The Boyd Foundation
Knoxville, TN · EIN 37-1877729. Reported 261 grants totalling $25.5M to 122 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. The Boyd Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $25,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $10,000 and $66,000; the smallest was $500 and the largest $3,260,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Tennessee Foundation | Knoxville, TN | $8,245,982 | 20 | 4 | 2024 |
| United Way of Greater Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | $2,221,500 | 11 | 4 | 2024 |
| Girl Talk Inc | Knoxville, TN | $1,030,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Carter County Chamber Foundation | Elizabethton, TN | $1,000,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wesley House Community Center | Knoxville, TN | $1,000,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Zoo Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | $1,000,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Emerald Youth Foundation | Knoxville, TN | $830,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Knox Education Foundation | Knoxville, TN | $782,500 | 11 | 4 | 2024 |
| Score | Nashville, TN | $600,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Muse Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | $515,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Metro Drug Coalition Inc | Knoxville, TN | $500,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Big Ears Festival | Knoxville, TN | $450,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Helen Ross Mcnabb Foundation | Knoxville, TN | $425,000 | 6 | 3 | 2024 |
| Hometon Service Coalition | Mountain City, TN | $400,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| YWCA Knoxville Foundation | Knoxville, TN | $400,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Knoxville Area Urban League | Knoxville, TN | $262,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Boys & Girls Club of the Tn Valley | Knoxville, TN | $252,000 | 7 | 4 | 2024 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tn | Knoxville, TN | $250,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| James White's Fort Association | Knoxville, TN | $250,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Two Bikes | Knoxville, TN | $245,147 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Random Acts of Flowers | Knoxville, TN | $225,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors | New York, NY | $223,888 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Interfaith Health Center | Knoxville, TN | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Change Campus Culture | Knoxville, TN | $194,246 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Fish Hospitality Pantries | Knoxville, TN | $190,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Seed Inc | Knoxville, TN | $160,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Knoxville Parks and Recreation | Knoxville, TN | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Seeed Inc | Knoxville, TN | $128,139 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Wdvx | Knoxville, TN | $125,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville, TN | $120,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| City of Cookeville | Cookeville, TN | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Knox County Community Gardens | Knoxville, TN | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Roane State Foundation | Harriman, TN | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Second Harvest Food Bank | Maryville, TN | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Spark | Knoxville, TN | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Equal Chance for Education | Nashville, TN | $98,625 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts | Gatlinburg, TN | $95,730 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Knoxville Symphony Orchestra | Knoxville, TN | $95,000 | 5 | 3 | 2024 |
| Great Smoky Mountain Council BSA | Knoxville, TN | $88,913 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Junior Achievement of East Tn Inc | Clinton, TN | $82,000 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| East Tn Historical Society | Knoxville, TN | $80,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Lakeshore Park Conservancy | Knoxville, TN | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Smoky Mountain Animal Care Foundation | Maryville, TN | $75,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Sunset Gap Community Center | Newport, TN | $64,003 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Junior Appalachian Musicians Inc | Independence, VA | $61,190 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Helen Rose Mcnabb Foundation | Knoxville, TN | $57,500 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| Governor's Early Literacy Foundation | Nashville, TN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Johnson City Hall | Johnson City, TN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Knoxville Entrepreneur Center | Knoxville, TN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| New Hope | Maryville, TN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Susannah's House Inc | Knoxville, TN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Mend House | Knoxville, TN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| University of Chattanooge Foundation | Chattanooga, TN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Variety - the Children's Charity of East Tn | Knoxville, TN | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Volunteer Ministry Center | Knoxville, TN | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Museum of Appalachia | Clinton, TN | $47,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| South-Doyle Chorus Booster Club | Knoxville, TN | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| The University of Tennessee | Knoxville, TN | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Leadership Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | $40,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| East Tn Equality Cncl Inc Dba Knox Pride | Knoxville, TN | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| A Step Ahead of East Tn Inc | Knoxville, TN | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Great Smoky Mtns Institute at Tremont | Townsend, TN | $30,000 | 3 | 2 | 2022 |
