone Ministries ($60,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc?
Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc reported $17.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $799K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $823K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s mission is to create and sustain a welcoming community for all Memphis by supporting and leveraging nonprofit organizations and leaders. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc?
The foundation’s website says applications are by invitation. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc's EIN?
Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-6039986. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 29, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 7, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/thomas-w-briggs-foundation-inc-morg_654ec72b569e42148e6abdf7174dbcc2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_626039986_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/thomas-w-briggs-foundation-inc-morg_654ec72b569e42148e6abdf7174dbcc2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc'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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