Haslam Giving
/OVERVIEW: The Haslam Giving, broken down between three foundations, primarily funds grantmaking related to “education, youth sports, health and human services, the arts, parks and public spaces, and social justice.”
IP TAKE: The Haslam Family has been ramping up giving in recent years and expanding its philanthropic profile. Initially, Jimmy and Dee Haslam’s grantmaking flowed through the Haslam 3 Foundation, but now flows through Haslam Giving, which consolidates three separate foundations. Through that evolution, the Haslams have also expanded their funding interests. Grantmaking mostly serves Knoxville, Tennessee and Cleveland, Ohio, but occurs throughout Tennessee, as well as a handful of grants to organizations across the U.S., largely in Massachusetts and New York. Both Jimmy and Dee Haslam were raised in Knoxville and still have strong ties there.
Overall grantmaking is not accessible as this funder does not appear to accept unsolicited applications. However, the family’s Cleveland Browns Foundation accepts requests for in-kind donations or coach and team member appearances. The Columbus Crew Foundation offers similar support. Much of the Haslams giving intersects across sister foundations, especially in the youth sports, justice and education areas. These funders are open to contact, but not as transparent about giving through a grants database.
PROFILE: Established in 2001, the Haslam 3 Foundation was founded by billionaire couple Susan “Dee” and James “Jimmy” Haslam, who own the Cleveland Browns. Since its founding, Haslam 3 has evolved into Haslam Giving, a philanthropic umbrella for the Haslam 3 Foundation, which has no website, the Columbus Crew Foundation, and the Cleveland Browns Foundation. The Haslams believe “believe that by investing in programs and initiatives that strengthen communities, children and families will have access to the tools they need to be successful.”
Dee and Jimmy Haslam play an active role in several companies and in the communities in which they live. They divide their time between Tennessee and Ohio. The couple are also part of the majority operating group for Columbus Crew SC. After the family acquired the “Crew in 2019, they formed the Haslam Sport Group (HSG). In addition to operating the Crew and the Browns, HSG also explores various investment opportunities within the sports and entertainment industries.”
Since, 1996, Jimmy has served as the CEO of Pilot Flying J, a truck stop company founded in 1958 by his father, also named James or “Jim.” The Pilot Flying J travel center network includes locations in most of the U.S. and six 44 Canadian provinces. Dee, an Emmy-nominated TV producer, served as the executive producer and CEO of RIVR Media Companies since launching RIVR Media in 1999. She transitioned from her role as CEO at RIVR Media in early 2018 to devote more of her time to Cleveland but remains a partner and executive producer. The couple work closely together across both business and philanthropy.
Haslam Giving, beyond its sister foundations, features six grantmaking areas: Education, Social Justice, Youth Sports, Parks & Public Spaces, Arts, and Health & Human Services.
Grants for Education
The Haslams make grants for education across all three of its giving vechicles, each with their own focus, which you can read about more closely below:
Haslam Giving’s education giving works to address inequalities in current educational systems. The Haslams’ education giving invests in “high-quality education and all families should have the right to choose the school that meets their child’s specific needs.”
Many past Haslam education grantees include schools with which the family has a personal connection rather than broader educational interests. At the K-12 level, school choice appears to be a particular interest here.
The couple support their mutual alma mater University of Tennessee, home to the Haslam College of Business. In 2019, the Haslam 3 Foundation Naawarded grants totaling $4.5 million in support of arts education programs in Cleveland. That said, the foundation leaves room for other organizations across geographical priority areas. Recent education grantees include the Emerald Youth Foundation, Teach for America, Breakthrough Schools, and the American Federation for Children, among others.
The Haslams also make educations grants through the Cleveland Browns Foundation’s Stay in the Game Network, which is a joint effort between the Cleveland Browns Foundation, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and Harvard's Proving Ground in order to “campaign, connect and convene with experts and supporters to dramatically improve attendance.” Additionally, through the Browns, the Marion Motley Scholarship honors former “Browns fullback and linebacker Marion Motley, who overcame many obstacles as one of the first African American players in the NFL. Two northeast Ohio students are selected annually to receive the scholarship.”
Lastly, the Haslams make further education grants through the Columbus Crew Foundation giving related to Stay in the Game Network, which is shared by the Cleveland Browns’ efforts.
Grants for Arts Education, Arts and Culture
Through its Arts priority area, the Haslams make grants for “education-based programs at local arts organizations inspire students to be active in school.” So, giving here largely invests in arts education and large, established cultural institutions. Past grantees include Playhouse Square, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Grants for Health and Youth Sports
The Haslams give to health across all of their funding vechicles, each with their own efforts outlined below. Much of the Haslams’ work intersects with similar work occurring at sister foundations:
Haslam Giving conducts health grants primarily across two priority areas, Health & Human Services and Youth Sports.
The Health & Human Services giving priority helps “families navigate paths to quality social services” and invests in “healthcare innovation.” This largely means that established, large organizations, rather than grassroots efforts, receive funding, such as hospitals.
Haslam Giving, like its sister organizations, also makes grants to Youth Sports, which support youth health by creating more active lifestyles.
The Cleveland Browns Foundation also conducts related giving through its Browns Youth Football program, which invests in children’s health through youth sports. Additionally, through the Cleveland Browns, the Haslams sponsor the Hats Off to Our Heroes Fund, which “focused on aiding health care professionals, first responders, educational professionals and other groups who are pivotal in the community year round and who now continue to serve as role models in the face of significant adversity due to COVID-19.” Time will tell how this latter fund will evolve.
Lastly, also focused on youth sports, the Columbus Crew Foundation makes grants for youth soccer.
Grants for Racial Equity, Criminal Justice and Civic Engagement
The Haslams give for social justice causes across two funding vechicles, but this may evolve in the future:
Haslam Giving supports racial equity and justice through its Social Justice focus area, which centers on increasing “equal access to a quality education is at the core of creating effective social justice reform.”
This area also invests in more equitable hiring practices, as well as working on policies and programs that “provide solutions in the criminal justice arena” and Haslam Giving works directly with “police departments and local governments to advocate for reforms, accountability and stronger community relations.”
This Haslam giving area also supports voter registration work in Cleveland. This latter funding opportunity reflects a campaign between Haslam Giving’s overall efforts and the Cleveland Browns Foundation.
Similarly, through the Cleveland Browns Foundation, the family funds, with team members, further racial justice efforts through the Be the Solution campaign.
Grants for Community Development
The Haslam family, through Haslam Giving, makes grants for community improvement through its Parks & Public Spaces effort. Grants supporting the development of football or soccer fields for youth similarly exist through its sister foundations.
Important Grant Details:
Grants range between $5,000 to around $32 million depending on the foundation and the year. Grantmaking primarily focuses on Knoxville, Tennessee and Cleveland, Ohio. Past local grantees include Emerald Youth Foundation, Nashville Zoo, East Tennessee Children's Hospital Association, and Lakeshore Park.
The foundation does not accept fully unsolicited applications, but is open to contact. Grantseekers should send a written letter stating amount and purposes of request, the most recent audited financial statements and copy of tax exempt ruling.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
Susan B. Haslam
PO Box 11086
Knoxville, TN 37939
(865) 384-4178
LINKS:
