Aspire Foundation

Aspire Foundation is first and foremost an operating private foundation, not a traditional grantmaker. Its central charitable purpose is the development, operation, and stewardship of Always Aspire — a 370-acre public park and recreational campus at 777 Aspire Drive, Clinton, TN 37716 — which opened to the public on October 6, 2024. Grant seekers should approach this funder with that reality at the forefront: the foundation's primary 'giving' is the park itself, a multi-million-dollar community asset it owns and operates.

The Hollingsworth family — represented on the board by President Joseph A. Hollingsworth Jr., Director Jim Hollingsworth, and Director Lauren Nicole Hollingsworth — built the park over more than a decade and funds it largely through family capital contributions. All board members and Executive Director Mike Wallace serve without compensation, a strong signal that this is a values-driven, family-led organization where trust and community relationships are the currency of access. There is no published RFP, no open grant portal, and the foundation's application instructions are formally listed as none.

Documented external grantmaking is exceedingly sparse: $16,000 total (two grants of $8,000 each) to TN Valley Coalition for Homelessness, and a single $500 grant to Young-Williams Animal Center of East Tennessee in FY2024. These are the only verified third-party grants across the foundation's entire recorded history. The grant to the homelessness coalition aligns with the foundation's stated purpose of supporting Clinton's future and addressing community needs beyond recreation.

For organizations hoping to access any external grantmaking, the strategic path is relationship-first. There is no application cycle, no LOI process, and no submission form. First-time inquirers should focus on demonstrating deep roots in Anderson County or the greater Knoxville region, alignment with the Hollingsworth family's vision for Clinton's vitality, and a willingness to partner programmatically with the park itself. Organizations working in homelessness, youth development, conservation, or animal welfare in East Tennessee are the most plausible candidates based on available evidence.

Aspire Foundation's financial profile is dominated by its operating mission, making traditional grant analysis difficult. Here is what the data reveals:

Total Assets: $101.7M (FY2024), up from $69.4M (FY2023), $59.7M (FY2021), and $26.0M (FY2020). Asset growth has been rapid and non-linear, reflecting large capital contributions from foundation principals.

Revenue Trends: FY2024 revenue was $26.5M — a dramatic surge from $3.4M in FY2023 — driven primarily by $19.8M in contributions (75% of revenue), plus $4.2M in asset sales (15.9%), $2.0M in dividends (7.6%), and $379K in interest (1.4%). FY2021 similarly spiked to $31.3M in revenue due to a $5.8M contribution wave and $25.4M in net investment income. The foundation clearly benefits from significant ongoing infusions from the Hollingsworth family.

Charitable Disbursements: The 990 reports the following 'total giving' figures: $241,621 (2019), $469,412 (2020), $279,035 (2021), $849,772 (2022 and 2023), and $3.1M in FY2024. These figures overwhelmingly represent park construction costs, landscaping, infrastructure, and operational expenditures classified as charitable activity — NOT discretionary grants to external nonprofits.

External Grantmaking (Documented): The entire documented external grant history totals approximately $16,500 across two organizations: - TN Valley Coalition for Homelessness: $16,000 across 2 grants ($8,000 each), purpose: ending homelessness, geography: Tennessee - Young-Williams Animal Center of East Tennessee: $500, FY2024, purpose: animal welfare

Grant Size Range: $500 to $8,000 based on documented history. There is no evidence of large discretionary grants.

Geography: 100% Tennessee, strongly concentrated in the Clinton/Anderson County area and the broader Knoxville metro.

Program Areas: Recreation/parks (primary, via operating mission), homelessness services, animal welfare (secondary, via limited external grantmaking).

The foundation's balance sheet strength ($101.7M in assets, $99.7M in net assets) theoretically supports significant grantmaking expansion, but current practice reflects a tightly controlled family-operated model with minimal external distribution.

The foundations listed as peers in Aspire's database profile share a similar asset tier ($75M–$110M) and are categorized under Human Services, but they differ substantially in mission and grantmaking approach. Note that annual giving data for peers was not publicly available in searchable filings at time of research; figures marked N/A reflect data gaps rather than zero giving.

