The Assisi Foundation of Memphis
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Assisi Foundation of Memphis supports nonprofits in health and human services, education and lifelong learning, social justice and ethics, arts and culture, and community enhancement across Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, Crittenden County and Desoto County, so make sure your work fits one of these themes and places.
- Most grants to organisations range from $10,000 to $550,000, with a median of about $105,000, so pitch your request in that band; the occasional larger grant, up to $2,500,000, shows some capacity for bigger asks.
- Applications go through the Foundation's portal against quarterly deadlines — mid-November, mid-February, mid-May and mid-August — with arts and culture bids due in the first quarter, education bids in the second, and digital news bids in the third, so plan your timing carefully.
- With 35% of grant dollars to organisations going to those funded in the previous two filings, there's clear room for new applicants alongside continuing relationships.
- Avoid applying for individuals, national fundraising campaigns, events, sponsorships, emergencies, charter schools, summer camps or ongoing programme costs, and make sure you have 501(c)(3) status and at least three completed fiscal years of active operation before you apply, contacting the Foundation first if eligibility is unclear.
Overview
The Assisi Foundation of Memphis is a US private foundation based in Memphis, TN.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Foundation works with nonprofit organisations to address pressing challenges and search for root causes, aiming for healthy, positive transformation. Its stated focus areas are health and human services; education and lifelong learning; social justice and ethics; cultural enrichment and the arts; and community enhancement and capacity building. It supports initiatives enhancing the spiritual, mental and physical health and well-being of the Mid-South community, including direct care, research and preventive measures. In education, it funds nonprofits that build provider agencies’ organisational capacity, provide professional development, promote collaboration, and leverage local, state and federal resources. Its social justice and ethics work strengthens ethical values and promotes social justice, addressing economic and social challenges. In arts and culture, it supports groups promoting the cultural and artistic heritage of Greater Memphis. Its community enhancement category welcomes activities offering clear community benefit, addressing gaps and strengthening community resilience.
Themes
- Health & Human Services
- Education & Lifelong Learning
- Social Justice & Ethics
- Arts and culture
- Community enhancement
Geographic Focus
Shelby; Fayette; Tipton; Crittenden County; Desoto County.
What They Don't Fund
- Individuals (including personal financial assistance or scholarships)
- National fundraising campaigns
- Events (including but not limited to): auctions, dinners, fundraisers, festivals, health fairs, conferences, tournaments, workshops, or event tickets
- Religious outreach projects that serve only one congregation
- Political organizations, candidates, or lobbying efforts
- Financial shortfalls, such as recurring budget deficits or government funding cuts
- Athletic competitions, including tournament fees and travel expenses
- Evangelization or proselytizing efforts
- Ongoing program expenses, such as annual workshop series, membership dues, regularly needed medical equipment, or patient care costs
- Regularly supported activities of fundraising organizations
- Sponsorships
- Emergencies
- Charter Schools
- Summer Camps
- Organizations that exclude individuals based on their faith
- Organizations that have not been in active operation for a minimum of three completed fiscal years
- Fiscal-sponsor applicants without an independent local advisory board or board of directors
- Organizations without 501(c)(3) status
How to apply
Applicants register as a portal user, open and complete an application using the appropriate application type, then submit it.
Deadlines:
- Applications have quarterly deadlines: first quarter in mid-November of the preceding year, second quarter in mid-February, third quarter in mid-May, and fourth quarter in mid-August.
- Arts and culture requests are accepted in the first quarter, education-related requests in the second, and digital news requests in the third.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 35% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 132 grants to organisations were about $105,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Program Support requests are preferred when they address a critical community need or opportunity.
- Program Support requests are preferred when they address root causes of a problem.
- Program Support proposals should set clear goals, timelines, objectives and measurable outcomes.
- Program Support proposals should include an effective mechanism for measuring impact.
- Program Support proposals should have sound, realistic financial plans and diverse funding sources.
- Program Support requests should not duplicate existing services unless there is a clear need for additional services.
- Capital projects should be necessary to fulfil the organisation’s mission and form part of its long-range plan.
- Capital campaign applicants are preferably expected to have raised at least half of the total in cash or pledges.
- Applicants with questions about eligibility are asked to contact the Foundation before submitting.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
1 other state: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 8% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 35% of grant dollars went to organisations The Assisi Foundation of Memphis had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 47 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $91,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- National Civil Rights Museum · Become the dream capital campaign$2,500,0002024 tax year
- Friends for All · Main facility renovation project$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Urban Renaissance · South city early childhood education center$1,000,0002024 tax year
- St Jude Children's Research Hospital · Cell + gene therapy$750,0002024 tax year
- Alliance Healthercare Services · Crisis wellness center$500,0002024 tax year
- Youth Villages · Memphis allies$500,0002024 tax year
- Hospitality Hub of Memphis · Emergency shelter expansion$500,0002024 tax year
- LifeDoc Health · Catalyzing change to transform memphis healthcare$500,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Susan Aguillard — Director
- Jan Young — Executive Director
- Robert Gooch — Director
- Peggy Veeser — Chairman
- Philip R Zanone Jr — Director
- Martin F Thompson — Director
- Willie Gregory — Director
- Cato Johnson — Director
- Frank Gusmus — Director
- Charles D Schaffler — Director
- Beverly Robertson — Director
- Ellen Klyce — Director
- Barbara Daush — Director
- David Scully — Director
- Ronald A Belz — Director
- Marvin Davis — Director
- Molitor Ford Jr — Director
- Carol Johnson Dean — Director
- Nisha Powers — Director
- Harry Goldsmith — Director
and 3 more
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $12,420,647 | $10,996,636 | $205,049,009 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $15,632,302 | $10,499,512 | $222,933,424 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $13,786,173 | $11,495,773 | $233,486,122 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Assisi Foundation of Memphis?
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Applying to The Assisi Foundation of Memphis?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required