Footprint Foundation Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

• EIN: 27-5486356
• Assets: $23,083,812
• Annual Giving: Approximately $1,081,525 (2024)
• Grant Range: $250 - $125,000
• Number of Awards: 51 (2024), 51 (2023), 63 (2022), 32 (2021)
• Geographic Focus: Chattanooga, TN and Northern California
• Current Status: Not accepting applications - undergoing strategic redesign until 2026

Contact Details

Address: The Lupton Co, 201 W Main St, Suite 205, Chattanooga, TN 37408

Phone: 423-757-0507

Website: https://www.footprintfoundation.org

Note: Foundation is currently not making new grants while undergoing strategic transformation

Overview

The Footprint Foundation Inc was established in 2012 when the Lyndhurst Foundation reorganized, spinning off five smaller family foundations to allow for community-led governance. The foundation received its endowment from the Lyndhurst Foundation and the Lupton family, whose wealth originated from the success of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company. With assets exceeding $23 million, the foundation has distributed over $1 million annually in recent years. The foundation's six trustees are family members with ties to the Lupton family. Since 2016, Footprint has distinguished itself through "The Buzz" program, a unique relationship-building initiative that convenes approximately 80 Chattanooga leaders, activists, and changemakers for intensive conversations about social justice, equity, and community transformation. As of 2023, the foundation is undergoing a significant transformation, pausing all new grants while co-creating a new strategic direction with its Buzz community network. The foundation anticipates completing this community-led redesign process and resuming grantmaking sometime in 2026.

Funding Priorities

Historical Grant Programs (Pre-2023 Pause)

Focus Areas:

• Creative Culture: Supporting arts, creative organizations, and cultural initiatives
• Environment: Environmental protection and sustainability projects
• Learning: Educational programs and initiatives
• Social Justice: Equity, anti-racism, and community organizing work

Geographic Focus:

• Primary: Chattanooga, TN and surrounding region
• Secondary: Northern California

Typical Grant Range: $250 - $125,000

Partnership Approach

The foundation has made substantial grants through intermediary organizations, particularly the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, supporting initiatives including:

• Chattanooga Impact Capital Fund
• Eviction Protection Fund
• Smart City Venture Fund
• Community Response and Resilience Fund
• Equity Fund
• Ed Johnson Memorial Project

What They Don't Fund

• Capital campaigns
• Capital projects
• Annual campaigns
• Fundraising event tables

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Alice Lupton Smith - President

Alfred Smith - Vice President

John Montague - Treasurer

Tom Montague - Secretary

Jessica Montague - Trustee

Kristina Montague - Trustee

All trustees serve on a voluntary basis without compensation. The board represents both the Smith and Montague branches of the extended Lupton family, ensuring continuity with the foundation's origins while maintaining a family-led governance structure.

Foundation Philosophy

The foundation has been explicit about their evolving approach to philanthropy. In their own words, they are "examining both our grantmaking and investing strategies and ways in which we can and should be more inclusive, specifically how we shift our power and capital to those closest to the work we want to support." They describe "moving away from a charity to a change/liberation mindset and by acknowledging our part in the broken, dominant systems that exist in our culture."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The Footprint Foundation does not have a public application process. All grants are made by invitation only.

Current Status: As of 2023, the foundation is not accepting any applications or making new grants while they undergo a strategic transformation. They expect to complete their co-creation process and resume grantmaking sometime in 2026.

Historical Application Approach (Pre-2023)

Prior to the strategic pause, the foundation:

• Operated exclusively on an invitation-only basis
• Did not accept unsolicited grant proposals
• Made contributions only to pre-selected charitable organizations
• Identified potential grantees through trustee networks, The Buzz program, and community connections

Getting on Their Radar

The Footprint Foundation has a unique community engagement model that offers specific pathways for organizations to connect with the foundation:

The Buzz Program: This is the foundation's signature relationship-building initiative. Since 2016, the foundation has convened approximately 80 Chattanooga leaders through four cohorts. Buzz participants include:

• Grassroots organizations and advocacy groups
• Civic leaders and community organizers
• Local activists and clergy
• City employees and artists
• Current and potential grantees
• Community influencers

Participants travel together to other cities (past destinations include Asheville, Louisville, Cincinnati, and Montgomery) for intensive discussions on topics such as equity, food access, integration, affordable housing, and implicit bias. Being part of The Buzz network has historically been one pathway to the foundation's attention.