| Knox County Imagination Library | Knoxville, TN | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Tn State Museum Foundation | Nashville, TN | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Prospera Corporate | Crowley, TX | $27,430 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Beech River Watershed Dev Authority | Lexington, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Center for Community Innovation | Knoxville, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cheatham County Animal Awareness Foundation | Pengram, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Chattanooga | Chattanooga, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| City of Clarksville | Clarksville, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| City of Clifton | Clifton, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| City of Dickson | Dickson, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of East Ridge | East Ridge, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Goodlettsville | Goodlettsville, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| City of Jackson | Jackson, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| City of Lenoir City | Lenoir City, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| City of Pulaski | Pulaski, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Savannah | Savannah, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Sweetwater | Sweetwater, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| City of Tullahoma | Tullahoma, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| City of Waverly | Waverly, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Knoxville Dream Center | Knoxville, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lewis County | Hohenwald, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mcewen City Hall | Mcewen, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Overton Park Conservancy | Memphis, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Rhea Economic and Tourism | Dayton, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Shelby Farms Conservancy | Memphis, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Tennessee Financial Literacy Commission | Nashville, TN | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Town of Farragut | Farragut, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Town of Somerville | Somerville, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Town of Whitesville | Whitesville, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Keep Knoxville Beautiful | Knoxville, TN | $24,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| East Tn Community Design Center | Knoxville, TN | $22,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Rotary Foundation of Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | $22,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Bearden High School Foundation | Knoxville, TN | $17,700 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Asian Cultural Center of Tn | Knoxville, TN | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The Boyd Tavern | Boydton, VA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mt Olive Elementary PTO | Knoxville, TN | $12,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| American Red Cross | Knoxville, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Breaststrokes Knoxville Inc | Knoxville, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Collegiate Abbey | Knoxville, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Dolly Parton's Imagination Library | Knoxville, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Sasef | Knoxville, TN | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Knoxville Botanical Gardens | Knoxville, TN | $7,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Tennesseans for Quality Early Education | Memphis, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Tennessee Extension Association of Administrative Professionals | Knoxville, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society | Rye Brook, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Tuskegee Next Foundation | Wheaton, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Candoro Arts & Heritage | Knoxville, TN | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Isaiah 117 House | Elizabethton, TN | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Knox Pride | Knoxville, TN | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| True Purpose Ministries | Maryville, TN | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Hope Resource Center of Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | $2,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Special Spectators Inc | Detroit, MI | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| East Tennessee Foundation | Knoxville, TN | $1,165 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Tennessee Valley Fair | Knoxville, TN | $1,150 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Blue Monarch | Monteagle, TN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Heritgae High School - Bcs | Maryville, TN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mothers Against Drunk Driving Tn | Nashville, TN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| South-Doyle High School | Knoxville, TN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Success Academy Charter Schools | New York, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
51 of 122 (42%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 52%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- University of Tennessee Foundation
ENRICHES THE LIVES OF THE STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE THROUGH ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT, FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP, AND PRIVATE GIFT SUPPORT. - Carter County Chamber Foundation
HURRICANE HELENE RELIEF FUND - United Way of Greater Knoxville
TO IMPROVE LIVES BY MOBILIZING THE CARING POWER OF COMMUNITIES TO ADVANCE THE COMMON GOOD. - Girl Talk Inc
TO EMPOWER GIRLS TO BECOME THEIR BEST SELVES BY REDUCING THE LIKELIHOOD OF TEEN PREGNANCY AND HELPING THEM TO ADVANCE EDUCATIONALLY - Wesley House Community Center
TO ASSIST AND PROVIDE SERVICES FOR KNOXVILLE'S MOST UNDER RESOURCED AND MARGINALIZED AREAS - Zoo Knoxville
TO SHARE FUN EXPERIENCES THAT EDUCATE AND INSPIRE.
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 115 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 54 | $7,529,003 | $25,000 |
| 2022 | 77 | $3,574,318 | $25,000 |
| 2023 | 70 | $4,946,347 | $25,000 |
| 2024 | 60 | $9,414,140 | $48,875 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 99% of this one's giving went to organizations in Tennessee. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $25,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Tennessee.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from The Boyd Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: Po Box 52525, Knoxville, TN, 37950. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 37-1877729 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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