Haslam Family Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Haslam Family Foundation supports a variety of charitable organizations across its giving.
IP TAKE: The Haslam Family Foundation has evolved in recent years. This is the foundation of the elder Haslam, “Jim.” His son Jimmy and daughter-in-law Susan “Dee” Haslam, through Haslam Giving, have three foundations of their own: The Haslam 3 Foundation, Cleveland Browns Foundation, and Columbus Crew Foundation. Jim Haslam has two sons, Jimmy and Bill, who both serve on their parent’s foundation board, while managing their own, separate foundations with grantmaking distinct from their the Haslam Foundation.
The Haslam Foundation may be low profile, but it does accept contact, so don’t hesitate to reach out at the number below to learn about how to submit an application. Funding here will take some patience and networking. This funder’s grantmaking has increased rapidly in recent tax years, which means this is a great organization to keep in mind. This funder prefers to fund large, established organizations that can scale, but leaves some room for more local, mid-sized outfits as well. This is not a grassroots funder.
PROFILE: Established in 1998, the Haslam Family Foundation was founded by businessman James “Jim” Haslam and his wife Natalie. Jim founded Pilot Flying J, a truck stop company founded created in 1958. Jim Haslam graduated from University of Tennessee Knoxville in 1952. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Army Corps of Engineers. After returning stateside, Haslam bought a gas station in Virginia. The family-owned Pilot Flying J has grown from that beginning to include more than 750 travel centers across North America. His son, Jimmy, is now CEO. Natalie Haslam graduated from University of Tennessee Knoxville in 1952. She is active in civic life, including as a founding board member of Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Haslam family has been on the Forbes list of America’s richest families.
This funder prioritizes the organizations in Tennessee, but has given across the U.S. in pockets, particularly around Massachusetts and New York.
Grants for Education
While the Haslam Family Foundation keeps a low profile, it has conducted major gifts for education, but largely only to institutions with which the family is affiliated on a personal level. The Haslams’ education spending prioritizes their alma mater University of Tennessee, from where their son Jimmy also graduated. The institution is home to the Haslam College of Business.
Over the years, the couple has donated tens of millions of dollars to UT, including money for the football team’s practice field, Haslam Field, and a $32.5 million gift in 2006 that was used to construct the James A. Haslam II Business Building and the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center.
More recently, the Haslam Family Foundation gave $8,286,500 to the University of Tennessee Foundation and $2,230,000 to the Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education.
Grants for Sports
The foundation’s grantmaking also prioritizes youth sports. Through the vehicle, the Haslams have given millions to Field of Dreams, “a nonprofit dedicated to providing the opportunity for outdoor adventures to American veterans and special needs kids.”
Grants for Arts and Culture
This funder’s grants for arts and culture are purposefully broad in order to entertain a wider variety of organizations. However, museums and cultural institutions primarily benefit from grants here rather than small, grassroots organizations. Past grantees include the Knoxville Symphony Society, Tennessee State Museum Foundation, the Big Ears Festival, the Knoxville Zoological Gardens, Inc. among others.
Grants for Health
Like other areas of funding, health grants are broad and favor established organizations, like hospitals and university medical centers. Recent grantees include the University Health System, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and the Nantucket Cottage Hospital.
Grants for Human Services and Faith-based Organizations
This funder sometimes overlaps giving for human services with faith-based infused interests, which are centered on Christianity. Most efforts here focus on children and youth who have been abused, need shelter or other forms of support, but some funds go to organizations that invest in all demographics in Tennessee. Past grantees include Blount County Children’s Advocacy Center, Joni & Friends, Saint John’s Cathedral, and St. George’s Episcopal Church.
Important Grant Details:
Grants typically range between $10,000 to around $8 million, but this foundation has made grants much larger than this range. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking primarily focuses on Eastern Tennessee, but occurs throughout the state.
The foundation keeps a low profile but is open to contact. Letters should include a copy of the organizations IRS Determination Letter, the most recent annual report/audited financial statement/990, and a detailed description of project and amount of funding requested. Deadlines occur on May 31st and November 30th.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
CONTACT:
Todd Ellis
P.O. Box 52206
Knoxville, TN 37950
(865) 212-3800
