Funding search · democracy and civic engagement · Tennessee
Who funds democracy and civic engagement work in Tennessee
15 funders have a record of paying for democracy and civic engagement work by Tennessee recipients: 58 grants totaling $5.8M, most recently in 2024 — mostly grantmaking charities, which often run real application cycles. The largest by matched giving are Civic Tn ($814,318), Tennessee Investor Fund ($1.1M) and The Ford Foundation ($1.6M).
From IRS Form 990-PF and 990 Schedule I filings, 2019–2025. Grants already paid to Tennessee recipients — evidence of what these funders back, not open calls.
Civic TnNashville, TNCharity · may take applications
25 matching grants · $814,318 · through 2024Largest: $107,000 to TN IMMIGRANT & REFUGEE — civic engagement
Tennessee Investor FundNashville, TNCharity · may take applications
9 matching grants · $1.1M · through 2024Largest: $711,000 to ACTION TN — civic engagement
Largest: $700,000 to VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY — core support for the engine for art, democracy and justice project, a collaborative civic engagement initiative that advances art, science and scholarship
California Community FoundationLos Angeles, CACharity · may take applications
5 matching grants · $69,500 · through 2024Largest: $25,000 to CIVIC TN — civic engagement
The Community Foundation of GreaterChattanooga, TNCharity · may take applications
4 matching grants · $29,400 · through 2023Largest: $7,500 to CHATTANOOGANS IN ACTION FOR LOVE EQUALITY AND BENEVOLENCE — civic engagement coordinator project
Largest: $275,000 to THE EQUITY ALLIANCE — project grant will provide continued support to the equity alliance to improve civic engagement.
Public Media Group of SouthernBurbank, CACharity · may take applications
2 matching grants · $100,000 · through 2024Largest: $50,000 to NASHVILLE PUBLIC RADIO — funding for civic engagement project
Nmi FoundationChattanooga, TN
1 matching grant · $1.0M · through 2023Largest: $1.0M to COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER CHATTANOOGA — support: food, housing, and educational needs for those in poverty; nonprofits by providing funds for staffing, programs and infrastructure to make the organizations more efficient…
State VoicesWashington, DCCharity · may take applications
1 matching grant · $356,297 · through 2022Largest: $356,297 to CIVIC TN — public education and nonpartisan civic engagement
Committee On StatesRaleigh, NCCharity · may take applications
1 matching grant · $125,000 · through 2023Largest: $125,000 to TENNESSEE INVESTOR FUND — to support efforts to recruit donors, increase professional development opportunities, and review and vet non-partisan civic engagement plans
Largest: $65,000 to Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga — sankofa fund for civic engagement
The Oregon Community FoundationPortland, ORCharity · may take applications
1 matching grant · $25,000 · through 2024Largest: $25,000 to Youth Rising — civic engagement
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Start with one paperBroader: democracy and civic engagement funders nationally · all Tennessee-based grantmakers