The Community Foundation in Nashville, Tennessee awards grants each year to nonprofit organizations for a variety of charitable purposes, such as education, the environment, the arts, health, and social services. Recently, United Way of Greater Nashville partnered with nonprofit community leaders to support a statewide data project known as ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employeed). This research revealed that one in four families in the region are unable to afford basic needs like housing, food, child care, health care and transportation. The ALICE report guides the implementation of long-term solutions for the growing number of families in the greater Nashville area struggling with financial instability.
United Way Worldwide is at the forefront of federal policies affecting millions of Americans. AWAKE is an organization that advocates for the systemic advancement of women and youth in Tennessee through educational initiatives and policy changes. The Nashville Arts Coalition hosts the Mayor's Office Arts Forum during election years and other promotional activities annually. The Community Foundation launched a database with comprehensive information on more than 1,600 Central Tennessee nonprofit organizations more than a decade ago as a service to both donors and nonprofit organizations.
If you're thinking of talking to your legislators, check out Americans for the Arts, the country's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the arts. The Healing Trust supports nonprofit organizations that provide health services in Central Tennessee by providing grants, retreats, leadership programs, and participating in promotional activities. In addition to awarding grants, The Trust also provides resources to health-related nonprofit organizations and other service agencies such as free space for board meetings, trainings and retreats, workshops, personal care retreats, leadership programs, awards, and sabbatical grants. The Give Black Give Back initiative is led by Urban League which helps up to five nonprofit organizations update their relevant information on GivingMatters profile pages by providing training in areas such as marketing, grant issuance, board management and business funding.
Tennesseans for the Arts is a statewide arts advocacy organization that helps protect the arts in Tennessee. The Community Foundation's grantmaking team welcomes and encourages organizations that are just starting out in the process to contact them and learn more about the resources available to support the work of the nonprofit community. The Nashville Arts Coalition is a group of individuals and organizations that advocate for public policies and public funds that support a healthy artistic ecology in Nashville. The Urban League of Central Tennessee (ULMT) is a historic civil rights and urban planning organization providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of thousands of people in underserved communities in Central Tennessee.
Applications for discretionary grants are accepted annually by tax-exempt nonprofit organizations serving the Central Tennessee area. There are many ways to support and advocate for nonprofit organizations in Nashville. Donating money or volunteering your time are two great ways to help out. You can also spread awareness about these organizations by sharing their stories on social media or talking to your legislators about their work.
By doing so you can help make sure these organizations have access to resources they need to continue their important work.
