Community Solutions grants awarded

(May 28, 2025) Through the new Community Solutions funding category, the Community Foundation is supporting nonprofits executing ground-level, community-driven strategies to tackle systemic issues and empower communities. Launched in May 2025, the initiative has a multi-year focus on supporting Safe and Resilient Places by funding organizations working to create innovative, tangible solutions to address critical challenges related to community safety and well-being. The grants, awarded through the FOREVER Funds, were decided by the Community Foundation’s volunteer Community Initiatives Committee.

Grants totaling $450,000 support five organizations that are deeply connected to the communities they serve and actively collaborate with them to design and implement transformative solutions. Eighty percent of funded agencies are led by executive directors/CEOs of color.

Decarcerate Memphis · $50,000
Working to change harmful police practices by making enforcement more transparent and helping residents understand their rights

Heal 901 · $100,000
Helping teens and young adults stay out of the justice system by building trust in high-risk neighborhoods, stepping in to stop conflict, and connecting residents to healing and support

Memphis Artists for Change · $150,000
Training local residents to talk with neighbors about safety, listen to concerns, and lead projects that make their communities safer

Playback Memphis · $81,250
Using theater to help people share their stories, connect with each other, and build trust in communities affected by violence and loss

Stand for Children Tennessee · $68,750
Bringing people and organizations together to support alternatives to youth incarceration and invest in community-based responses like crisis teams and reentry programs