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Bill And Carol Latimer Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$12.1M
Grant Range
$5K - $1.0M

Bill And Carol Latimer Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $12.1 million (2024)
  • Total Assets: $177.8 million (2024)
  • Grant Activity: 47 awards in 2022
  • Geographic Focus: Obion County and surrounding Northwest Tennessee counties (Weakley, Lake)
  • Foundation Type: Private family foundation

Contact Details

Address: 201 West Main Street, Union City, TN 38261

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or publicly listed phone/email. Contact must be made via mail to the address above.

Overview

The Bill And Carol Latimer Charitable Foundation was established in 2005 by Union City residents Bill and Carol Latimer and received 501(c)(3) designation in September 2006. With total assets of $177.8 million as of 2024, the foundation has experienced substantial growth from $97.8 million in 2015—an 82% increase over nine years. The foundation distributes approximately $12.1 million annually in grants, focusing primarily on Christian churches and organizations, human services, and educational support through scholarships and student loans. The Latimers' philanthropic philosophy centers on transformational giving: "Carol and I believe that if God has blessed you, then you need to use his blessings to bless others," Bill Latimer has stated. "We believe in education, and we believe that is the best way to help get people out of poverty." The foundation specifically addresses what they view as unmet needs in Obion and surrounding counties in Northwest Tennessee.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Church and Religious Organization Grants: The foundation provides substantial grants to Christian churches, seminaries, and faith-based organizations. Specific grant amounts vary based on organizational needs and foundation priorities.

Human Services Grants: Support for human service organizations addressing community needs in Northwest Tennessee.

Scholarship Programs:

  • The Latimer Scholarship: Prestigious $40,000 scholarship ($10,000 per year for four years) awarded to select Union City High School seniors. Recipients are chosen by a committee of school personnel at the request of Bill Latimer.
  • Obion County Scholarships: $20,000 scholarships ($5,000 per year for four years) awarded to outstanding students from Obion County high schools. In 2025, three students received this award.
  • Student Loan Program: Loans available to students graduating from Obion, Weakley, and Lake County high schools to pursue college or technical education.

Priority Areas

  • Christian churches and religious organizations, including seminaries
  • Educational institutions and student financial aid
  • Human services organizations
  • Community development in Obion County and surrounding Northwest Tennessee counties
  • Organizations addressing unmet community needs

What They Don't Fund

Based on available information, the foundation focuses exclusively on:

  • Christian/faith-based organizations (secular organizations appear to be outside their scope)
  • Northwest Tennessee region (grants outside this geographic area are unlikely)
  • Education and human services (other sectors appear to receive limited consideration)

Governance and Leadership

William Latimer III - President/Trustee (receives no compensation)

Carol Latimer - Secretary/Committee Member (receives no compensation)

Doug Latimer - Trustee (receives no compensation)

All trustees serve without compensation, demonstrating their personal commitment to the foundation's mission. The Latimers are longtime residents of Obion County and have a distinguished record of major philanthropic contributions beyond this foundation, including:

  • $6.5 million gift to the University of Tennessee at Martin for the Latimer-Smith Engineering and Science Building (the largest gift in UTM history)
  • $10 million lead gift to Union University for a new library (the largest cash gift in Union University's history)
  • $3-4 million for the Obion County Library (1997)
  • $4 million to the Middle Tennessee Council Boy Scouts of America (2007)
  • Funding for a dental clinic

Bill Latimer has articulated their philanthropic approach: "We believe in education, and we believe that is the best way to help get people out of poverty."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Bill And Carol Latimer Charitable Foundation operates as a private family foundation with trustee-directed grantmaking. Grants appear to be awarded through:

  1. Trustee discretion and initiative: The foundation trustees identify organizations and needs aligned with their mission
  2. Invitation only: Organizations may be invited to apply based on relationships or trustee awareness
  3. Committee selection for scholarships: Student scholarships (such as The Latimer Scholarship) are awarded through committees established at the request of the foundation, typically involving school personnel

The foundation distributed $12.1 million across 47 awards in 2022, suggesting selective but substantial grantmaking to known organizations and individuals.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's grantmaking appears to be driven by the trustees' direct knowledge of and relationships with organizations in Northwest Tennessee. Based on their documented approach:

  • Local presence matters: The foundation focuses on Obion County and immediately surrounding counties (Weakley, Lake). Organizations with strong roots and impact in this geographic area align with their stated mission to address "unmet needs in Obion and surrounding counties."

  • Christian alignment is essential: The foundation's giving priorities explicitly favor Christian churches and organizations. Faith-based organizations addressing community needs appear to be the primary recipients.

  • Educational partnerships: The foundation has established formal scholarship programs with local high schools through committees selected at Bill Latimer's request, suggesting that educational institutions can build structured relationships with the foundation.

  • Major institutional relationships: The Latimers' history of transformational gifts to institutions like the University of Tennessee at Martin and Union University demonstrates they respond to major institutional needs when they align with their values and have significant community impact.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly documented. As a private foundation operating without formal application deadlines or processes, timing likely varies based on trustee meetings and organizational relationships.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. With 47 awards made in 2022 from what is likely a much smaller pool of organizations within the foundation's relationship network, the "success rate" for unsolicited inquiries is likely very low.

Reapplication Policy

No public information available. Given the private, relationship-based nature of grantmaking, reapplication would depend on building or maintaining relationships with foundation trustees.

Application Success Factors

Given this is a private foundation without a public application process, traditional "application success factors" do not apply. However, organizations that have historically received support share these characteristics:

Strong Christian identity and mission: The foundation "gives primarily to Christian churches and organizations, including a seminary." Faith alignment is fundamental.

Geographic focus in Northwest Tennessee: Specific emphasis on Obion County and surrounding counties (Weakley, Lake). The foundation was created because "Bill and Carol Latimer believe that there are unmet needs in Obion and surrounding counties."

Educational mission: The foundation strongly supports education as the pathway out of poverty, as stated by Bill Latimer. Educational institutions and programs receive significant attention.

Transformational impact potential: The Latimers' personal giving history shows they favor projects with major community impact—university buildings, libraries, comprehensive scholarship programs—rather than small incremental support.

Existing relationships with trustees: As a private foundation, grants appear to flow to organizations already known to and trusted by the foundation's leadership.

Alignment with the Latimers' values: Organizations should embody the foundation's core beliefs: Christian faith, educational opportunity, and addressing unmet community needs in Northwest Tennessee.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications—they operate through trustee-directed grantmaking and existing relationships

  • Christian faith is central—secular organizations are unlikely to receive funding regardless of merit

  • Geography is restrictive—focus is specifically on Obion County and immediately surrounding Northwest Tennessee counties

  • Education is highly valued—the foundation views education as "the best way to help get people out of poverty" and provides substantial scholarship support

  • Think transformational, not incremental—the Latimers' giving history suggests they favor major impact projects over small grants

  • Assets are substantial and growing—with $177.8 million in assets (2024) and annual giving of $12.1 million, this is a significant regional foundation

  • Building local relationships matters—given the private nature of their grantmaking, being known and trusted within the Northwest Tennessee community is essential for any potential funding consideration

References

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