We welcome grant proposals from nonprofit organizations and entities of government located in and serving within the following 40 counties of Middle Tennessee: 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, Pickett, Perry, Putnam, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Van Buren, Warren, Wayne, White, Wilson, and Williamson.

If you have questions about eligibility, review the Program Grant Guidelines and for more information.

Yes, it does. Nonprofit organizations headquartered outside Middle Tennessee, even though their services may benefit local residents and communities, must have a local presence, i.e. physical address/office, local staff and board, and local banking institution

In 2024, the Program Grant deadline is on or before August 31. CFMT awards grants in mid-November. You will have one year (December 1, 2024 – November 30, 2025) to expend the awarded funds and to report your successes.

Yes. Your organization must have a 501(c)(3) designation or be an entity of government in order to apply for and receive funding.

A 501(c)(3) designation refers to the specific section of the Internal Revenue Code that defines a nonprofit organization as a public charity. For more information on the Code and how to obtain a 501(c)(3) designation, contact the Internal Revenue Service

No, entities of government will not have 501(c)(3). It is suggested that you contact CFMT for eligibility. Private schools are not eligible to apply for discretionary grants. For additional eligibility questions, please review the grant guidelines.

No. CFMT makes grants to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. We are unable to award grants to individuals, except in the case of scholarships, which are awarded directly to the educational institution on behalf of the student. If you are a student, please see the Scholars Section of CFMT’s website. If your family is in need of help, contact 211 for assistance.

CFMT is particularly interested in ideas that shed new light on the needs and aspirations of Middle Tennesseans with an emphasis on providing long-term solutions. Grants may be requested to support either general operations or program support.

CFMT has the ability to fund faith-based organizations. Through the Program Grant opportunity, however, we generally will not fund any 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.

Currently, CFMT does not provide multi-year grants.

While there is no limit to the number of grants an organization may receive, we strongly recommend that it not seek continuous funding for the same program year after year. CFMT should not be viewed as a source of permanent funding.

Yes. CFMT often receives far more requests than the available funding allows. In some instances, a thoughtful review of a grant proposal may lead to the funding of a specific portion of a grant application or to conclude that the need can be met through partial funding.

Other funding sources are critical. CFMT is rarely the sole funder of any proposal. Referencing other funding sources in your grant application indicates your organization’s strategic planning for the sustainability of the initiative beyond the grant cycle.

If time permits, we would be happy to review your proposal. We cannot promise that we will be available to help you if it is too close to the deadline. Please note that any suggestions or recommendations made by staff DOES NOT guarantee or constitute funding. To discuss your proposal, contact the Grants Team by email [email protected] or call at 615-321-4939

Board and community reviewers in addition to CFMT staff review Program Grants. Additionally, CFMT staff conducts preliminary research and site visits, where necessary. Reviewers contribute time, thought, and knowledge of our community to the process of reviewing applications. Recommendations are presented to CFMT’s Board of Directors for final approval.

No, it does not.

Nonprofits awarded grant funding will receive a grant agreement to sign and return before funding can be issued. They must accomplish what was described in the grant

proposal. Within that grant period, an organization may receive a site visit from a member of CFMT’s Community Impact team.

If there are changes, large or small, to your proposal either during the consideration of your proposal or after a grant is awarded, you will need to contact CFMT’s Grant Coordinator who will discuss the changes with you and advise you on how to proceed. DO NOT ASSUME that you are able to change the purpose of your grant without first consulting with the Grants Coordinator by email at [email protected] or by phone at 615-321-4939.

Yes. As an organization that has contributed funding to your program, Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee requires an interim and final report from you. These reports are an accounting of the program and fiscal results that were outlined in your organization’s grant request. The reports are part of your responsibility to CFMT as defined by the grant agreement that was given at the time of the grant award. Failure to submit your reports on time will affect consideration of future requests. We encourage you to share your insights into what worked and what did not. Through your candor and open feedback, we can learn more about the ingredients for program success. This, in turn, helps both your organization and ours meet our common goal of service to the community. 

The decision to decline a grant proposal is not necessarily a reflection on the value of the program. As a general rule, it only indicates that CFMT’s funds are limited. We receive many more requests to support programs than our relatively limited resources will permit. Feel free to reapply the following year, and as always, CFMT staff is available to answer questions. Contact the Grants Coordinator by email at [email protected] or by phone at 615-321-4939.

Visit https: givingmatters.civicore.com/nonprofitFAQs to learn more.