When Lucas Hagerty launched The Literacy Fund through the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, his focus was on making a difference, one word at a time. By improving adolescent literacy rates in underserved communities, Lucas is turning his passion for reading into a meaningful impact.
“I’ve long believed in the power of literacy—not only as a great luxury but also as an incredibly effective tool,” Lucas shared.
His appreciation for literature had always been a part of his life, but once he transitioned from college into his working life, Lucas found himself reading less. To stay connected to the classics, he started Writt.org, an Instagram account where he shared quotes from great works of literature. What began as a personal hobby quickly grew into a community of followers and a platform for fundraising.
As the Instagram account gained momentum, Lucas saw an opportunity to take his efforts further. “We had this incredible following and started doing one-off fundraisers for literacy organizations in Nashville,” he explained. “Then we started to get to a scale where a fund made sense. And I’ve known about the Community Foundation for so long, that it was a no-brainer to come here.”
Lucas’s approach to grantmaking reflects his creative spirit. For the fund’s inaugural round of grants, he partnered with CFMT to identify three standout organizations focusing on literacy in Tennessee. But instead of traditional grant distribution, Lucas added a competitive twist. Each organization submitted a video explaining its mission and how it would use the funding, and followers of Writt.org voted on the grand prize recipient. “It was a fun way to not only provide funding but also give these organizations a platform to share their stories,” Lucas said.
Though The Literacy Fund is still in its early days, Lucas is already inspired by the potential impact. “We haven’t seen the full fruits of our funding yet, but just being able to shine a spotlight on these small-town organizations has been so heartwarming,” he said. “In these communities, even a few thousand dollars can go a long way.”
The challenges in improving literacy rates, particularly among underserved youth, remain significant. With shifting educational policies and limited resources in rural areas, Lucas believes grassroots efforts hold the key.
“The Literacy Fund is designed to empower local groups—those who are deeply embedded in their communities and know where they can make the greatest impact,” said Lucas.
Looking ahead, Lucas’s vision for The Literacy Fund is ambitious. “Scale is the goal,” he said. “Let’s give as much money as possible and try to work with other organizations to increase literacy across the state.”
