Childrens Foundation Of Memphis

## Approach Strategy

The Children's Foundation of Memphis (CFOM) is a private foundation established in 1983 (tax-exempt since June 1983), headquartered at 700 Colonial Rd, Memphis, TN 38117. The foundation operates with a dual strategy: (1) anchoring a major pediatric research partnership and (2) supporting a curated portfolio of youth-serving community organizations. The foundation's primary grantee and signature achievement is the Children's Foundation Research Institute (CFRI), a tripartite partnership with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) and Le Bonheur Children's Hospital that has supported pediatric medical research since 1993. In 2010, CFRI opened a 300,000-square-foot Research Center dedicated to basic, translational, and clinical research, representing a significant capital investment in Memphis's pediatric research infrastructure. CFRI provides comprehensive support including lab space, safety assistance, grant submission services, budgeting, scientific editing, statistical assistance, and a K-R01 Club that trains junior faculty to successfully write NIH grants. Beyond CFRI, the foundation directs funds to a small number of exemplary youth-serving organizations that promote healthy early childhood development, school readiness, educational skills, academic achievement, and avoidance of high-risk behaviors such as drug abuse, violence, and teen pregnancy. The foundation serves children from infancy through age 21 in the Mid-South region. Leadership includes President Irene Ayotte, Vice President Llewellyn Hall, Secretary Melissa Grimes, and a board of approximately 30 directors and officers, all serving without compensation. The foundation's approach is notably selective and relationship-driven — it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not generally accept unsolicited proposals.

## Funding Patterns

The Children's Foundation of Memphis holds approximately $37.9 million in assets as of 2024, with revenue of $395,908 (primarily from dividends at $291,301 and contributions at $102,897). Total expenses in 2024 were $1,818,140, with charitable disbursements of $1,737,500 representing 95.6% of expenditures — an exceptionally high program-to-overhead ratio reflecting the foundation's lean operations. Historically, CFOM has maintained 9-14 grants annually, with a historical average grant of approximately $148,000. The grant range spans from $2,000 (small community grants) to over $1 million (CFRI institutional support). Major grantmaking patterns from 2019-2021 filings reveal three funding tiers:

Tier 1 — CFRI/Research ($500K-$1M+): The Children's Foundation Research Institute consistently receives the largest allocations, with grants of $1,010,100 (2019) and $525,000 (2020). This represents the foundation's core commitment to pediatric research infrastructure.

Tier 2 — Community Foundation Partnership ($500K-$900K): Substantial grants to the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis ($900,000 in 2020, $564,109 in 2021) suggest the foundation uses CFGM as a fiscal intermediary for broader community grantmaking.

Tier 3 — Direct Youth-Serving Grants ($2K-$150K): Smaller grants to organizations like Le Bonheur ($370,892), the Salvation Army ($150,000 for an outdoor pavilion), A Step Ahead Foundation ($75,000), Child Advocacy Center ($50,000), Agape Child & Family Services ($50,000), and Hope House ($2,000).

The 2024 reporting showed $0 in direct grants but $1,737,500 in charitable disbursements, suggesting possible timing differences in how grants versus disbursements are classified in the filing.

## Peer Comparison

The Children's Foundation of Memphis operates within a robust Mid-South philanthropic landscape for children's health and youth services.

Within Memphis's "Big Six" private foundations (Assisi, Hyde, Plough, Poplar, Pyramid Peak, and Urban Child Institute), CFOM is smaller in assets but distinctive in its deep research partnership model. While the Urban Child Institute also focuses on early childhood development through a research lens, CFOM's tripartite CFRI partnership with UTHSC and Le Bonheur is unique in directly funding research infrastructure (300,000 sq ft facility) and junior faculty development. The foundation's preselected grantmaking model limits its reach compared to foundations with open applications (Assisi, Plough) but enables deeper, more sustained relationships with a focused set of grantees.

## Recent Activity

The Children's Foundation of Memphis filed its most recent Form 990-PF in November 2025 for fiscal year 2024, reporting total assets of $37.9 million and charitable disbursements of $1,737,500. The foundation's 2024 filing showed a net operating loss of $1,422,232, reflecting disbursements exceeding investment income — a pattern consistent with endowment-funded foundations drawing down during lower-return periods. The CFRI partnership with UTHSC and Le Bonheur continues as the foundation's anchor program. The research center's ongoing activities include training new faculty through the K-R01 Club (monthly meetings teaching junior faculty to write NIH grants), providing comprehensive research infrastructure support, and facilitating basic, translational, and clinical research aimed at improving children's health outcomes. Le Bonheur Children's Hospital continues to serve as both a major grantee and a partner institution for the CFRI. The foundation's leadership has remained stable under President Irene Ayotte, with approximately 30 board members overseeing operations. The foundation's Wix-based website (childrensfoundationofmemphis.org) is operational but content-limited, consistent with a foundation that operates through preselected grantmaking rather than public solicitation. The broader Memphis youth-services sector includes 80 organizations employing 2,084 people with combined revenue exceeding $111 million, positioning CFOM's $1.7M in annual giving as a targeted, strategic contribution within a large and active ecosystem.

## Application Tips

The Children's Foundation of Memphis explicitly states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. This means unsolicited proposals are generally not reviewed. However, for organizations that believe their work aligns with CFOM's mission, here are strategic approaches:

1. Understand the preselection model: CFOM does not run open grant cycles. Funding decisions are made by the board of approximately 30 directors. Organizations must be identified and vetted by the foundation before they enter the grantee pipeline. This typically happens through board member relationships, referrals from existing grantees, and the foundation's own research.

2. Align precisely with children's health and well-being in the Mid-South: The foundation's IRS-mandated purpose is grants to tax-exempt organizations in the Mid-South area that provide for "the immediate health and well-being of children as well as providing for the future through research." Programs must serve children aged 0-21 in the Memphis/Mid-South region. Organizations outside this geography or serving adults are ineligible.

3. Request an application if aligned: The foundation indicates that organizations with aligned missions may "request application from foundation." This is likely limited to organizations already known to the board, but it represents a potential entry point. Timing matters — grant notifications typically occur in September, with deadlines within 6 weeks of notification.

4. Build connections through CFRI and Le Bonheur: The CFRI partnership represents the foundation's deepest commitment. Organizations with connections to UTHSC, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, or pediatric research infrastructure in Memphis have natural pathways to the foundation's leadership. Research faculty at UTHSC who participate in the K-R01 Club or CFRI programs may be able to facilitate introductions.

5. Focus on the foundation's three priority areas: Historically funded programs fall into three categories: (a) healthy early childhood development and school readiness, (b) enhanced educational skills and academic achievement, and (c) effective avoidance of high-risk behaviors. Organizations should demonstrate measurable outcomes in at least one of these areas.

6. Community Foundation as intermediary: The foundation has routed significant grants ($564K-$900K) through the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis. Organizations that are already CFGM grantees or fund recipients may have an indirect connection to CFOM's grantmaking pipeline.

7. Expect modest grant sizes for community organizations: While CFRI receives $500K-$1M+ annually, community youth-serving organizations typically receive $2,000-$150,000. Most direct service grants fall in the $50,000-$75,000 range.