← Back to US Funders Directory

The Haslam 3 Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$31.1M
Grant Range
$1K - $17.7M

The Haslam 3 Foundation Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $31,100,000 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly specified
  • Grant Range: $600 - $17,700,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Tennessee (Knoxville area), Ohio, and New York
  • Total Assets: $88.7 million (2024)

Contact Details

Address: PO Box 11086, Knoxville, TN 37939
Phone: (865) 584-1184
Website: Not publicly available
Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Haslam 3 Foundation Inc was established in November 2001 as a private family foundation led by James A. Haslam III and Susan B. Haslam. With total assets of $88.7 million and annual giving of approximately $31.1 million in 2023, the foundation makes significant grants primarily focused on youth development, education, community development, and human services. The foundation operates out of Knoxville, Tennessee, and concentrates its philanthropic efforts primarily in the Knoxville area and Tennessee, with some grants extending to Ohio and New York. Recent grant activity shows a pattern of both large transformational gifts and smaller community-focused grants, with 34 awards made in 2023 ranging from $600 to $17.7 million.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate structured grant programs with specific tiers. Instead, grants are awarded through trustee discretion with significant variation in award amounts:

  • Major Transformational Gifts: $3,000,000 - $17,700,000 (for large-scale community projects)
  • Mid-Level Grants: $100,000 - $3,000,000 (for established nonprofits)
  • Small Community Grants: $600 - $100,000 (for local initiatives)

Application method: No public application process; written requests accepted with June 30 and December 31 deadlines mentioned in limited sources.

Priority Areas

Based on recent grant activity and stated interests:

  • Youth Development: Particularly Christian leadership development through organizations like Emerald Youth Foundation
  • Education: Support for educational institutions and programs
  • Parks and Recreation: Major support for park management and preservation (Lakeshore Park Conservancy)
  • Healthcare: Sports medicine and regenerative medicine initiatives
  • Human Services: Community-based human service programs
  • Arts and Culture: Support for cultural institutions
  • Religion: Christian organizations and ministries
  • Philanthropy and Voluntarism: Supporting grantmaking infrastructure

Geographic Priorities

  • Primary: Knoxville and Knox County, Tennessee
  • Secondary: Other areas of Tennessee, Ohio, and New York

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
  • Organizations outside their geographic focus areas (primarily Tennessee and Ohio)
  • General operating support for organizations without established relationships with the foundation

Governance and Leadership

The foundation operates as a private family foundation with all leadership positions held by members of the Haslam family. No compensation is paid to officers or directors.

Leadership Team:

  • Susan B. Haslam - President
  • James A. Haslam III - Vice President
  • James B. Haslam - Secretary and Treasurer
  • Cynthia Haslam Arnholt - Director
  • Whitney H. Johnson - Director

The Haslam family is prominent in Tennessee business and philanthropy, known for their association with Pilot Company (formerly Pilot Flying J) and significant contributions to the University of Tennessee and other regional institutions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are primarily awarded through trustee discretion and relationships established with the Haslam family and foundation leadership.

Limited information suggests that written requests may be considered with the following requirements:

  • Written request stating amount and purpose of request
  • Most recent audited financial statements
  • Copy of IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt determination letter
  • Potential deadlines referenced: June 30 and December 31

Organizations seeking funding should note that the foundation appears to focus on:

  • Organizations with which the family has existing relationships
  • Large, established organizations capable of significant impact
  • Organizations primarily in the Knoxville/Tennessee area

Decision Timeline

Not publicly specified. Organizations should expect to wait several months for consideration.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. With 34 grants awarded in 2023 from total giving of $31.1 million, the foundation makes a limited number of awards, many of which are substantial multi-million dollar grants.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly specified. Given the private nature of the foundation and trustee-discretion grantmaking, organizations should contact the foundation directly regarding reapplication policies.

Application Success Factors

Given the private nature of this foundation, success factors are based on observable patterns from recent grants:

Major Recent Grants (2023):

  • Lakeshore Park Conservancy: $17,728,009 for park management and preservation
  • University Hospitals Health System: $3,450,000 for sports regenerative medicine
  • Emerald Youth Foundation: $2,300,000 for Christian leadership development

Observable Success Patterns:

  • Established Organizations: Recent grants favor well-established institutions with proven track records
  • Geographic Connection: Strong preference for Knoxville and Tennessee-based organizations
  • Transformational Impact: Largest grants support projects capable of significant community transformation
  • Youth Focus: Consistent support for organizations serving youth, particularly through education and character development
  • Community Infrastructure: Major support for projects that enhance community quality of life (parks, healthcare, youth services)
  • Values Alignment: Support for Christian organizations and values-based youth development suggests importance of mission alignment

Required Materials: Organizations considering outreach should prepare:

  • Clear articulation of project purpose and community impact
  • Audited financial statements demonstrating fiscal responsibility
  • Evidence of 501(c)(3) status
  • Demonstrated track record of effective program delivery
  • Connection to Knoxville/Tennessee communities when possible

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Private Family Foundation: This is not an open application funder; grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on family interests and established relationships
  • Large Grant Capacity: The foundation is capable of transformational gifts ($3-17+ million) but also makes smaller community grants ($600-$100,000)
  • Youth Development Priority: Consistent support for youth-serving organizations, particularly those incorporating character and leadership development
  • Geographic Focus Essential: Strong preference for Knoxville and Tennessee organizations; out-of-state grants are rare
  • Relationship-Based: Success likely depends on existing connections to the Haslam family or foundation leadership
  • Values-Driven: Support for Christian organizations and values-based programming suggests importance of mission alignment with family values
  • Limited Public Information: The foundation maintains a private profile with minimal public-facing communications or application infrastructure

References

Information accessed December 2025

← Back to US Funders Directory