Choicedata Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,082,742
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $100,000 - $250,000
• Geographic Focus: East Tennessee and Rhode Island

Contact Details

• Mailing Address: PO Box 12958, Knoxville, TN 37912-0958
• Physical Address: 3817 Chanterwood Trl, Ooltewah, TN 37363-8207
• Website: No public website
• Phone: Not publicly available
• Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Choicedata Foundation Inc is a private foundation established to support the philanthropic interests of ChoiceDATA, Inc., a business information and risk management services company founded in 1916. With total assets of approximately $24.6 million, the foundation distributes over $1 million annually to youth-serving organizations primarily in East Tennessee. The foundation's mission focuses on positively impacting the quality, character, and financial literacy of the future workforce, particularly targeting economically disadvantaged children and youth. Operating without a public application process, the foundation makes strategic grants through invitation only, typically awarding 6 grants annually ranging from $100,000 to $250,000.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have formal grant programs but makes discretionary grants in the following range:

• General Support Grants: $100,000 - $250,000 (invitation-only basis)
• Median Grant Size: $184,000

Priority Areas

• Character development programs for youth
• Financial literacy education
• Academic support for economically disadvantaged students
• Youth development and mentorship programs
• Boys & Girls Clubs and similar youth-serving organizations

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, based on their grant history, they do not appear to fund:

• Organizations outside Tennessee and Rhode Island
• Adult-focused programs
• Individual requests
• Organizations not serving youth

Governance and Leadership

Dan M. Bechtol serves as Director, President, and CEO of the foundation. He also leads ChoiceDATA, Inc. and Credit Bureau of Knoxville, Inc., demonstrating the close connection between the foundation and its corporate sponsor. The board consists of multiple directors who serve without compensation, though additional names are not publicly disclosed.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Choicedata Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, with grants awarded through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships. Organizations cannot submit unsolicited applications or proposals.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's grant history and corporate connections:

• The foundation appears to identify beneficiaries through ChoiceDATA's business network and community connections in East Tennessee
• Organizations with established track records serving youth in the Chattanooga, Knoxville, Johnson City, and Collegedale areas may be considered
• Given the foundation's connection to the business community through ChoiceDATA's credit and business information services, having strong financial management and demonstrated impact may be important factors

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation-only process

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - invitation-only process

Application Success Factors

Based on analysis of recent grant recipients:

• Strong youth focus: All funded organizations directly serve children and youth
• Established presence: Recipients like Boys & Girls Clubs and Emerald Youth Foundation have long-standing reputations in their communities
• Geographic alignment: Organizations must serve East Tennessee communities where ChoiceDATA has business presence
• Mission alignment: Successful recipients demonstrate clear commitment to character development, education, and supporting economically disadvantaged youth
• Scale of impact: The foundation favors organizations with broad reach - TNAchieves serves students statewide, Boys & Girls Clubs serve thousands of youth annually
• Financial stewardship: Given ChoiceDATA's business in credit and financial services, recipients likely demonstrate strong financial management

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is an invitation-only funder with no public application process - relationship building is essential
• Focus area is exclusively youth-serving organizations in East Tennessee (and occasionally Rhode Island)
• Grant sizes are substantial ($100K-$250K), suggesting they prefer to make fewer, larger investments
• Strong alignment with character development and financial literacy programs is crucial
• The foundation's corporate connection to ChoiceDATA may provide networking opportunities through business community events in East Tennessee
• Organizations should demonstrate both immediate impact and contribution to "future workforce" development
• Given the foundation's consistent support of certain organizations, they appear to value long-term partnerships

References

• Charity Navigator - Choicedata Foundation Inc Profile. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/301224894. Accessed March 2026.
• Tax Exempt World - Choicedata Foundation Inc. https://www.taxexemptworld.com/organization.asp?tn=2760254. Accessed March 2026.
• GrantExec Foundation Directory - Choicedata Foundation Inc. https://grantexec.com/foundations/301224894. Accessed March 2026.
• Cause IQ - Choicedata Foundation Profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/choicedata-foundation,301224894/. Accessed March 2026.
• Grantable.co - Choicedata Foundation Inc Funder Profile. https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/choicedata-foundation-inc-us-foundation-301224894. Accessed March 2026.
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Form 990 Documents. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/301224894. Accessed March 2026.
• GuideStar - Choicedata Foundation Inc. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/30-1224894. Accessed March 2026.