Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc
Memphis, TN · EIN 62-6039986. Reported 121 grants totalling $2,359,050 to 93 organizations across tax years 2020-2023. 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. Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc 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 $15,500. Half of everything it gave fell between $10,000 and $25,000; the smallest was $500 and the largest $80,000. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advance Memphis | Memphis, TN | $100,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Brooks Museum | Memphis, TN | $80,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Women's Advocacy Center | Memphis, TN | $77,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Whole Child Strategies | Memphis, TN | $65,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Memphis Teacher Residency | Memphis, TN | $56,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Carpenter Art Garden | Memphis, TN | $55,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Collage Dance Collective | Memphis, TN | $55,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Alpha Omega Veterans Services | Memphis, TN | $51,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Mam | Memphis, TN | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Daily Memphian | Memphis, TN | $48,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Su CASA Family Ministries | Memphis, TN | $48,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Memphis Music Initiative | Memphis, TN | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Juvenile Intervention and Faith-Based Follow-Up (jiff) | Memphis, TN | $44,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Streets Ministries | Memphis, TN | $43,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| National Ornamental Metal Museum | Memphis, TN | $41,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| National Civil Rights Museum | Memphis, TN | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Salvation Army Memphis Area Command | Memphis, TN | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| World Relief | Memphis, TN | $36,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Repairing the Breach | Memphis, TN | $35,750 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Indie Memphis | Memphis, TN | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Mifa | Memphis, TN | $32,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Communities in Schools | Memphis, TN | $31,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Opera Memphis | Memphis, TN | $31,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Literacy Mid-South | Memphis, TN | $30,750 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Pure Youth Athletics Alliance | Memphis, TN | $30,750 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| New Ballet Ensemble | Memphis, TN | $30,500 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Redzone Ministries | Memphis, TN | $30,500 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Slingshot Memphis | Memphis, TN | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Soulsville Foundation | Memphis, TN | $28,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Arts Memphis | Memphis, TN | $27,500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Overton Park Conservancy | Memphis, TN | $27,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Urban Art Commission | Memphis, TN | $27,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis | Memphis, TN | $26,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Room in the Inn | Memphis, TN | $26,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| My City Rides | Memphis, TN | $25,750 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| All Memphis | Memphis, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Circuit Playhouse | Memphis, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Memphis Botanic Garden | Memphis, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Memphis Symphony | Memphis, TN | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Meritan | Memphis, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Museum of Science & History- Pink Palace | Memphis, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| My Cup of Tea | Memphis, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Rep | Memphis, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Stax Music Academy | Memphis, TN | $22,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Bridges | Memphis, TN | $21,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Angel Street | Memphis, TN | $20,750 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Big Green Memphis | Boulder, CO | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Friends for All | Memphis, TN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hope House Day Care Center | Memphis, TN | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Junior Achievement | Memphis, TN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lec | Memphis, TN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Memphis Athletic Ministries | Memphis, TN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Orpheum | Memphis, TN | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Play Where You Stay | Memphis, TN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Sos | Memphis, TN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Volunteer Odyssey | Memphis, TN | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| A Step Ahead Foundation | Memphis, TN | $18,750 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Let's Innovate Through Education | Memphis, TN | $15,750 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Arrow Creative | Memphis, TN | $15,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Families Matter | Memphis, TN | $15,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Gwerc | Memphis, TN | $15,250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Alcy Ball Development Corporation | Memphis, TN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| ARISE2READ | Memphis, TN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Creative Aging | Memphis, TN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Harwood Center Inc | Memphis, TN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Landmark Training & Development | Memphis, TN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Levitt Shell | Memphis, TN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Memphis Inner City Rugby | Memphis, TN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Prizm Ensemble | Memphis, TN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| New Memphis Institute | Memphis, TN | $13,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Contemporary Arts Memphis | Memphis, TN | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Merge Memphis | Memphis, TN | $10,750 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Beale Street Caravan | Memphis, TN | $10,300 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| I Am My Sister's Keeper | Memphis, TN | $10,250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Sweet Cheeks Diaper Ministry | Memphis, TN | $10,250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Church Health | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Clean Memphis | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Deaf Connect | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Diverse Learners Cooperative | Brentwood, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Iris Collective | Germantown, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Man Up | Cordova, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mbaa | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mid-South Food Bank | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Neighborhood Christian Center | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Overton Park Shell | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Teach for America | Boston, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Wkno | Cordova, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Wolf River Conservancy | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Madison Avenue Park | Memphis, TN | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Peer Power | Memphis, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Memphis Brooks Museum of Art | Memphis, TN | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| The Dixon Gallery & Gardens | Memphis, TN | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Momentum Nonprofit Partners | Memphis, TN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
25 of 93 (27%) 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 8%, 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 kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 82 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 38 | $629,000 | $15,000 |
| 2021 | 28 | $619,750 | $20,625 |
| 2022 | 25 | $475,000 | $15,000 |
| 2023 | 30 | $635,300 | $15,000 |
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.
Already committed for future years
Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc has 22 of them, worth $705,100. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back -- and it also tells you how much of the next year's budget is already spoken for.
| Organization | Location | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| National Civil Rights Museum | Memphis, TN | $120,000 |
| Brooks Museum | Memphis, TN | $80,000 |
| National Ornamental Metal Museum | Memphis, TN | $80,000 |
| Alpha Omega Veterans Services | Memphis, TN | $70,000 |
| Memphis Botanic Garden | Memphis, TN | $50,000 |
| Juvenile Intervention and Faith-Based Follow-Up (jiff) | Memphis, TN | $38,000 |
| Redzone Ministries | Memphis, TN | $30,000 |
| Advance Memphis | Memphis, TN | $25,000 |
| Mam | Memphis, TN | $25,000 |
| Memphis Teacher Residency | Memphis, TN | $25,000 |
| The Salvation Army Memphis Area Command | Memphis, TN | $25,000 |
| Play Where You Stay | Memphis, TN | $20,000 |
| Angel Street | Memphis, TN | $20,000 |
| Wolf River Conservancy | Memphis, TN | $20,000 |
| Room in the Inn | Memphis, TN | $15,000 |
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 $15,500. 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 Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2020-2023). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: Po Box 40105, Memphis, TN, 38174. 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 62-6039986 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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