VF Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Hermitage, TN EIN: 81-6200122

VF Foundation is a private foundation based in Hermitage, Tennessee. In its 2024 filing, it reported making 22 grants totaling $326,500 to charitable organizations.

VF Foundation at a glance

In short: VF Foundation gave $327K across 22 grants in 2024 (avg $15K), top state Tennessee. 23% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$326,500
+8.8% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
22
+15.8% vs 2023
Average grant
$14,841
-6.0% vs 2023
Median grant
$11,500
Total assets
$6,441,907
+7.0% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
23% first-time grantees (5 of 22, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
Tennessee (39% 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 VF 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 237, Hermitage, TN 37076
Phone: (615) 377-4600

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who VF Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Elevate Ethiopia: $38KElevate Ethiopia$38KEqual Chance for Education: $35KEqual Chance for Education$35KHope Inc: $25KHope Inc$25KHype - Hope for Youth: $25KHype - Hope for Youth$25KBethany Christian Services: $20KBethany Christian Services$20KEthiopia Education Initiatives: $20KEthiopia Education Initiatives$20KSelamta Family Project: $20KSelamta Family Project$20KEpic Girl: $15KEpic Girl$15KHope for the Fatherless: $13KHope for the Fatherless$13KJustice and Hope USA NFP: $13KJustice and Hope USA NFP$13K

The largest 2024 recipient was Elevate Ethiopia ($38K). Together the top 10 received $223K.

Grant Size Distribution

91 grants across all recorded years

91<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 91 grants of 91 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2024 filing reports that 39% of grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee, 9% to California, 8% to New York, and 8% to Georgia. The filing also lists 7% under “?” without identifying a state.

Grant Distribution by State

18states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.

Cities

NashvilleAtlantaCastle PinesGrand RapidsHermitageNew YorkSan FranciscoClearwaterLake PlacidLos AngelesPompano BeachTaylorsvilleHeber CityJoplinLake ForestLebanonLouisvillePennsaukenRogersvilleRoscoe

Is VF Foundation open to new grantees?

23%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 5 of 22 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $17K. How we count

Medians: $6K first-time, $13K repeat.

  • 77% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 25% 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

$0$100K$200K$300K$400K13 grants2020 16 grants2021 21 grants2022 19 grants2023 22 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $173K (2020) to $327K (2024). In 2024 it made 22 grants totaling $327K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Elevate Ethiopia Hermitage, TNTo Promote Scientific, Educational, and Other Charitable Activities.$37,500
Equal Chance for Education Nashville, TNTo Promote Scientific, Educational, and Other Charitable Activities.$35,000
Hope Inc San Francisco, CATo Promote Scientific, Educational, and Other Charitable Activities.$25,000
Hype - Hope for Youth Atlanta, GATo Promote Scientific, Educational, and Other Charitable Activities.$25,000
Bethany Christian Services Grand Rapids, MITo Promote Scientific, Educational, and Other Charitable Activities.$20,000
Ethiopia Education Initiatives New York, NYTo Promote Scientific, Educational, and Other Charitable Activities.$20,000
Selamta Family Project Lebanon, TNTo Promote Scientific, Educational, and Other Charitable Activities.$20,000
Epic Girl Nashville, TNTo Promote Scientific, Educational, and Other Charitable Activities.$15,000
Hope for the Fatherless Castle Pines, COTo Promote Scientific, Educational, and Other Charitable Activities.$12,500
Justice and Hope USA NFP Roscoe, ILTo Promote Scientific, Educational, and Other Charitable Activities.$12,500
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$6,441,907$237,183$396,323$326,50022$330,100$170,960$314,296
2023$6,019,299$245,914$332,380$300,00019$303,600$217,134$283,953
2022$5,643,541$108,398$358,394$323,00021$326,600$106,068$297,231
2021$6,716,083$972,017$301,510$261,00016$264,600$239,699$286,676
2020$5,388,193$2,456,676$189,578$172,60013—$443,113$149,017

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, VF Foundation reported a distributable amount of $314K 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

The filing lists grant purposes as promoting scientific, educational, and other charitable activities. The grantees’ stated missions show the kinds of organizations supported, including those working in education, family services, and support for children and youth. For example, Elevate Ethiopia says it works with families through empowerment and education programs; Equal Chance for Education says it provides scholarships for college education; and Bethany Christian Services says it provides social services to protect children, empower youth, and strengthen families. These are the grantees’ missions, not stated missions of the foundation.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 22 grants totaling $326,500. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $37,500, with a median of $11,500.

Notable 2024 grants included $37,500 to Elevate Ethiopia, $35,000 to Equal Chance for Education, $25,000 each to HOPE Inc and HYPE – Hope for Youth, and $20,000 each to Bethany Christian Services, Ethiopia Education Initiatives, and Selamta Family Project.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists William L Vallett Jr as trustee. Anita J Vallett, William L Vallett III, and Alexandra Mai Vallett are listed as trust committee members.

VF Foundation's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • William L. Vallett Jr.

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • William L. Vallett III

    Trust Committee Member

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    $3K (2020) → $4K (2024)

  • Alexandra Mai Vallett

    Trust Committee Member

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Anita J. Vallett

    Trust Committee Member

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

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

William L Vallett III — Trust Committee Member: $4KWilliam L Vallett IIITrust Committee Member$4K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $4K, to William L Vallett III (Trust Committee Member).

Frequently asked questions about VF Foundation

How much does VF Foundation give each year?

VF Foundation gave $327K across 22 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $300K across 19 grants.

What is VF Foundation's typical grant size?

VF Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $11,500, and its average grant was $14,841, across 22 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from VF Foundation that year got $7K on average.

Where does VF Foundation give grants?

VF Foundation's top state is Tennessee, with 39% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (9%) and New York (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (3 grants).

Does VF Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on VF Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

Who are VF Foundation's largest grantees?

VF Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Elevate Ethiopia ($37,500), Equal Chance for Education ($35,000) and Hope Inc ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is VF Foundation?

VF Foundation reported $6.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $330K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $314K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does VF Foundation fund?

The filing lists grant purposes as promoting scientific, educational, and other charitable activities. The grantees’ stated missions show the kinds of organizations supported, including those working in education, family services, and support for children and youth. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from VF 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 VF Foundation's EIN?

VF Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-6200122. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does VF 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

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in VF Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). VF Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/vf-foundation-morg_107b9891017d4ba68a827dd765cf71d0

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_816200122_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{VF Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/vf-foundation-morg_107b9891017d4ba68a827dd765cf71d0},
  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 VF 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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