The Frist Foundation is dedicated to sustaining and improving the quality of life in Nashville, Tennessee.
Since 2001, much of the Foundation's funding has been directed to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts. In 2014, the Foundation continues a special focus on agencies serving vulnerable people, and in supporting efforts by nonprofit organizations to develop new sources of earned revenue and improve their managerial and technological infrastructure.
General Grants:
For 2014, the foundation continues to be interested in strengthening the infrastructure and administrative systems of organizations serving Nashville's most vulnerable populations. The Foundation will focus its support in the following areas:
- One-time grants aimed at strengthening the capacity of agencies serving vulnerable people.
- Grant that enhance Nashville’s major or unique civic assets.
- Capital needs for equipment or buildings, provided those expenditures are integral to ensuring the agency's survival or long-term viability. Capital requests will be considered only if an agency's basic operating budget is on solid footing. In general, it's a good idea to discuss the needs with the Foundation staff before submitting this type of grant.
- Management consulting at agencies with proven track records. Consulting may include but is not limited to strategic planning, board development, market studies, human resource management, financial management, development of strategies for fundraising or revenue generation, and expenses directly associated with administrative collaborations or mergers. In some cases, the Foundation may seek to partner with other funders to support projects on a larger scale than it could do alone.
- To help agencies with strong records in developing non-traditional revenue streams.
- To strengthen public education in Nashville through the work of selected non-governmental organizations.
Technology Grants:
This program is intended primarily for Nashville-based nonprofit organizations. If based outside of Nashville, the agency must be able to demonstrate a significant direct impact on Nashvillians. In keeping with the Foundation's general funding guidelines, grants will not be awarded to hospitals, nursing homes or retirement homes, nor will grants be considered for schools below the college level except for programs that promise to benefit the broader community.
Funding preference will be given to applications that best demonstrate how new technology would improve overall agency productivity, efficiency or service to clients. Practical and immediate applications will have a better chance of receiving funding than those that are theoretical, long-range or exotic. Technology utilized by staff will receive funding priority over technology used by clients. Technology involving agency management will receive priority over technology used in service delivery.
Recipients of the 2013 awards included winners Habitat for Humanity, Men of Valor and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. For more information see: http://www.fristfoundation.org/Grant_Recpients_2
In general, the Foundation does not make grants for recurring operational or programmatic needs. Exceptions may be made if support is needed as part of a realistic plan to achieve operational stability that is not dependent on short-term grants. Emergency operating support will be granted only if an agency has a compelling long-term plan for survival.