Lillian L. Colby Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $435,000
• Assets: $9.3 million
• Geographic Focus: Greater Chattanooga region, Tennessee
• Application Deadlines: February 1 and August 1 annually
• Award Cycles: Spring and Fall

Contact Details

Website: https://lilliancolby.org

Phone: (615) 748-4665

Address: 736 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402

Primary Contact: Ms. Ogles (provides back office support to the Board and serves as the primary Foundation contact for grant applicants)

Application Questions: Email Patti Lindblad (contact available through website)

Overview

The Lillian L. Colby Charitable Foundation was established in 2012 under the trust agreement of the late Lillian L. Colby, a humble elementary school teacher at Thrasher Elementary School who passed away in 2010. Born in 1920 to a farming family in Eagleville, Tennessee, Lillian Colby lived a quiet, frugal life on Signal Mountain after graduating from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She was known for her lifelong passion for music and art and an unyielding commitment to community development. Despite a teacher's salary, she left behind a surprising $5 million estate to establish the foundation. A widow for decades with no children, her thriftiness enabled her to create a lasting philanthropic legacy. The foundation strives to impact the Greater Chattanooga region by advancing education and economic mobility, with special emphasis on the marginalized. Through collaborative, proactive grantmaking, the foundation supports effective, well-led organizations and innovative programs that enhance opportunities for underserved children and adults.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation awards charitable grants in the spring and fall of each year through an online application system. They provide operating and program/project support.

• Application Method: Online portal with biannual deadlines (February 1 and August 1)

Priority Areas

• Education: Supporting educational opportunities and advancement for underserved populations
• Economic Mobility: Programs that provide pathways to economic empowerment and opportunity
• Human Services: Assisting the poor, homeless, hungry, battered, or otherwise in need
• Arts and Culture: Cultural and artistic advancement throughout the Chattanooga region, including leadership support for the Imagine! arts education program serving all Hamilton County School students in grades K-5
• Root Causes: Programs that address the root causes of poor outcomes in their interest areas
• Collaboration: Initiatives that encourage collaboration among nonprofit organizations, funders, public initiatives, and leaders

What They Don't Fund

• Capital projects and campaigns
• Grants to individuals
• Organizations with discriminatory policies (the Foundation does not discriminate and will not consider applications from organizations known to have discriminatory policies based on race, color, age, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, political or union affiliation, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected status)

Governance and Leadership

The foundation's board is staffed by well-known names from Chattanooga's philanthropic community. As of 2014, board members included:

• Jim Vaughn: City president for SunTrust Bank
• Gary Chazen: Former consultant to Metal Systems Inc., chairman of The Hunter Museum of Art and president of Friends of the Zoo
• Dana Perry: Managing partner at the Chambliss law firm
• Ben Probasco: Partner in the development firm of Kinsey, Probasco and Hays
• Catherine Colby: Niece of the late Lillian Colby

Note: The foundation's directors attend site visits and hear presentations from nonprofits by invitation only, indicating a hands-on, engaged approach to grantmaking.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Foundation uses an online application portal with two annual deadlines:

• February 1 (for Spring grants)
• August 1 (for Fall grants)

Applicants should review the foundation's guidelines and restrictions before applying through the online system available at lilliancolby.org.

The foundation employs a proactive approach to grantmaking, with directors attending site visits and hearing presentations from nonprofits by invitation only in addition to the standard application process.

Decision Timeline

Grant awards are announced in the spring and fall of each year, corresponding to the February and August application deadlines. Specific notification timelines are not publicly disclosed, but applicants can expect decisions following board review and site visits where applicable.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation's specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly disclosed. Applicants should contact the foundation directly for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated priorities and approach, successful applications should demonstrate:

1. Alignment with Core Mission: Clear focus on advancing education and economic mobility for marginalized populations in the Greater Chattanooga region. The foundation explicitly seeks to "strengthen the greater Chattanooga region by supporting effective, well-led organizations and innovative programs that enhance opportunities for underserved children and adults."

2. Root Cause Approach: The foundation encourages programs that address the root causes of poor outcomes in their interest areas, not just symptoms. Applications should articulate how programs create systemic change.

3. Strong Leadership: The foundation emphasizes support for "well-led organizations," suggesting that organizational capacity, governance, and leadership quality are important evaluation criteria.

4. Innovation: The foundation seeks "innovative programs," indicating preference for creative approaches to addressing community challenges.

5. Collaboration: The foundation explicitly seeks to "encourage collaboration among nonprofit organizations, funders, public initiatives and leaders." Applications that demonstrate collaborative partnerships or approaches may be viewed favorably.

6. Geographic Focus: Programs must serve the Greater Chattanooga region. This is a non-negotiable requirement.

7. Vulnerable Populations: The foundation was established to "aid the poor, homeless, hungry, battered or otherwise in need of assistance." Clear demonstration of how programs serve marginalized or vulnerable populations is essential.

8. Non-Discrimination: Organizations must maintain policies and practices that align with the foundation's commitment to non-discrimination across all protected categories.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Biannual Opportunity: Plan ahead for February 1 or August 1 deadlines; the foundation operates on a consistent spring/fall grant cycle
• Local Focus Only: This is strictly a Chattanooga-region funder; organizations outside this geographic area will not be considered
• No Capital Funding: Do not apply for capital projects or campaigns; focus on operating or program/project support requests
• Emphasize Impact on Marginalized: Clearly articulate how your program serves underserved children and adults and advances education or economic mobility
• Collaborative Approach Valued: Highlight partnerships and collaborative elements of your work, as the foundation actively encourages collaboration
• Root Causes Matter: Frame your program in terms of addressing root causes, not just providing services
• Invitation-Based Engagement: The foundation conducts site visits and presentations by invitation, suggesting they take a proactive approach to identifying strong candidates beyond just reviewing applications

References

• Lillian L. Colby Foundation official website: https://lilliancolby.org (accessed February 2025)
• Chattanooga Times Free Press: "Humble elementary school teacher leaves behind $5 million surprise" (May 31, 2014)
• Chattanooga Times Free Press: "Symphony sues for more money from deceased schoolteacher's foundation" (October 3, 2014)
• The Chattanoogan: "$145,000 In Grants Awarded To 11 Chattanooga Foundations By Lillian Colby Foundation" (November 19, 2014)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: Lillian L Colby Charitable Foundation (EIN 45-4420455)
• GuideStar Profile: Lillian L Colby Charitable Foundation
• Cause IQ: Lillian L Colby Charitable Foundation
• ArtsBuild Chattanooga: Arts Education - Imagine! Program information
• Foundation website pages including About Us, Grant Years 2015-2025, and Contact Information