Grants & Scholarships
We offer funding opportunities that help nonprofits and students create positive change and build futures.
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Fuel your success
The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis is proud to offer financial support to help nonprofit organizations and students to create more equitable opportunities and thriving futures.
- Nonprofit grants are awarded exclusively to 501(c)(3) organizations in our service area of West Tennessee, eastern Arkansas, and northern Mississippi. Grants are available in several, specific categories with different criteria and deadlines.
- Most scholarship awards are for students from Shelby County, Tennessee. Applicants must plan to attend an accredited two- or four-year college or university or an accredited vocational or technical institution and demonstrate academic achievement and economic need.
We’ve gathered key information to make understanding our application processes simple and transparent. Scroll below for answers to frequently asked questions from organizations and individuals seeking support.
In this section
The Community Foundation partners with nonprofits at every stage—offering visibility, funding opportunities, and long-term support to help your mission thrive.
See available grant opportunities, open to nonprofits in our service area. A LIVEGIVEmidsouth profile is required to apply.
Explore more than $160,000 in scholarships across 30 categories managed here, supporting local students as they pursue their educational goals.
Nonprofit grants FAQ
We’ve compiled answers to help make our grantmaking process clear, transparent, and easy to navigate.
The Community Foundation is the Mid-South’s largest grantmaker, with $144.3 million awarded to 1,993 distinct nonprofits last year. Please be aware, though, that most grants made through the Community Foundation are recommended by the people and organizations who established private, donor-advised funds here.
However, the FOREVER Funds allows us—through the investment of donors and the guidance of community volunteers—to support the capacity building of organizations through competitive grants and technical assistance. Through the FOREVER Funds, we award approximately $1.5 million annually in discretionary grants.
Organizations may also apply for funding from GiVE 365, as well as through different initiatives.
The best way to stay up to date on news for nonprofits from the Community Foundation is to sign up for the LIVEGIVEmidsouth eNewsletter.
No. There are no opportunities for individuals to receive grants for relief or service. As a community foundation, we are legally restricted from funding individuals. If you need personal assistance, click here to visit the Shelby County Community Services Agency or click here for MIFA’s Community Resources.
No. Donor-advised fund holders recommend grants to nonprofit organizations based on their own areas of interest and impact. Donors typically do not accept requests from nonprofit organizations.
We are aware that nonprofits are eager to know the best way to share their mission and work with Community Foundation donors. While there are no formal channels to make these introductions, we are committed to connecting the nonprofit community with our donors and are currently working on how to best support both sides of our work.
The Community Foundation does not provide contact information for our donors. However, if a donor is interested in a specific focus area or a specific organization, we help connect the donor with the agency. Staff often refers donors to research organizations’ LIVEGIVEmidsouth profiles, which is one reason why it is a good idea to keep your profile up-to-date.
All applications must be submitted through the Community Foundation’s online grant portal, GranteeView.
LIVEGIVEmidsouth is a free, online community information system and an initiative of the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis. It houses 100+ indicators from public data sources (such as American Communities Survey, Shelby County Health Department, and Tennessee Department of Education) and a directory of nearly 600 nonprofit organizations working in our region.
LIVEGIVEmidsouth connects Mid-South data on issues affecting our region with nonprofit organizations that are addressing them.
No, they are intentionally two separate systems. LIVEGIVEmidsouth is an information system used by other funders, donors, nonprofits, and the larger community. GranteeView is used to manage the Community Foundation’s discretionary grantmaking.
For assistance with LIVEGIVEmidsouth, or GranteeView, email Vice President of Community Impact Aerial Ozuzu or call her at (901) 722-0022.
Yes. You are welcome to email Vice President of Community Impact Aerial Ozuzu or call her at (901) 722-0022 to help determine eligibility, answer your questions, receive technical assistance, and to solicit feedback before and after submitting your application.
If an organization has been turned down for a grant, it can apply again the following year. Each application is considered on its own merits. An organization should confirm its application is considered eligible under the guidelines before re-submitting.
Organizations may receive more than one grant per year in different grant categories. However, certain opportunities may specify other limitations. For information on each opportunity, visit our current grantmaking priorities page.
See recent grants
Learn where Community Foundation resources are going and how recent grants are advancing equity, opportunity, and sustained impact in our region.
Scholarship applicant FAQ
Explore answers to common questions and learn how our scholarship application process works.
Yes. While the scholarship application process is open, you may apply for up to five scholarships using a single application—just select the scholarships you’d like to be considered for before submitting.
You can log in at any time on your scholarship portal to continue your application or check the status of what you’ve submitted..
No. Scholarship awards are intended to provide only partial support. Scholarships offer varying award amounts depending on the size of the fund, the number of qualified applicants, and the criteria of the fund.
To find additional help paying for school, students are encouraged to:
- Contact the financial aid office at the college or school they plan to attend (they can help with grants, work-study, and other aid)
- Explore trusted resources like the College Board’s guide to paying for college, which explains scholarships, grants, loans, and other options in clear, student-friendly language.
- Learn more about how to pay for school
💡 Tip: Every college and technical school has a financial aid office. Searching “[school name] financial aid office” is often the fastest way to find contact information.
No. There is no fee to apply.
No. Applications must be submitted online through the portal.
Unfortunately, our scholarship program cannot award funds for use at universities outside of the United States. This limitation is due to certain regulations, such as IRS rules that govern tax-exempt organizations. In order to maintain compliance, we can only provide scholarships to students attending educational institutions that are eligible to participate in U.S. federal student aid programs, which typically excludes most foreign institutions.
Yes. All application information is kept confidential and reviewed by the appropriate scholarship review committee members who agree to maintain confidentiality.
Each scholarship fund has its own advisory committee that reviews applications and makes recommendations for scholarship recipients to the Community Foundation’s Board of Governors.
You will be notified after the selection committees meet and before June 1 in most cases.
Scholarship awardee FAQ
Find helpful answers and insights for high school students and adult learners who were awarded scholarships.
Generally, scholarships used for educational costs such as tuition, fees, books, and supplies are not taxable. However, any portion of the scholarship used for room and board or miscellaneous expenses is taxable.
To learn more, visit the IRS’s guide to scholarship taxes.
No. Scholarships are charitable grants.
No. In most cases, students must complete the entire application process again in order to be considered for a renewal scholarship. However, most scholarship committees give some preference to renewing applicants, subject to student performance.
Address your letter to “Scholarship Committee” and mail it to: Community Foundation of Greater Memphis
1900 Union Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
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