Aspire stands apart from its peer group in a fundamental way: while the others are categorized as Human Services funders with presumed external grantmaking activities, Aspire is an operating foundation whose charitable mission is embodied in a physical community asset — the Always Aspire park. Its NTEE code (N32: Parks and Playgrounds) more accurately reflects its work than the Human Services umbrella. For grant seekers evaluating where to invest relationship-building energy, Aspire requires a fundamentally different approach than peer foundations in this tier — one centered on programmatic partnership rather than proposal submission.

October 6, 2024 — Park Opens: After more than five years of planning and construction (rough grading began September 2019), Always Aspire opened its gates to the public. The 370-acre site in Clinton, TN features 17 multi-use hiking and biking trails, a high-energy bike park with pump track, a 6.6-acre wildflower meadow, Aspiration Mountain, the Clinch River boat launch, an off-leash dog park (Bark Park), an adventure playground, and The Pearl at Aspire restaurant (open Sunday–Thursday 11 AM–9 PM, Friday–Saturday 11 AM–10 PM).

Q4 2024 — Visitor Surge: The park welcomed over 208,000 visitors in its first three months — a remarkable figure for a small Tennessee city of approximately 9,500 residents, confirming regional draw across the Knoxville metro.

FY2024 — Financial Scale-Up: Total assets reached $101.7M (up 46.5% from $69.4M in FY2023). Contributions received jumped to $19.8M, suggesting major capital infusions concurrent with the park opening. Operational staff expanded to include Park Director Andrew Goodman ($70,300), Event Director Amanda Miller ($80,710), and Landscape Director Justin Coffey ($75,839) — the first year the foundation shows meaningful compensated staff.

FY2024 External Grant: A single $500 grant to Young-Williams Animal Center of East Tennessee — the only documented external grant this year.

March 2025 — Profile Update: The foundation's public profile was updated March 11, 2025, reflecting the newly operational status. No new grant programs or RFPs were announced at that time.

Given that Aspire Foundation maintains a preselected-only model with no published application process, the following tips are specifically tailored to navigating this funder:

1. Understand what you are dealing with. Aspire is an operating foundation, not a grantmaking foundation. Its charitable output is a park, not a checkbook. Any external grant from Aspire is discretionary and relationship-driven, not the result of a competitive process. Adjust expectations accordingly.

2. Geographic alignment is non-negotiable. Both documented external grantees are Tennessee-based nonprofits serving the Knoxville/East Tennessee region. Organizations operating outside Tennessee — or even outside the Knoxville metro — have essentially no documented pathway to funding.

3. Make the park your introduction. The best way to get on Aspire Foundation's radar is to show up at Always Aspire itself. Attend events at The Pearl at Aspire, use the trails, book a community event through their events team ((865) 463-7777), or bring a group of clients or program participants for a field trip (field trips require pre-scheduling). Physical presence at the park creates natural opportunities to meet Mike Wallace (Executive Director) and park leadership.

4. Lead with community impact, not grant need. The Hollingsworth family built this park to strengthen Clinton's future. Any pitch to Aspire should emphasize measurable community benefit in Anderson County, workforce outcomes, or quality-of-life improvements — not organizational need.

5. Align with documented giving areas. Homelessness services and animal welfare are the only documented external grant categories. Organizations in these areas have a slightly warmer entry point. Youth recreation, environmental education, or programs that could partner directly with the park's assets (trails, meadow, river access) are also logical mission-adjacent pitches.

6. Use the grants contact email. The contact mcannon@alwaysaspire.com has been publicly associated with grant inquiries. Send a brief, warm introduction letter (2–3 paragraphs) rather than a formal proposal. Ask for a 15-minute call.

7. Avoid cold proposals. Submitting an unsolicited formal proposal without a prior relationship is unlikely to generate a response given the foundation's informal, invitation-only model. Relationship cultivation must come first.