Special Interest Fund Grants

Special Interest Fund Grants is sponsored by Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. These grants provide programmatic support to organizations within specific focus areas. Organizations may apply for multiple Special Interest Grants if they meet the eligibility criteria for each fund.

Special Interest Grants FAQs – Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Click here to download the Special Interest Grants FAQs PDF Special Interest Grants FAQs Special Interest Grants FAQs What are Special Interest Grants? expand_more Special Interest Fund Grants provide programmatic support to organizations within specific focus areas. Grants from these funds have unique eligibility requirements.

Before applying, please review the Special Interest Grant Guidelines for details. • Bellevue Community Foundation • Community Foundation for Dickson County • Community Foundation of Rutherford County • Ernest and Selma Rosenblum Fund for Performing Arts • The Lillian Ashley Fund for Coffee County • William N. Rollins Fund for the Arts Who is eligible for a grant?

expand_more The Community Foundation welcomes grant proposals from nonprofit organizations classified as 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charities by the Internal Revenue Service and entities of government located in and serving Middle Tennessee. Organizations must have an updated GivingMatters. com profile.

Government entities are exempt from the GivingMatters. com requirement. How much funding can my organization request?

expand_more Each Special Interest Grant has a different maximum funding amount. Please refer to the Special Interest Grant Guidelines for the specific funding limits by grant type. Can I apply for multiple Special Interest Grants?

expand_more Yes. Organizations may apply for multiple Special Interest Grants if they meet the eligibility criteria for each fund. Does my organization need to be in a specific county to be eligible for Special Interest grants?

expand_more It depends.

The following funds have county restrictions for organizations: • Bellevue Community Foundation – open to organizations in 37221 zip code only • Community Foundation for Dickson County – open to organizations in Dickson • Community Foundation for Rutherford County – open to organizations in Rutherford and Cannon Counties • Lillian Ashley Fund for Coffee County – open to organizations in Coffee County Please refer to the Fund descriptions for more details.

How are grant decisions made? expand_more Applications are reviewed based on alignment with funding priorities, organizational capacity, and community impact. When will we receive funding if awarded?

expand_more Award notifications will be sent in June, and grants will be processed in July. What if my organization received funding last year? Can we reapply?

expand_more Yes. Organizations that previously received Special Interest Grants may reapply. Are Special Interest Grants renewable?

expand_more No. These are one-time awards. Organizations must reapply each year to be considered for future support. Does my nonprofit organization need a 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS before I can apply for and receive grant funding?

expand_more Yes, a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, public charity status is required. We are an entity of government (public educational institutions, departments of government, etc.). Do we need a 501(c)(3) designation?

expand_more No. Government entities (e.g., public schools, municipal departments) are eligible without a 501(c)(3) designation. Do you fund new organizations? expand_more While CFMT previously piloted JumpStart for new organizations, this program is currently on hiatus while under review.

We typically fund organizations that have been operating for two years or more. Can I apply for a grant from a Donor Advised Fund? expand_more With one exception, no. Of the 700+ donor advised funds at Community Foundation, only one—the Bonnaroo Works Fund —has an application process.

Does The Community Foundation fund faith-based organizations? expand_more Yes, but only when the program serves the wider community beyond its own members. We do not fund programs requiring religious participation or adherence as a condition for services.

What happens if my organization is awarded a grant but needs to modify the project? expand_more If you need to modify the use of funds, you must get written approval from CFMT before making changes. What if my organization’s work doesn’t fit within the special interest areas, is there any funding available for us?

expand_more Organizations whose mission aligns with the following Community Impact Grant focus areas may apply for funding through that program: • Arts & Creative Culture • Child/Youth Development & Education Before applying, review the Community Impact Grant guidelines for more details. Do I have to have a GivingMatters. com profile?

expand_more Yes. All 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, public charities must maintain an up-to-date GivingMatters. com profile to be considered for CFMT funding.

Government entities are exempt. For assistance with creating or updating a profile, email [email protected] . Does CFMT make multi-year grants?

expand_more Currently, CFMT does not provide multi-year grants. If my organization has received grants in the past, are there limitations to how many years we can receive grants? expand_more While there is no limit to the number of grants an organization may receive, we strongly recommend that it not seek continuous funding for the same program year after year.

CFMT should not be viewed as a source of permanent funding. Could my proposal be awarded less money than requested? expand_more Yes.

CFMT often receives far more requests than the available funding allows. In some instances, a thoughtful review of a grant proposal may lead to the funding of a specific portion of a grant application or to conclude that the need can be met through partial funding. Do we need to have other funding sources?

expand_more Will you review a draft of my proposal and offer comments? expand_more If time permits, we would be happy to review your proposal. We cannot promise that we will be available to help you if it is too close to the deadline.

Please note that any suggestions or recommendations made by staff DO NOT guarantee or constitute funding. To discuss your proposal, contact the Grants Team by email at [email protected] or call at 615-321-4939. Who reviews grant proposals?

expand_more Board and community volunteers, in addition to CFMT staff, review grant applications. Additionally, CFMT staff may conduct preliminary research and site visits, where necessary. Reviewers contribute time, thought, and knowledge of our community to the process of reviewing applications.

Recommendations are presented to CFMT’s Board of Directors for final approval. If I know members of CFMT’s Board of Directors, staff, or a donor, does it increase the likelihood that my proposal will be funded if I contact them? expand_more What happens after my organization’s proposal is funded?

expand_more Instead of submitting a separate final report, your organization’s next grant application will include a required section for reporting on grant impact, outcomes, and financial expenditures. This ensures that funding history is directly integrated into the review process for future funding. Also integrated into the application will be the Terms of Agreement.

Within that grant period, an organization may receive a site visit from a member of CFMT’s Community Impact team. What happens if my budget changes or there is a shift in the program from what was originally proposed?

expand_more If there are changes, large or small, to your proposal either during the consideration of your proposal or after a grant is awarded, you will need to contact a member of the Community Impact Team who will discuss the changes with you and advise you on how to proceed.

DO NOT ASSUME that you are able to change the purpose of your grant without first consulting with a member of the Community Impact Team by email at [email protected] or by phone at 615-321-4939. Will I need to submit reports? expand_more As an organization that has contributed funding to your program, Community Foundation may require a report outlining the impact the funding has had on your organization and the community it serves.

The reports are part of your responsibility to CFMT as defined by the grant agreement that was given at the time of the grant award. We encourage you to share your insights into what worked and what did not. Through your candor and open feedback, we can learn more about the ingredients for program success.

This, in turn, helps both your organization and ours meet our common goal of service to the community. CFMT declined to fund our proposal. Why?

Will we be able to submit another application next year? expand_more The decision to decline a grant proposal is not necessarily a reflection on the value of the program. It indicates that CFMT’s funds are limited.

We receive many more requests to support programs than our relatively limited resources will permit. Feel free to reapply the following year, and as always, Community Impact Team members are available to answer questions by email at [email protected] or by phone at 615-321-4939. Where can I learn more about the profile requirements for GivingMatters.

com? expand_more For any questions about your GivingMatters. com profile or guidance on getting started, please email [email protected] The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.