For four decades, the Community Foundation of West Tennessee has been investing in the health and well-being of our region. A vital piece of our mission is our Community Impact Grant program, which took root in 2016. These grants serve as funding opportunities for local nonprofits and funds of the Community Foundation to strengthen West Tennessee.

In February 2016, we released our first request for grant proposals, seeking to fund programs and projects that benefit the people of Madison County. While we did not identify a specific area of focus for the awards, our hope was to fund initiatives that would have a profound impact on the community.

The response to our request was inspiring with 22 proposals submitted. After careful review and consideration, we announced our inaugural Community Impact Grants, totaling $6,250 and reaching a diverse range of community initiatives.

• Boys and Girls Club of Jackson received $2,200 to support "College is on the Horizon." This project was a teen camp focused on igniting youth interest in arts careers.
• Hands Up! Preschool was awarded $1,000 for "Parents as Partners," a volunteer program aimed at strengthening parental involvement in education.
• RIFA received $1,500 to fund the Snack Backpack program to assist in the fight against food insecurity among children in the Jackson-Madison County School System.
• Scarlet Rope Project was awarded $800 to offer a lifeline of medical services to women seeking freedom from human trafficking.
• The STAR Center received a $750 grant to provide special education teachers with the tools to better serve students with disabilities.

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"These initial grants were truly the seeds of a program that would continue to grow and expand to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families across Madison County and West Tennessee. Even in that first cycle, we heard from many agencies and saw a continued need for funding in our area. Our hope was to put more dollars back into our community to help change lives." - Beth Koffman, Chief Operating Officer, Community Foundation

Driven by the ongoing needs of our community and the positive impact of those initial grants, we committed to strategically growing the Community Impact Grant program each year.

Ensuring that every dollar has the greatest possible impact requires a thoughtful and thorough evaluation process. Over the years, we have continuously refined how we make funding decisions for our Community Impact Grants, leading to enhancements in the selection process.

• Our Board of Trustees has been a valuable resource and volunteers from the board serve on a grant review committee to read and score proposals and then, allocate funds.
• As the number of proposals submitted has increased over the years from 22 initially to 57 this current cycle, we have moved to an online application and refined the scoring rubric for increased transparency.
• To assist organizations who may be new to grant writing or our grants specifically, we proactively host grant information sessions each year ahead of the deadline to answer questions and talk through our proposal questions, rubric, and more.
• In 2023, we rebranded to the Community Foundation of West Tennessee and expanded our grant program to all the counties we serve, increasing funding opportunities for more rural counties outside of Jackson and Madison County.

Each year, we bring together all our recipients at the Community Impact Grant Awards Celebration to announce the grant recipients and share about the projects and programs funded.

"It has become a fun tradition for us to keep the grant amounts a secret until the event. There is so much excitement in the room when we reveal the big checks and bring up each agency to talk about the project. It's incredibly rewarding to see so many organizations and leaders in the nonprofit sector celebrating each other and the work we do." - Haley Fortune, Community Impact Manager, Community Foundation

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Strategic growth in the program has also allowed our staff and board members to go behind the scenes with grantees to volunteer or learn more about the programs funded. This not only allows us hands-on interaction with serving our community but creates an opportunity to spotlight the program on our social media and newsletter to further promote our partners.

"These opportunities to engage directly with our grantees not only deepen our understanding of their work but also allow us to amplify their message. By sharing their stories, we aim to further support their efforts and connect more people with the incredible impact they are making in West Tennessee." - Dr. Frank McMeen, President, Community Foundation

The real story of the Community Impact Grants lies in the transformative work of our partners. Together, we are able to touch the different corners of our diverse community.

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Reflecting on the Impact in Our Community

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As we reflect on the journey of our Community Impact Grant program over the past several years culminating in the impact highlighted, we are also reminded that there is still more work to be done. For the upcoming fiscal year, we are proud to award $120,000 to 14 deserving organizations. Stay tuned for the official announcement to learn more about the innovative projects that will be making a difference in West Tennessee.

Keep up with all our grant information at cfwtn.org/grants.

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40 Years of Impact

In 2025, we are marking 40 years of impact in West Tennessee. Connect with us to discover the history and achievements of the Community Foundation over the past four decades, including photos, stories, and more. Throughout the year, we will continue to highlight big milestones for the organization through our blog, social media, and events. Learn more at https://www.cfwtn.org/40.