Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
/OVERVIEW: This funder supports Chattanooga, Tennessee and Greater Hamilton County in the areas of healthy behaviors/healthy environments, basic human needs/social services, neighborhood revitalization, immigrant population needs, college access, early childhood development, and public education.
FUNDING AREAS: Healthy behaviors/healthy environments, basic human needs/social services, neighborhood revitalization, immigrant population needs, college access, early childhood development, public education
IP TAKE: Unlike other community foundations in Tennessee, this one has a narrow geographic reach, funding only within Hamilton County. Grant seekers should send proposals with an especially local focus.
PROFILE: The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga (CFGC) was established in 1963 by local leaders in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It seeks to “encourage giving and inspire action to improve lives in the Chattanooga area. “ It has approximately $141 million under management across around 350 funds.
Nonprofits can apply for a grant from the Fund for Chattanooga, CFGC's primary grantmaking mechanism. A volunteer committee of community members governs and oversees the grant process. The committee reviews applications three times per year in the areas of program development and capital expenditure. General operating support is not typically provided. The maximum request for applications is $20,000, limited to only one application per funding area per organization each year.
Funding priorities include healthy behaviors/healthy environments, basic human needs/social services, neighborhood revitalization, immigrant population needs, college access, early childhood development, and public education. Overall, this funder supports programs that broadly serve Hamilton County, provide employment opportunities, generate matching funds, and serve disadvantaged populations. It considers funding for faith-based groups as long as the project serves diverse groups.
There is an online portal to submit grant applications. In the past, the first letter of intent deadline of the year has fallen in January. Full application deadlines are usually a couple weeks later, with grant decisions typically in early April.
In a recent year, CFGC made approximately $15 million in community grants. It has also awarded more than 1,000 scholarships to local students. View current financial data here. The foundation also assists nonprofits by housing their endowments and providing fiscal sponsorship.
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