CFMT Community Impact Grants

The CFMT Community Impact Grants aim to foster a thriving and inclusive community in Middle Tennessee through unrestricted operating support for nonprofits. Focusing on arts and creative culture, child/youth development, and positive mental health, these grants empower organizations to address critical needs and enhance belonging within the community. Applications are accepted from 501(c)(3) public charities operating in designated counties, ensuring that funds directly benefit local populations and address their specific challenges.

Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
We understand its neighborhoods, its most pressing challenges, its unsung nonprofit heroes, and its emerging partnerships with the greatest potential.
Mission: Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee strives to build a more thriving and inclusive community — today and for generations to come — by transforming thoughtful generosity into positive change.
Community Impact Grants focus on three strategic priority areas that are essential for Middle Tennesseans to thrive and have a greater sense of belonging.
ARTS & CREATIVE CULTURE
Therefore, our Arts and Creative Culture Grants will invest in and partner with nonprofit organizations committed to ensuring greater cultural participation and equitable access to artistic experiences.
CHILD/YOUTH DEVELOPMENT & EDUCATION
Therefore, our Child/Youth Development and Education Grants will support nonprofit organizations or networks that implement holistic approaches to address the diverse needs of young people’s overall growth, success, and lifelong resilience – inside and outside of school.
POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH
We envision a Middle Tennessee where all residents thrive, belong, and experience positive mental health and well-being. Our Positive Mental Health Grants will support nonprofit organizations that provide mental and behavioral health services for vulnerable populations, especially children and youth, seniors, disabled/differently-abled communities, and caregivers.
Grant Request
Community Impact Grants are classified as unrestricted operating support. Funds can be used at the discretion of the organization to cover any costs necessary to carry out its core missional work within one of CFMT’s focus areas. Applicants may only apply to ONE focus area. Please choose the focus area that best describes your organization’s mission-aligned work. Grant awards are for a one-year term and requests must stay within our guidelines based upon the total size of the organization’s operating budget.

Eligibility

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee will accept Community Impact Grant Applications from:Nonprofit organizations legally chartered in Tennessee and in possession of a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service declaring the organization a public charity that is exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3). Nonprofit organizations must be headquartered in and serving the following Middle Tennessee counties: Bedford, Cannon, Cheatham, Clay, Coffee, Cumberland, Davidson, DeKalb, Dickson, Fentress, Franklin, Giles, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Marshall, Maury, Montgomery, Moore, Overton, Perry, Pickett, Putnam, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Van Buren, Warren, Wayne, White, Williamson, and Wilson.
Grant Application Eligibility:
To be considered for grants from Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT), all 501(c)(3) public charities MUST maintain a complete and updated profile on GivingMatters. com. Only organizations with current, published profiles will qualify for funding.Organizations that are entities of government (i.e., libraries, schools, etc). Government entities are exempt from the GivingMatters.com requirement.

Ineligibility

Organizations ineligible to apply:Nonprofit organizations headquartered outside Middle Tennessee even though their programming may benefit local residents and communities. Organizations must have a local presence, i.e., physical address/office, local staff and board, and independent financials.Private/Family Foundations.Private Schools (K-12th grades).Grantmaking Organizations. Funds from the Community Foundation cannot be used to regrant to other organizations.Houses of Worship.
Ineligible Requests
The Community Foundation will not make grants to any organization that does not provide direct services or that intends to use these funds to support other nonprofits. Unless there is compelling evidence that such support is vital to the success of a program meeting priority needs, the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s unrestricted and field-of-interest funds are highly unlikely to support:Individuals or individual projects.Lobbying activities/Political activities.Commissioned studies to educate policy makers and advocates.Purposes/Services outside our Middle Tennessee service area.Programs of a religious nature or programs requiring participation in religious activities or adherence to a particular set of beliefs as a condition for receiving services.