First Horizon Foundation

First Horizon Foundation is the corporate charitable arm of First Horizon Corporation, a Memphis-headquartered bank with a 12-state Southeastern and mid-Atlantic banking footprint. Its giving philosophy is inseparable from the bank's geographic presence — organizations in communities where First Horizon operates hold a decisive structural advantage, and establishing that community connection is the first qualification to demonstrate in any application.

The foundation operates on two distinct giving tracks. The General Grant Program is an annual, open-application cycle for 501(c)(3) nonprofits, offering grants typically ranging from $500 to $50,000. Applications open October 1 each year with region-specific deadlines and dedicated contact staff managing review. The second track is strategic or leadership-level giving — six- and seven-figure multiyear commitments to anchor institutions. The $2.5 million committed to Church Health (October 2025) and $1 million to Baptist Health Sciences University (March 2025) both fall in this category. These gifts do not come through the general portal; they emerge from years of relationship cultivation between nonprofit leadership and foundation principals, including Chairman Charles Burkett and Contributions Manager Lockie Wade.

For first-time applicants, the General Grant Program is the appropriate entry point. The foundation describes itself as accessible and welcomes unsolicited applications — but alignment with one of its five focus areas is non-negotiable: Arts & Culture, Education & Leadership, Environmental Sustainability, Financial Literacy, or Health & Human Services. The foundation does not fund individuals, K-12 schools directly, operating budget deficits, political organizations, or charities that primarily redistribute funds to other organizations.

Relationship investment pays dividends here. Connecting with the regional Contributions Manager before submitting — and following up after decisions are issued — builds the name recognition that eventually opens doors to larger, multiyear commitments. The Grants for Good initiative ($10,000 per award, 160 organizations in 2024) offers a lower-barrier entry point for smaller nonprofits or those new to this funder.

Total annual giving has grown from approximately $5.4 million in FY2013 to $16.1 million in FY2023 — nearly a 3× increase. With $55.2 million in assets as of FY2024 and the parent corporation reporting record profits in 2025, the foundation is well-capitalized for continued generosity across all five focus areas.

First Horizon Foundation's grantmaking has scaled dramatically over the past decade. Annual giving grew from approximately $5.4 million in FY2013 to a peak of $25.1 million in FY2022, before settling to $16.1 million in FY2023 — nearly 3× the 2013 baseline. This growth mirrors the bank's geographic expansion through acquisitions and reflects deliberate increases in corporate endowment contributions. The foundation has distributed more than $170 million in total grants since its 1993 founding.

The grant range is intentionally wide. The General Grant Program spans $500 to $50,000, with the working median likely $10,000–$25,000 based on the Grants for Good structure (160 grants at exactly $10,000 each, totaling $1.6 million in 2024). Strategic leadership gifts operate at an entirely different scale: $650,000 to Arts Memphis Foundation (2022), $1 million to Baptist Health Sciences University (March 2025), and $2.5 million to Church Health (October 2025) represent the foundation's highest-stakes investments.

By focus area, Health & Human Services commands the largest share — fed by United Way partnership grants, hospital capital campaigns, and the Church Health leadership commitment. Education & Leadership is the second-largest category, with strong emphasis on after-school programming, financial literacy curricula, and higher education. Arts & Culture has a consistent presence through Memphis cultural institutions. Environmental Sustainability is the smallest priority, represented by grants to organizations like Ducks Unlimited and Memphis Botanic Gardens Foundation.

Geographically, Tennessee — particularly the Memphis metro — accounts for the largest share of grantmaking. The 12-state footprint (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia) is active through region-specific contacts and application windows, but Tennessee organizations have the deepest institutional relationships.

Financial trajectory: FY2023 assets peaked at $62.5 million following a $55.3 million corporate contribution infusion; FY2024 assets declined to $55.2 million as grantmaking drew down reserves at a consistent pace. Net investment income has ranged from $879K (FY2020) to $3.4 million (FY2013), providing a reliable base. Officer compensation — held at $160,000 annually through FY2023 for Chairman Charles Burkett — indicates lean administrative overhead relative to total giving volume.

First Horizon Foundation occupies a distinct niche as a mid-sized corporate bank foundation with strong regional identity, an accessible general application process, and a dual-track giving structure that spans from $500 community grants to multi-million-dollar leadership investments.

