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Ahb Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.5M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.5M

Quick Stats

  • Total Assets: $46,007,821
  • Annual Giving: $1,472,817 (2024)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $496,000
  • Grant Median: $10,000
  • Total Grants (2024): 38 grants
  • Geographic Focus: East Tennessee (preference), with broader Tennessee reach

Contact Details

Mailing Address:
J Todd Ellis
c/o Steiner Ellis PLLC
PO Box 52206
Knoxville, TN 37950

Phone: (865) 212-3800

Application Deadlines: May 31 and November 30

Overview

The AHB Foundation is a private independent foundation established in November 2001 in Knoxville, Tennessee (EIN: 62-1867424). With total assets of approximately $46 million, the foundation distributed $1.47 million in grants in 2024 across 38 awards. The foundation is led by Ann Haslam Bailey (President), daughter of Pilot Company founder Jim Haslam and sister of former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, along with her husband Stephen W. Bailey (Vice President), who has served on the Tennessee Arts Commission and is active with the Knoxville Museum of Art. The foundation focuses its grantmaking on education, arts and culture, youth development, health, recreation, and wildlife conservation, with a strong preference for organizations serving the East Tennessee area. Recent significant grants demonstrate support for major cultural institutions, educational facilities, and community recreation spaces in the Knoxville region.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a semi-annual grant cycle with deadlines on May 31 and November 30. Grants are awarded through a written application process reviewed by the foundation's board of directors.

Priority Areas

Based on recent grantmaking patterns (2024), the foundation actively funds:

  • Education: Major support for private schools and educational services (e.g., Webb School of Knoxville - $496,000)
  • Arts & Culture: Museums, performing arts, and cultural festivals (e.g., Knoxville Museum of Art - $186,797; Big Ears Festival - $75,000)
  • Recreation & Parks: Public recreation facilities and conservancies (e.g., Lakeshore Park - $200,000)
  • Zoological & Wildlife: Support for zoos and wildlife conservation (e.g., Knoxville Zoological Gardens - $123,800)
  • Youth Development: Youth sports and programs serving young people
  • Health: Healthcare facilities and services, particularly children's health

Historical grants (2017) also included support for Knox Youth Sports ($10,000), East Tennessee Children's Hospital ($25,000), Boy Scouts of America ($20,000), Knoxville Opera Company ($5,000), and national organizations like the Pablove Foundation ($25,000) and Mercy for Animals ($6,000).

What They Don't Fund

  • Grants to individuals
  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
  • Organizations outside their geographic preference without compelling justification

Governance and Leadership

Ann Haslam Bailey - President & Director
Ann is a member of the prominent Haslam family and a former teacher who taught at the Knoxville Adaptive Education Center. She is active in the arts and garden communities, serves on the University of Tennessee Development Council, and is on the vestry of St. John's Episcopal Cathedral. The foundation's name "AHB" reflects her initials.

Stephen W. Bailey - Vice President & Director
Steve Bailey is active in Knoxville's arts community, serving on the Tennessee Arts Commission (2014-18, serving as chairman in 2018, and again from the early 2020s through 2025) and with the Knoxville Museum of Art. His involvement in arts leadership likely influences the foundation's strong support for cultural institutions.

J Todd Ellis - Secretary, Treasurer & Director
J Todd Ellis serves as the foundation's administrative contact through Steiner Ellis PLLC, the accounting firm that provides management services.

Whitfield Bailey - Director

All officers receive $0 compensation, consistent with the foundation's private family foundation structure.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The AHB Foundation accepts written grant applications with the following requirements:

Required Materials:

  • Written request stating the amount requested and purpose of the grant
  • Copy of the organization's IRS tax-exempt determination letter (501(c)(3) status)
  • Most recent audited financial statements or IRS Form 990
  • Detailed description of the project and amount of funding requested

Submission Deadlines:

  • May 31 (for fall cycle)
  • November 30 (for spring cycle)

Applications should be mailed to:
J Todd Ellis
c/o Steiner Ellis PLLC
PO Box 52206
Knoxville, TN 37950

Decision Timeline

The foundation does not publicly disclose specific decision timelines. Based on the semi-annual application cycle, applicants can expect decisions to be made in the months following each deadline, though exact timeframes vary.

Success Rates

With 38 grants awarded in 2024 and approximately 30 grants awarded annually in recent years (30 in 2023, 28 in 2022, 34 in 2021), the foundation maintains a consistent grantmaking program. However, the foundation does not publicly disclose the total number of applications received, making it impossible to calculate an accurate success rate.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not publicly disclose a formal reapplication policy. Organizations that have been unsuccessful may inquire about reapplication by contacting J Todd Ellis at the foundation's administrative office.

Application Success Factors

Geographic Alignment is Critical
The foundation gives preference to organizations in the East Tennessee area. While some grants have been made to organizations outside this region (such as national organizations in past years), the vast majority of funding stays local to Knoxville and surrounding East Tennessee counties. Organizations should clearly demonstrate their East Tennessee impact.

Major vs. Modest Grants
The foundation's grant portfolio shows significant variance, from the median grant of $10,000 to the maximum grant of $496,000 awarded to Webb School of Knoxville. Larger grants appear to go to established institutions with which the trustees have longstanding relationships (Knoxville Museum of Art, Knoxville Zoo, Lakeshore Park). Organizations seeking larger grants should consider whether they have existing connections to the foundation's leadership.

Arts and Culture Priority
With Vice President Steve Bailey's extensive involvement in the Tennessee Arts Commission and Knoxville Museum of Art, the foundation demonstrates strong support for arts and cultural programming. Organizations in this sector that can articulate community impact and educational value may be particularly well-positioned.

Education Focus
The foundation's largest single grant ($496,000 to Webb School of Knoxville) suggests strong support for educational institutions. Organizations should emphasize educational outcomes and youth development when relevant to their programs.

Financial Strength Required
The application requirement for audited financial statements suggests the foundation primarily supports established organizations with formal financial infrastructure. Smaller grassroots organizations without audited financials may face barriers to funding.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Location matters most: Strong preference for East Tennessee organizations. If you're outside this region, be prepared to make a compelling case for why the foundation should support your work.
  • Know the grant range: With a median of $10,000 and grants ranging from $5,000 to $496,000, request amounts should be realistic based on your organization's size and relationship with the foundation.
  • Leadership connections are influential: The foundation's grantmaking reflects the interests of its leadership, particularly in arts, education, and community development in Knoxville.
  • Be prepared with financials: Requirement for audited financial statements indicates the foundation expects professional organizational infrastructure.
  • Semi-annual cycle: Plan ahead for May 31 or November 30 deadlines with sufficient time to prepare a thorough application.
  • Established institutions receive larger grants: The highest grant amounts go to well-known Knoxville institutions, suggesting relationship-building and track record are important for major funding.
  • Private foundation discretion: As a family foundation with no public application portal, decisions are made at trustee discretion based on submitted proposals.

References

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