Community Leadership Visibility: The foundation seeks out people and organizations "working in the intersections of social justice, creative culture, environment, and learning" to elevate their stories and important community conversations. Organizations doing innovative work at these intersections and demonstrating community leadership may come to the foundation's attention.

When They Resume Grantmaking (2026): The foundation is currently co-creating their new approach with their Buzz community network. In early 2022, they allocated $4 million over 5 years toward a new strategic direction that "leans more fully into connections with The Buzz community." The new approach will likely continue to emphasize community-identified priorities and participatory decision-making.

Decision Timeline

Historical Timeline (Pre-2023): Specific decision timelines were not publicly documented, as grants were invitation-only and likely negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

Future Timeline (Post-2026): Decision processes for the new strategic approach have not yet been defined.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Priorities

While the foundation is currently redesigning its approach, their historical priorities and stated values provide important context for understanding what they value:

Intersectional Work: The foundation explicitly seeks organizations "working in the intersections of social justice, creative culture, environment, and learning." Single-issue approaches may be less compelling than work that bridges multiple areas.

Community Connection: The foundation values deep community relationships and grassroots approaches. They've stated they want to "shift power and capital to those closest to the work."

Systems Change Orientation: The foundation has moved from a "charity to a change/liberation mindset." They're interested in organizations that address root causes rather than just symptoms.

Chattanooga-Specific Impact: The foundation has strong roots in Chattanooga and prioritizes local impact. Understanding Chattanooga's specific challenges and opportunities is essential.

Collaborative Approach: Many of their larger grants have been to collaborative initiatives and intermediary organizations like the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga.

Historical Grant Patterns

Past grantees have included:

• Community foundations managing collaborative funds
• Social justice and equity-focused organizations
• Environmental initiatives
• Arts and creative culture organizations
• Educational programs
• Projects addressing affordable housing, food access, and economic mobility

Red Flags to Avoid

Based on their explicit exclusions and stated philosophy:

• Traditional capital campaign requests
• Building or facility projects
• General operating support for established institutions (without clear equity focus)
• Annual campaign support
• Event sponsorships or table purchases
• Work that doesn't address equity or social justice dimensions

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Current Opportunities: The foundation is not accepting applications and won't resume grantmaking until 2026 at the earliest. Monitor their website for updates on their new strategy.

• Invitation-Only Model: Even when they resume, expect an invitation-only approach. Focus on building authentic community presence rather than preparing unsolicited proposals.

• Community Network Matters: The Buzz program has been central to their grantmaking. Connection to this network of Chattanooga leaders may be valuable when the foundation resumes operations.

• Radical Transformation: The foundation is explicitly moving toward a more participatory, power-shifting model. When they return, expect a fundamentally different approach to philanthropy that centers community voices.

• Geographic Focus: Strong preference for Chattanooga-based work, with secondary interest in Northern California (likely due to family connections).

• Intersectional Approach: Work that bridges social justice, creative culture, environment, and learning will likely remain central to their interests.

• Equity-Centered: The foundation's transformation emphasizes "shifting power and capital" and moving from charity to liberation. Organizations with strong equity analysis and community accountability will likely align with their new direction.

References

• Footprint Foundation Official Website. "About." https://www.footprintfoundation.org/about (Accessed February 2026)
• Footprint Foundation. "CHANGING." https://www.footprintfoundation.org/changing (Accessed February 2026)
• Footprint Foundation. "The Buzz." https://www.footprintfoundation.org/the-buzz (Accessed February 2026)
• Footprint Foundation. "Grants and Grantees." https://www.footprintfoundation.org/grantees (Accessed February 2026)
• Instrumentl. "Footprint Foundation Inc | Chattanooga, TN | 990 Report." https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/footprint-foundation-inc (Accessed February 2026)
• Cause IQ. "Footprint Foundation | Chattanooga, TN." https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/footprint-foundation-inc,275486356/ (Accessed February 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Footprint Foundation Inc." https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/275486356 (Accessed February 2026)
• Grantmakers.io. "Footprint Foundation Inc. Profile." https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/275486356-footprint-foundation-inc/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Chattanooga Times Free Press. "Laying a new foundation." March 11, 2011. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/news/story/2011/mar/11/laying-new-foundation/44577/ (Accessed February 2026)