Animal Welfare

Organizations who provide necessary care and resources to care for animals and wildlife across Middle Tennessee.

Funding Goals:

• Increase free or low-cost spay/neuter services and educational programming on the effects of pet overpopulation
  Sponsor retention programs that would help keep pets in low-income homes.
• Provide a safe and healthy home for a pet available for adoption
• Promote education and the humane treatment of animals through animal adoptions, injured animal rescue, and the use of animals for therapeutic services for people.

Nonprofits may request grants up to a maximum of $15,000.

Lillian Ashley Fund

Lillian Ashley, a Manchester, Tennessee native, lived a wonderful life filled with extensive travel, but Lillian always wanted to give back to the community she loved. She created this endowment to benefit the children, animals, and the environment and conservation efforts of Coffee County.

Funding Goals

• Support for the wellbeing of children and youth
• Provide for the care and welfare of animals, and
• Support environment and conservation efforts

Organizations located in Coffee County are welcome to apply for consideration for funding from the Lillian Ashley Fund for Coffee County.

Nonprofits may request grants up to a maximum of $20,000.

Bellevue Community Foundation

In 2007, the Bellevue Community Fund was established in association with the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee with a goal to grow the fund and create a pool of charitable dollars to support programs serving the Bellevue Community. In 2020, the name evolved to become the Bellevue Community Foundation, an organization committed to working in collaboration with like-minded civic organizations in Bellevue.

Organizations located in the Bellevue area (37221 zip code) are welcome to apply for consideration for funding from the Bellevue Community Foundation.

Nonprofits may request grants up to a maximum of $5,000.

Community Foundation for Dickson County

Established in 1999, Community Foundation for Dickson County promotes the quality of life in Dickson County and provides a way for citizens to make lasting gifts for the improvement and benefit of future generations. The Foundation serves as an endowment that will benefit the community in perpetuity. At the onset, The Community Foundation for Dickson County selected three categories to address: improved education, invigorated leadership, and an enhanced quality of life.

Funding Goals

• Support for environmental efforts
• Support the needs of youth and the elderly, and
• Preservation of historical places in the Dickson County

Organizations located in Dickson County are welcome to apply for consideration of funding from the Community Foundation for Dickson County.

Dickson County Nonprofits may request grants up to a maximum of $5,000.

Community Foundation for Dickson County

Education Grant Program

The Community Foundation for Dickson County supports local public schools to address unmet needs within the community. The leadership of The Foundation works to find long-term solutions, make an impact, and fund programs that will benefit the community for years to come. The Community Foundation annually award its Education Grants to public schools to enrich and enhance the educational opportunities for the children and youth of Dickson County. Dickson County Public Schools may request grants up to a maximum of $5,000.

TIMELINE

Application Opens — April 1, 2025

Application Deadline — May 31, 2025

Awards Announced — August 2025

Grant Cycle — September 1, 2025 — August 31, 2026

Community Foundation of Rutherford County

Established in 2017, Community Foundation of Rutherford County promotes the betterment of Rutherford and Cannon Counties and provides a way to make lasting gifts for the benefit of nonprofits in our community.

Organizations located in Rutherford and Cannon Counties are welcome to apply for consideration of funding from the Community Foundation of Rutherford County.

Rutherford and Cannon Nonprofits may request grants up to a maximum of $3,000.

Ernest and Selma Rosenblum Fund for the Performing Arts

Ernest and Selma Rosenblum always valued music and the performing arts. Born in Chausy, Russia, Ernest and Selma immigrated to Nashville, Tenn. in the early 1900s. Ernest was an accomplished violinist, Selma played the piano, and to the delight of their eight children, their house was always filled with music, song and dance. In 2008, Dr. Marvin J. Rosenblum, son of Ernest and Selma, established the Fund in honor of his parents, who considered music and the performing arts a vital part of life and education.

While the arts play an integral part in the lives of Middle Tennesseans, exposure and education are a constant priority to maintain that. From grand orchestras to a theater in the heart of a small town, the spirit of Ernest and Selma Rosenblum can be heard and felt across Middle Tennessee. The tradition of the Rosenblum family is carried on so others can be as enriched as they were.

Funding Goals

• Support for Performing, Musical, and/or Related Arts

Nonprofits may request grants up to a maximum of $15,000.

William N. Rollins Fund for the Arts

Bill Rollins’ passion was the breathtaking and intricate collages he created from origami paper. A Nashville native, Bill graduated from University School, attended college in Massachusetts, and then lived in Boston working in art galleries, staging art shows and painting. After returning to Nashville to continue pursuing his artistic dream, he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. He worked with his family and his advisors to create a legacy for himself and a continuing source of funding for the arts he loved.

Funding Goals

• Support primarily for Visual Arts programs
• Support for Arts Education programs
• Support for Art Therapy programs

Nonprofits may request grants up to a maximum of $15,000.

The Sports Fund

The Sports Fund exists to help ensure that children across this community can become part of activities using a team approach, such as sports, teams, troupes, to keep children and youth out of trouble, particularly in the critical afterschool hours

Funding Goals

• Organizations with programs using a team approach which provide children and youth with a sense of belonging and hope.

Nonprofits may request grants up to a maximum of $5,000.

The Women’s Fund

The Women’s Fund, an endowment fund within the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, is dedicated to fund long-term solutions to transform the lives of women and girls in Middle Tennessee.

Funding Goals:

• Increase Economic self-sufficiency for women;
• Improve strategies for the prevention of violence against women and girls;
• Promotion of health, well-being, and talent of women and girls.

The Women’s Fund grants:

• Are classified as unrestricted operating support. Funds may be used at the discretion of the organization to cover any costs necessary to carry out its core mission and programs within one of The Women’s Fund focus areas.
• Have a maximum grant award of $20,000 for organizations 3 years or older. Organizations under 3 years old may request up to a maximum of $5,000.
• Are prioritizing support for organizations with a total operating budget of less than $3,000,000.
• Are prioritizing support for organizations with the significant majority (75% or more) of its work focused on women and/or girls.