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Aslan Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.1M

Aslan Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,091,631 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $108 million+
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Average grant $21,327
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Knoxville area, Tennessee
  • Number of Awards: 89 grants (2023)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.aslanfoundation.org
Email: grants@aslanfoundation.org
Phone: 865-524-6360
Address: 5107 Homberg Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919

Overview

The Aslan Foundation was established in 1994 by Lindsay Young and named after a golden retriever, inspired by the lion character in C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. With assets exceeding $108 million, the foundation embraces the mission of "preserving beauty, advancing livability, and supporting cultural assets in Knoxville, Tennessee." The foundation operates through three charitable initiatives: grantmaking, public-private partnerships, and foundation-led projects. Notable partnerships with the City of Knoxville have resulted in transformative community projects including High Ground Park, Fort Dickerson Gateway ($1.65 million foundation investment), and Augusta Quarry Lake (contributing to $11 million total investment). The foundation has shown consistent growth in its grantmaking, increasing from 34 awards in 2020 to 89 awards in 2023.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Aslan Foundation operates an invitation-only grantmaking program with the following process:

  • Letter of inquiry deadline: April 30th annually
  • Invitation notifications: June 1st
  • Full application period: June 30th - July 30th (5 p.m. deadline)
  • Applications submitted via Submittable online portal

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on organizations serving the greater Knoxville area in:

  • Arts and Culture: Supports organizations like Knoxville Opera, Knoxville Museum of Art, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Community School of the Arts, and Big Ears Festival
  • Animal Welfare: Funding for Horse Haven and Young-Williams Animal Center
  • Land Conservation: Partnerships with Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, development of parks and recreational facilities
  • Historic Preservation: Support for Knox Heritage and preservation projects like the Candoro Marble Building and Eugenia Williams House
  • Parks and Recreation: Major investments in Fort Dickerson Gateway, Augusta Quarry Lake, and other public spaces
  • Community Services: Support for Boys and Girls Club of East Tennessee, Downtown Knoxville YMCA, Cancer Support Community, Second Harvest Food Bank
  • Environmental Conservation: Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly listed, the foundation's invitation-only process and geographic focus on greater Knoxville indicate they do not fund:

  • Organizations outside the greater Knoxville area
  • Non-501(c)(3) organizations
  • Projects not aligned with their six priority areas

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Robert Young - President (Board President, serves without compensation)
  • Lindsay McDonough - Vice President (serves without compensation)
  • Mark Williams - Secretary (serves without compensation)

Staff

  • Katharine Killen - Executive Director

The foundation is governed by a small, dedicated board that maintains close oversight of grantmaking and strategic initiatives. The board members serve voluntarily without compensation, demonstrating their personal commitment to the foundation's mission.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Aslan Foundation uses a two-step, invitation-only application process:

  1. Letter of Inquiry (LOI): Submit a single-page letter of inquiry to grants@aslanfoundation.org by April 30th each year
  2. Invitation: Foundation staff reviews LOIs and sends invitations to apply by June 1st
  3. Full Application: Invited organizations complete full applications online via the Aslan Foundation's Submittable platform between June 30th and July 30th at 5 p.m.
  4. FAQ Available: The foundation provides an FAQ document for additional guidance

Only organizations invited after the LOI stage may submit full applications. This invitation-only process allows the foundation to focus on projects most aligned with their mission and capacity.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines and notification methods are not publicly disclosed. Organizations should expect to hear about funding decisions following the July 30th application deadline, though exact timeframes vary.

Success Rates

With 89 awards made in 2023 and an invitation-only process, the foundation maintains a selective grantmaking approach. The number of LOIs received versus invitations extended is not publicly disclosed, making it difficult to calculate precise success rates. However, the consistent growth from 34 awards (2020) to 89 awards (2023) suggests expanding grantmaking capacity.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation's reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly disclosed. Organizations should contact grants@aslanfoundation.org to inquire about reapplication timing and policies.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented funding patterns and priorities:

Alignment with Mission and Geography

Organizations must serve the greater Knoxville area and align with at least one of the six priority areas. The foundation's emphasis on "preserving beauty, advancing livability, and supporting cultural assets" suggests successful applicants demonstrate clear connections to enhancing Knoxville's quality of life.

Track Record and Organizational Capacity

The foundation's grantee roster includes well-established Knoxville institutions (Knoxville Opera, Knoxville Museum of Art, Knox Heritage), suggesting preference for organizations with proven track records and strong operational capacity.

Partnership Potential

The foundation's major projects demonstrate a preference for collaborative approaches. Their public-private partnerships with the City of Knoxville (Fort Dickerson Gateway, High Ground Park, Augusta Quarry Lake) show they value projects that leverage multiple funding sources and create lasting community impact.

Capital and Infrastructure Projects

Major foundation-led projects like Fort Dickerson Gateway ($1.65 million) and contributions to Augusta Quarry Lake (part of $11 million total) indicate openness to significant capital investments when aligned with mission priorities, particularly for parks, historic preservation, and public spaces.

Community Impact and Legacy

The foundation's support for projects like the Loghaven Artist Residency, historic preservation of Civil War-era forts, and major recreational facilities suggests they prioritize projects with long-term community benefit and lasting legacy.

Local Knowledge and Connections

As a Knoxville-focused foundation with deep roots in the community (established 1994), demonstrated understanding of local context and existing connections to Knoxville's civic infrastructure likely strengthen applications.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Start with the LOI: The April 30th letter of inquiry deadline is your first critical touchpoint—make it count with a clear, compelling one-page case aligned with foundation priorities
  • Geographic focus is absolute: Only organizations serving greater Knoxville area are eligible; this is non-negotiable
  • Invitation-only means relationship building matters: With no open application process, organizations should build awareness of their work through community engagement and existing grantee networks
  • Think beyond annual operating grants: The foundation's major project investments ($1.65M for Fort Dickerson Gateway) suggest openness to larger capital requests for the right projects
  • Partnership strengthens proposals: The foundation's track record of public-private partnerships indicates they value collaborative approaches that leverage multiple funding sources
  • Long-term community impact is key: Projects that create lasting legacy and enhance Knoxville's beauty, livability, and cultural assets align most strongly with foundation values
  • Organizational capacity matters: The grantee roster of established Knoxville institutions suggests strong preference for organizations with proven track records and operational stability

References

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