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Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation

Annual Giving
$11.2M
Grant Range
$10K - $8.2M

Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $11,211,385 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $301,097,450 (2024)
  • Number of Grants: 31 grants (2022)
  • Average Grant Size: ~$324,000 (estimated from 2022 data)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Obion County and Northwest Tennessee
  • Application Method: Invitation only / preselected organizations

Contact Details

Location: Union City, Tennessee
EIN: 13-4228589
Type: Private Independent Foundation (501(c)(3))

Note: The foundation does not have a public website or published contact information for grant applications.

Overview

The Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation was established in 2004 by Robert and Jenny Kirkland, who founded the home decor retail chain Kirkland's. After selling their business holdings in the late 1990s, the couple dedicated themselves to philanthropic efforts focused on improving conditions for young people in their Obion County community in Northwest Tennessee. The foundation gained significant prominence through its $100 million founding gift to create Discovery Park of America, an education center and tourist attraction that opened in Union City in 2013. Robert Kirkland passed away in 2015, and Jenny Kirkland died in 2019. The foundation is now led by their children and continues the family's legacy of supporting educational initiatives, scholarships, and community services. With assets exceeding $301 million as of 2024, the foundation remains one of the most significant philanthropic institutions in West Tennessee. Jenny Kirkland was recognized as one of the 20 Most Influential Women in West Tennessee for her philanthropic leadership.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation focuses its grantmaking in several key areas:

  • Discovery Park of America: $8,152,844 (2023 grant) - Ongoing support for educational programming and operations
  • Educational Scholarships: $126,000 to Union City Rotary Foundation (2023) - Supporting local student scholarships and international travel programs
  • Early Childhood Education: Funding for the Promethean Foundation, which provides free daycare scholarships for at-risk children ages six weeks to five years in Obion County
  • Higher Education: Support for University of Tennessee Foundation educational, research, and public activities
  • International Aid: $10,000 to Sweet Sleep (2023) - Providing beds for orphans worldwide

Application Method: Invitation only / preselected organizations

Priority Areas

The foundation's documented funding priorities include:

  • Educational facilities and programs
  • Scholarships for local students
  • Early childhood development for at-risk children
  • International student travel and cultural exchange programs
  • Community development in Obion County and Northwest Tennessee
  • Support for local service organizations and Rotary initiatives

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has explicitly stated that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." This policy suggests they do not fund:

  • Organizations outside their established network
  • Unsolicited grant applications
  • Organizations without prior relationship to the foundation or the Kirkland family

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership (as of 2024):

  • Christopher Kirkland - President/Director (Son of founders)
  • Bedford F. Kirkland - Secretary/Director (Son of founders)
  • Macy D. Kirkland - Director (Daughter of founders)

Founders (Deceased):

  • Robert E. Kirkland (1938-2015) - Co-founder; University of Tennessee graduate (1960) who built Kirkland's home decor chain to over 300 stores before selling to focus on philanthropy
  • Jenny D. Kirkland (1943-2019) - Co-founder and President; served on boards of Discovery Park of America and Promethean Foundation; recognized as one of the 20 Most Influential Women in West Tennessee

The foundation is governed by the Kirkland family members who continue their parents' legacy of community investment. Macy Kirkland has spoken publicly about honoring her parents' vision, stating at a 2023 fundraiser: "This was the first time the family opened their parents' home for entertaining since their passing to support The Kirkland Scholarship Fund."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. According to their IRS Form 990-PF filings, the Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded based on:

  • Trustee discretion
  • Pre-existing relationships with the foundation
  • Organizations previously supported by the Kirkland family
  • Initiatives aligned with the founders' vision for Obion County and Northwest Tennessee

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's grantmaking is primarily directed through organizations with which the Kirkland family has established long-term relationships. Known pathways include:

  • Discovery Park of America - The foundation's flagship project and principal beneficiary, which received an $8.15 million grant in 2023
  • Union City Rotary Club - The Kirklands were active members and founders of the Rotary's European travel program; the Rotary also governs the Promethean Foundation on behalf of the Kirkland Foundation
  • University of Tennessee - Robert Kirkland was a 1960 graduate of the Haslam College of Business, creating a natural connection for the family
  • Local Obion County organizations - The foundation focuses heavily on their home community

Organizations that have benefited from Kirkland Foundation support typically have deep roots in the Union City/Obion County community and align with the founders' emphasis on education and youth development.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available due to the invitation-only nature of the foundation's grantmaking.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation works with preselected organizations on an ongoing basis rather than through application cycles.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, these factors are not applicable in the traditional sense. However, examining the foundation's grantmaking patterns reveals clear priorities:

Demonstrated Long-term Commitment: The foundation's largest grants go to organizations with sustained relationships, particularly Discovery Park of America, which receives multi-million dollar support annually as the foundation's flagship project.

Focus on Youth and Education: Nearly all documented grants support educational initiatives, from early childhood (Promethean Foundation daycare scholarships) through high school (Union City Rotary scholarships and travel programs) to higher education (University of Tennessee).

Community Impact in Obion County: The foundation's grantmaking concentrates heavily on Northwest Tennessee, particularly Union City and Obion County, reflecting the founders' commitment to improving their home community.

Alignment with Rotary Values: Multiple grants flow through or to Union City Rotary Club initiatives, reflecting the Kirklands' active involvement in Rotary service projects.

Transformational Scale: The foundation has demonstrated willingness to make very large commitments ($100 million to create Discovery Park) for projects that align with their vision of creating lasting educational infrastructure.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - The foundation exclusively supports preselected charitable organizations with established relationships to the Kirkland family
  • Geographic focus is hyperlocal - Despite significant assets ($301+ million), grantmaking centers on Obion County and Northwest Tennessee
  • Education is the primary mission - From daycare scholarships to museum operations, virtually all grants support educational objectives
  • Major commitments to flagship projects - Discovery Park of America receives the lion's share of funding as the foundation's signature initiative
  • Family governance continues founders' vision - The Kirkland children (Christopher, Bedford, and Macy) now lead the foundation and maintain their parents' priorities
  • Rotary connections matter - The Union City Rotary Club serves as an important vehicle for the foundation's scholarship and youth travel programs
  • Long-term relationships drive grantmaking - Organizations receiving support have multi-year histories with the foundation rather than one-time awards

References

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