Akima Grant Program

Akima Grant Program is sponsored by Akima Club Inc.. This program provides program support to nonprofit agencies offering direct human and social services in Tennessee, typically within Knox County and the 865 area code.

Akima Grant Program — Akima Club of Knoxville The Akima Grant program provides financial support to several local nonprofit agencies. Since we are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, funding for our grants program is raised through Akima’s popular Cabaret event held every other year.

Thanks to the community support of our 2024 Cabaret, Akima Grants gave over $94,000 to over 50 agencies in 2024 and over $99,000 to 61 different agencies in 2025, which was the largest sum that Akima had given in their over 75-year history! This year’s Akima Cabaret once again made history! In our 78th year, 2026, we were again able surpass that record and award over $112,000 in grants given to over 60 different agencies!

These community agencies are very diverse - covering programs for people of all ages involving the arts, culture, science, medical services, and social services. Thank you to all the sponsors and attendees for making 2026’s Cabaret the most successful yet! Grant applications for 2027 will be available December 1, 2026, and are available by clicking the link below.

Complete grant applications are due by February 28, 2027, at 5:00 pm. If the application is not received in the format requested with all documents by the deadline, your application will not be considered for the 2026-2027 year. For further information or other questions about Akima’s Grant Program, please send any questions to grants@akimaclub.

org Grant Application Guidelines Download the 2026-2027 Grant Application Akima’s Recent Grant Recipients A Secret Safe Place for Newborns of Tennessee BLOC Ministries Knoxville Cancer Support Community of East Tennessee Catholic Charities of East Tennessee Church Street United Methodist Church (CSUMC) Compassion Closet of East Tennessee Concord Adult Day Enrichment Services Contact Helpline, Inc. dba Contact Care Line East Tennessee Kidney Foundation Epilepsy Foundation of East Tennessee Faith N Friends Horse Rescue and Sanctuary Florence Crittenton Agency Friends of Tennessee’s Babies with Special Needs Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians, Inc. Girls on the Run of Greater Knoxville Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation Hoof and Harness Experiential Learning, Inc. Horse Haven of Tennessee, Inc. Hospitality Pantries, dba FISH James White’s Fort Association, Inc. Joy of Music Youth Music School Corporation Knoxville Children’s Theater Knoxville Family Justice Center Knoxville Leadership Foundation Knoxville/Knox County CAC – Mobile Meals Knoxville/Knox County CAC – Daily Living Center Knoxville/Knox County CAC – Grandparents as Parents Knoxville/Knox County CAC - Project LIVE Koinonia Foundation of Tennessee Ladies of Charity Knoxville Neighboring Knoxville dba Laundry Love Olive Tree Early Learning Academy Pellissippi State Community College Foundation Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research Restoration House of East Tennessee (THR) Rowan Tree Foundation of East Tennessee, Inc. Royal Youth Dance Ensemble, Inc. Sacred Ground Hospice House Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding (STAR) University Health System, Inc. UTHSC Audiology and Speech Pathology Program 76 grant requests were received totaling $265,997.

15 68 grants totaling $112,507.

05 were awarded 17 grant projects were fully funded A Secret Safe Place for Newborns of Tennessee Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley CADES - Concord Adult Day Enrichment Services Cancer Support Community of East Tennessee Catholic Charities of East Tennessee Church Street UMC - formerly Beacon of Hope Contact Helpline, Inc. - dba Care Line East Tennessee Kidney Foundation Epilepsy Foundation of East Tennessee Faith N Friends Horse Rescue and Sanctuary Family Promise of Blount County Florence Crittenton Agency Fostering Hope Tennessee, Inc. Friends of Tennessee’s Babies with Special Needs GiGi’s Playhouse Down’s Syndrome Achievement Center - Knoxville Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians, Inc. Girls Inc. of the Tennessee Valley Girls on the Run of Greater Knoxville Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation Hospitality Pantries, dba FISH Junior Appalachian Musicians, Inc. - JAM Knoxville Children’s Theatre Knoxville Family Justice Center Knoxville/Knox County CAC – Project LIVE Knoxville/Knox County CAC – The Daily Living Center Knoxville/Knox County CAC – Mobile Meals Knoxville Symphony Society Koinonia Foundation of Tennessee Ladies of Charity Knoxville Nativity Pageant of Knoxville, Inc. Neighboring Knoxville dba Laundry Love Olive Tree Early Learning Academy Our Place Art Organization, Inc. Rocky Top Trykes Chapter of National AMBUCS, Inc. Sacred Ground Hospice House The Restoration House (THR) UTHSC Audiology and Pathology Program Volunteer Ministry Center YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley 73 grant requests were received totaling $255,628.

78 61 grants totaling $99,801. 18 were awarded 22 grant projects were fully funded