Community Foundation Awards Nearly $1 Million in Responsive Grants

The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis has awarded $982,000 in Responsive Grants to 46 nonprofit organizations working at the forefront of community need across our region.

What makes these grants different

Approved by our Board of Governors in December 2025, Responsive Grants represent a new approach to meeting the moment. Unlike traditional capacity-building grants, these awards provide unrestricted general operating support—giving nonprofit leaders the flexibility to use funds where they’re needed most to serve their communities.

This shift responds to what we’ve been hearing from the nonprofit sector: organizations and the communities they serve are facing unprecedented pressures. From policy changes to funding cuts to widening gaps in public services, the challenges are mounting—and they require an urgent, flexible response.

Who these grants support

Responsive grants prioritize organizations that:

Work with and within communities that have been historically under-resourced, overlooked in public funding, or excluded from traditional philanthropic investment
Respond to both long-standing inequities and emerging threats
Need flexible support to maintain essential services and core operations during uncertain time

While we recognize that every nonprofit is navigating significant pressures, this funding opportunity is specifically designed to stabilize organizations serving communities most impacted by current challenges.

“As uncertainty grows and demand for services reaches historic highs, nonprofits are still showing up for our neighbors every day,” said Aerial Ozuzu, Director of Community Impact at the Community Foundation. “Our volunteer grant committee took the time to carefully assess where support was needed most, and this flexible funding is designed to help these essential organizations continue their critical work.”

Community-centered

At the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, we believe we can address our most complex challenges through community power. These Responsive Grants support the organizations closest to the solutions.

By providing unrestricted funding, we’re trusting the expertise of nonprofit leaders who know their communities best and can deploy resources most effectively.

The grants are made possible through the FOREVER Funds, the Community Foundation’s community-voiced, community-centered investment in Greater Memphis.