The Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation
Memphis, TN · EIN 62-6046687. Reported 212 grants totalling $6,488,341 to 111 recipients 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 Kemmons Wilson Family 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 $10,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $2,500 and $25,000; the smallest was $145 and the largest $650,000. 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. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Memphis Foundation | Memphis, TN | $720,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| University of Tennessee Foundation Inc | Knoxville, TN | $650,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation | Memphis, TN | $404,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Visible Music College | Memphis, TN | $326,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Memphis Shelby County Law Enforcement Foundation | Memphis, TN | $260,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Junior Achievement of Memphis | Memphis, TN | $250,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Works Inc | Memphis, TN | $250,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Wolf River Conservancy | Memphis, TN | $250,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Memphis Brooks Museum of Art | Memphis, TN | $207,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Knowledge Quest | Memphis, TN | $205,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Christian Brothers University | Memphis, TN | $200,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Emmanuel Center Inc | Memphis, TN | $160,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Shelby Farms Park Conservancy | Memphis, TN | $151,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Advance Memphis | Memphis, TN | $150,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Bridges USA Inc | Memphis, TN | $125,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Memphis Delta Preparatory Charter School Inc | Memphis, TN | $117,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| New Memphis | Memphis, TN | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Rhodes College | Memphis, TN | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Soulsville Charter School | Memphis, TN | $97,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Memphis Theological Seminary | Memphis, TN | $60,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Tennis Memphis Foundation | Memphis, TN | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Bloc Ministries | Cincinnati, OH | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Christian Community Foundation of Memphis | Memphis, TN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lemoyne-Owen College | Memphis, TN | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Lite Memphis | Memphis, TN | $50,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Memphis Black Arts Alliance | Memphis, TN | $50,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Memphis Teacher Residency Inc | Memphis, TN | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| One Family Memphis Rox | Memphis, TN | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Soulsville Foundation | Memphis, TN | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Streets Ministries | Memphis, TN | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Overton Park Shell Inc | Memphis, TN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Urban Renaissance Partners Inc | Memphis, TN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Apple Seeds Inc | Germantown, TN | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Briarcrest Christian School | Eads, TN | $43,790 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Innovate Memphis | Memphis, TN | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Score Cdc | Memphis, TN | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| South Memphis Alliance | Memphis, TN | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Salvation Army | Memphis, TN | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Volunteer Odyssey | Memphis, TN | $32,000 | 3 | 2 | 2022 |
| Allmemphis | Memphis, TN | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| ARISE2READ | Memphis, TN | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Memphis Inner City Rugby | Memphis, TN | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Porter Leath | Memphis, TN | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Service Over Self Incorporated | Memphis, TN | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Hutchison School | Memphis, TN | $28,976 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Teach for America Inc | Memphis, TN | $27,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Agape Child and Family Services | Memphis, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Pure Youth Athletics Alliance | Memphis, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Seeding Success | Memphis, TN | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Memphis University School | Memphis, TN | $24,450 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Room in the Inn | Memphis, TN | $22,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Memphis Family Connection Center | Memphis, TN | $21,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Darsalud Community Center Inc | Memphis, TN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Memphis Medical District Collaborative | Memphis, TN | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Pure Youth Athletic Alliance | Memphis, TN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Slingshot Memphis Inc | Memphis, TN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Vance Avenue Youth Development Center | Memphis, TN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Binghampton Development Corporation | Memphis, TN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Codecrew | Memphis, TN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Memphis Library Foundation | Memphis, TN | $12,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Concord Academy of Memphis | Memphis, TN | $12,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Families Matter Inc | Memphis, TN | $11,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| St Mary's Episcopal School | Memphis, TN | $11,225 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| National Civil Rights Museum | Memphis, TN | $11,100 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Contemporary Arts Memphis | Memphis, TN | $11,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Angel Street Memphis | Cordova, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Children's Museum of Memphis | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| City Leadership | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Clean Memphis | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Dorothy Day House of Hospitality Inc | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| For the Kingdom Inc | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Forward Memphis | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Launchyourcity Inc | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Memphis Botanic Garden Foundation Inc | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Memphis Symphony Orchestra Inc | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Memphis Zoo Inc | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Music Export Memphis | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| My City Rides | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| My Cup of Tea | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Protect Our Aquifer | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Srvs Shelby Residential and Vocational Services | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Su CASA Family Ministries | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Teach for America | New York, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Tennessee Career Academy Inc | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Thistle and Bee Enterprises Inc | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| West Cancer Foundation | Germantown, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County | Memphis, TN | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Evangelcial Christian School | Cordova, TN | $5,800 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Dixon Gallery and Gardens | Memphis, TN | $5,150 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Afp Memphis | Memphis, TN | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Memory Makers of the Midsouth | Germantown, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Preston Taylor Ministries | Nashville, TN | $4,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Hannah's Hope | Bartlett, TN | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Neighborhood Christian Center | Memphis, TN | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Lorraine Civil Rights Museum Foundation | Memphis, TN | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Youth Villages | Memphis, TN | $2,350 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Fayette County Animal Rescue | Rossville, TN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Methodist Healthcare Foundaiton | Memphis, TN | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Nashville Diaper Connection | Nashville, TN | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Second Presbyterian Church | Memphis, TN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Truthseekers Fellowship | Memphis, TN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Carpenter Art Garden | Memphis, TN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Catholic Charities of West Tn | Memphis, TN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Forrest Spence Fund | Memphis, TN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Jiff | Memphis, TN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Memphis Athletic Ministries | Memphis, TN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mifa-Metropolitan Interfaith Association | Memphis, TN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Momentum Nonprofit Partners | Memphis, TN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Room in the Inn - Memphis | Memphis, TN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| World Relief Memphis | Memphis, TN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Calvary Rescue Mission | Memphis, TN | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
57 of 111 (51%) 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 59%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 168 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 54 | $1,836,795 | $10,000 |
| 2022 | 49 | $1,292,500 | $2,800 |
| 2023 | 55 | $1,429,869 | $15,000 |
| 2024 | 54 | $1,929,177 | $17,500 |
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
99% of its giving went to organizations in Tennessee. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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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 a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $10,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- 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 Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 802 Rozelle Street, Memphis, TN, 38104. 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 62-6046687 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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