First Horizon Foundation compares favorably to peer bank foundations like Regions Foundation in terms of geographic scope and programmatic breadth, but distinguishes itself through an unusually accessible open-application process at the general grant level — many comparable corporate foundations operate primarily through invited proposals. Relative to local Memphis peers like the Assisi Foundation, First Horizon is more geographically dispersed (12 states vs. Assisi's Memphis-centric focus) but covers a broader thematic range beyond health alone. The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, while larger, is donor-directed and operates differently; First Horizon's focused five-area framework means sharper alignment requirements but also clearer signals about what will succeed. For organizations seeking a bank foundation peer with transparent timelines and named regional contacts, First Horizon represents one of the most applicant-friendly corporate funders in the Southeast.

First Horizon Foundation entered 2025-2026 with an elevated pace of major commitments that signals growing philanthropic ambition. The most significant was a $2.5 million grant to Church Health (Memphis), announced October 29, 2025 — supporting affordable whole-person healthcare for uninsured individuals. First Horizon Corporation CEO Bryan Jordan personally delivered remarks, stating that "strong communities begin with healthy individuals." The gift includes a naming honor: the Community Room at Church Health's Crosstown Concourse headquarters carries the First Horizon Foundation name.

In March 2025, the foundation announced a $1 million capital grant to Baptist Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine — the largest donation in that program's history — for construction of the First Horizon Atrium. Paid over five years, the gift advances healthcare access for underserved Memphis populations.

In August 2025, a rapid-response $25,000 disaster relief grant to the American Red Cross of Southeast Tennessee following Chattanooga flooding demonstrated off-cycle giving capacity outside the standard annual program.

In April 2026, Nashville associates funded 60 bikes for underserved first-graders through Can'd Aid, while Memphis commercial banking associates presented a $25,000 grant to Neighborhood Christian Center for mobile food pantry distribution to 300+ families — illustrating the associate engagement model that sits alongside formal grantmaking.

No leadership changes have been publicly announced. Gregg Lansky continues as President/CFO and Lockie Wade as Contributions Manager for Memphis. The Grants for Good campaign remains the foundation's broadest reach program; its 2024 cycle received 3,500+ applications for 160 available $10,000 slots.

Success with First Horizon Foundation requires understanding its dual-track structure and positioning your organization accordingly on the correct pathway.

Know your track. The General Grant Program (open October 1, $500–$50,000) is appropriate for established nonprofits seeking program or project support. The leadership giving track ($1M+) requires existing institutional relationships — do not attempt to solicit at that scale through the application portal.

Reach out to your regional contact before October 1. The foundation publishes named contacts by region: Lockie Wade (LWade@firsthorizon.com) for Memphis/Shelby County and Jackson; Abbey Lane (abbey.lane@firsthorizon.com) for Nashville; Emily Scheuneman (emily.scheuneman@firsthorizon.com) for Knoxville; Tiffany Greer (Tiffany.greer@firsthorizon.com) for Bristol/Northeast TN; Pinky Young (pcyoung@firsthorizon.com) for Chattanooga. A brief introductory email in September — describing your mission and intended request — can shape your framing before you formally apply.

Lead with quantified community impact. The foundation tracks "lives impacted" as a core output metric and publicly cites 25,000+ as a cumulative milestone. Proposals should be specific: "will serve 450 uninsured adults in Shelby County annually" outperforms "will support the community." Vague impact language is the single biggest differentiator between funded and declined applications at this funder.

Align with high-priority focus areas. Health & Human Services has received the largest recent commitments. Financial literacy — especially for youth — is explicitly identified by insiders as a "promising area." Education proposals that combine teacher effectiveness with financial literacy curricula have a documented track record of success.

Avoid the most common exclusion triggers. K-12 schools are ineligible (the foundation funds education-adjacent nonprofits, not schools directly); requests to fund operating budget deficits are explicitly excluded; organizations outside the 12-state footprint are not considered. State your 501(c)(3) status and geographic operating area in the first paragraph of any proposal.

Consider the Grants for Good entry point. For newer organizations, this $10,000 program (3,500+ applicants for 160 slots) is competitive but represents the foundation's most accessible pathway. A Grants for Good award builds a track record that strengthens future general program applications.