The Tennessee Small Grants Program is a grant from the Tennessee Disability Coalition offering up to $15,000 per year to Tennessee 501(c)(3) nonprofits with annual budgets under $2 million. Established in 2008, the program builds organizational capacity in communities that are not yet serving people with disabilities but aim to do so.

Capacity building activities may include planning, staff development, program design, and operational improvements. Eligible applicants are Tennessee-based tax-exempt organizations and governmental entities committed to building a more inclusive society for people with disabilities and their families. Organizations may reapply in future cycles if declined.

Small Grants | Tennessee Disability Coalition 2026 TDC Member Legislation Disability Day on the Hill 2026 Tennessee Disability Scorecard Employment & Benefits Support Inclusive Workplace Practices 2026 TDC Member Legislation Disability Day on the Hill 2026 Tennessee Disability Scorecard Employment & Benefits Support Inclusive Workplace Practices Many organizations apply for grants each year, and the overall amount of funding requested far exceeds our resources.

Declined applications in no way reflect the worthiness of an organization’s mission or programming, and these groups are encouraged to apply again in future cycles. Since 2008, the Tennessee Disability Coalition has offered small grants to Tennessee IRS-designated tax-exempt organizations-501(c)(3) and governmental entities.

In keeping with the mission of the Coalition to help build a society that includes and values people with disabilities. The purpose of the small grants program is to build capacity in the disability community to serve individuals with disabilities and their families. Current funding opportunities are for one year, for up to $15,000.

The small grants program aims to provide funding to those who do not currently serve the disability community but are building their internal capacity to do just that. Nonprofit capacity building refers to activities that improve and enhance a nonprofit’s ability to achieve its mission and sustain itself over time. Capacity building involves all aspects of a nonprofit’s activities.

When capacity building is successful, it strengthens a nonprofit’s ability to fulfill its mission over time and enhances the nonprofit’s ability to have a positive impact on lives and communities. Many organizations apply for grants each year, and the overall amount of funding requested far exceeds our resources.

Declined applications in no way reflect the worthiness of an organization’s mission or programming, and these groups are encouraged to apply again in future cycles. The Small Grants Program is not accepting proposal applications at the moment. What is Capacity Building?

Definition of capacity building adopted by the Board of Directors in June 2018: CAPACITY BUILDING is not just about the capacity of a nonprofit today — it’s about the future.

Distinct capacity building projects such as identifying a communications strategy, improving volunteer recruitment, developing a leadership succession plan, identifying more efficient uses of technology, and engaging in collaborations with community partners — all build the capacity of a charitable nonprofit to effectively deliver its mission in the future.

When capacity building is successful, it strengthens a nonprofit’s ability to fulfill its mission over time and enhances the nonprofit’s ability to have a positive impact on lives and communities. ~ National Council of Nonprofits Projects/organizations in the State of Tennessee that are IRS-designated tax-exempt organizations, 501(c)(3), and government entities.

Projects/Organizations with an unrestricted annual budget of less than $2 million. Please remember that prior grant award recipients cannot reapply for two years, except for topic-specific grant cycle recipients. The timeline to reapply starts after the end date on your last grant agreement.

What The Small Grants Program does NOT fund? The small grants program does NOT fund: Previously funded projects Individual or family grants Replacement of lost funding Reimbursement for purchases previously made View past funded projects The TDC uses JotForm as our electronic submission platform because of its accessibility. But we do realize that it might not be accessible for everyone.

If you need an alternative way to submit your proposal, please email Carrie Carlson at [email protected] You will receive an email via JotForm confirming your submission (check your junk). If you do not receive confirmation, please email [email protected] By the end of November, all applicants will receive an email stating the status of your submission. Depending on the volume of applications, this could be sooner or later.

If your application is funded: You will receive a grant agreement to sign and return. Please read this agreement! There are additional and important details included.

Once your agreement has been signed and returned, you will receive an email to complete your Bill. com profile. If you already have Bill.

com, you can link to that account. If you complete your Bill. com account you will receive your first installment, the second full week in January.

Please see your funding agreement for disbursement dates. After you have submitted your funding agreement, you will receive an email from our finance team for you preference in how you will receive your funds. You can either use bill.

com, which will allow you to get electronic deposits, or you can get a check mailed to you. Please not that if you do not fill this out you will get a check mailed to you via snail mail. Please contact the staff liaison if you do not receive an email, your installment, or have any questions or concerns.

Your five-month report is the key to getting your second installment! If your five-month report is late – your second installment will be late. If you do not submit a five-month report, you will not get your second installment.

If your five-month report is not approved, your second installment will be paused until you provide additional and approved details. All grantees will be required to submit two (2) reports: A five-month progress report, with a current budget. A final report, including a final budget, is required within four weeks following the end of the project term.

Please note: You will receive a JotForm link to submitting these reports. Reports submitted in alternative formats will not be accepted, unless you have prior authorization. Your report submission dates are on your funding agreement.

All reports are submitted through JotForm. Submitting your report in alternative (email, word document, pdf, etc…) formats will not be accepted. A five-month progress report, with a current budget: A link will be emailed to you no less than 30 days prior to your report due date!

View 5 Months Report Some funded projects will have thing to address in your reporting. Please make sure that you address those things in your report. Those additional questions/items are attached to your report for the review committee.

The review committee has ten days to review and respond to reports. As a grantee it is you’re responsibility to answer any additional questions in a timely manner; however you are required to answer them within ten days. Remember, if the questions are from your five-month report, your second installment will be late.

After your grant is completed with the TDC — We would LOVE to get updates and be able to highlight the continued success of your program and project. Let us continue to support your initiatives. Grant funds are disbursed in two (2) installments: Funding agreements include disbursement dates.

Once you have returned the signed Funding Agreement to the TDC staff liaison, your funding process will begin. Once the small grants committee has approved your five-month report, the second installment will be processed. Late report submissions or reports that are not approved can delay your second installment.

Grant funds must be used during the designated grant year. Funds cannot be used for past expenses or to reimburse the program for expenses that were paid before the first award was deposited. If grant funds are not exhausted, the excess funds must be returned to the TDC.

If grant funds are used for expenses that are not outlined in the proposed budget, those funds must be returned to the TDC. Grant awards are not considered gifts or charitable donations. For more information, contact: Director of Community Engagement Email: ada@tndisability.

org smallgrants@tndisability. org If you would like to receive notifications from the Small Grants Program, use this link to register your email address Please note: we do NOT send out a ton of emails! coalition@tndisability.

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