The Frist Foundation Grant

The Frist Foundation Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Frist Foundation
Last Updated: October 23, 2025

Summary

The Frist Foundation Grant focuses on enhancing the quality of life in Nashville and Middle Tennessee by funding nonprofit organizations. With over 40 years of commitment, it prioritizes projects addressing community challenges in areas such as Arts, Food Insecurity, Health Disparities, and support for underserved residents. The Foundation seeks to empower organizations through General, Technology, and Operational Grants, emphasizing sustainability and long-term impact without funding operational expenses or salaries.

Overview

Grants For over 40 years, we have been dedicated to sustaining and improving the quality of life in Nashville and the broader Middle Tennessee area by investing in nonprofit organizations. We focus on agencies that address significant community challenges in comprehensive and collaborative ways. Our Approach The Frist Foundation partners with agencies serving Davidson County residents in the following focus areas: Arts & Culture, Food Insecurity, Health Disparities, Immigrants & Refugees, Nonprofit Infrastructure, and Unhoused Neighbors. Types of Grants General Grants The Frist Foundation is interested in funding projects that will increase service capacity or ensure an organization’s long-term sustainability. These might include capital needs, the creation of earned revenue streams, or supporting consulting expenses for strategic planning or financial management. This does not include operational expenses, including salaries or programmatic expenses. Technology Grants The technology grant program is designed to help agencies work differently and more effectively using technology. In a rapidly changing environment, we see technology as integral to agency collaboration, data collection, workflow and improving the level of service to clients. This does not include hardware upgrades. Additionally, we provide annual support for Hands On Nashville’s GeekCause, which matches Nashville tech experts with community partners in need of their services. From tech consultation to solution implementation, GeekCause provides a low-cost platform for agencies to solve tech-based challenges through the support of skilled volunteers. We often recommend agencies reach out to GeekCause before applying for a technology grant. Operational Grants The Frist Foundation makes dozens of operational grants each year, the most significant being to The Frist Art Museum. The Foundation also supports organizations that we describe as “Nonprofit Infrastructure,” including The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, The United Way of Greater Nashville, Hands On Nashville, Community Resource Center, and Young Leaders Council, among others. Please note: The Foundation is not currently making new grants for operating or programmatic expenses.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Primarily serving Davidson County residents 501(c)(3) organization Operating for at least three years Updated profile on GivingMatters.com The organization’s focus area is in one of the following: Arts & Culture, Food Insecurity, Health Disparities, Human Services, Immigrants & Refugees, Nonprofit Infrastructure, and Unhoused Neighbors The grant request is in line with one of the grant focuses below

Ineligibility

ExclusionsOperational or programmatic expenses, including salaries Endowment or scholarship funding Event sponsorships Individual schools Hospitals or nursing homes Religious organizations for religious purposes Statewide initiatives