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Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga

Annual Giving
$28.0M
Grant Range
Up to $0.0M00
Decision Time
4mo

Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $28+ million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 3-4 months
  • Grant Range: Up to $30,000 (Fund for Chattanooga)
  • Geographic Focus: Hamilton County, Tennessee

Contact Details

Website: https://www.cfgc.org
Phone: (423) 265-0586
Address: 1400 Williams Street, Chattanooga, TN 37408
Grant Contact: Jon Berestecky, Manager of Community Investment
Email: jberestecky@cfgc.org
Phone (Direct): (423) 265-0586 x44

Overview

Established in 1963, the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga serves as a vital philanthropic hub connecting donors with community causes. The foundation distributed over $28 million in grants to nonprofits in 2024, demonstrating significant impact across the Chattanooga region. Their mission focuses on transforming generosity into lasting change toward a prosperous and just Chattanooga. Under the leadership of President/CEO Maeghan Jones and Board Chair Dr. Ruth Liu, the foundation emphasizes working with proximate leaders closest to community needs and supporting strong nonprofits that create opportunities for economic mobility.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Fund for Chattanooga Grant Cycle: Up to $30,000 unrestricted grants

  • Application opens: July 25
  • Application deadline: August 15
  • Decision announcement: November 11
  • Focus on organizations serving Hamilton County

Eviction Prevention Initiative (EPI)

  • Partnership with City of Chattanooga, Habitat for Humanity, and Legal Aid
  • Provides legal and case management support

Impact Investing Programs

  • Accelerator Loan Fund: Low-interest loans for small businesses
  • Chattanooga Impact Capital Fund: Support for local entrepreneurs
  • Affordable Housing Fund: $5 million line of credit from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Priority Areas

  • Addressing hunger
  • Supporting affordable housing and shelter
  • Supporting mental wellbeing
  • Creating access to affordable healthcare
  • Workforce Development

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated in available materials

Governance and Leadership

President/CEO: Maeghan Jones
Board Chair: Dr. Ruth Liu (retired director of Institutional Research and Planning at Southern Adventist University)

The foundation maintains a leadership team with executives in philanthropy, finance, community investment, and communications, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to community grantmaking.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Contact Community Investment staff (Jon Berestecky)
  2. Receive application invitation
  3. Complete online application via Grant Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=cfgc
  4. Participate in staff review and follow-up process

Decision Timeline

  • Application Period: 3 weeks (late July to mid-August)
  • Site Visits: September-October
  • Total Decision Time: Approximately 3-4 months from application deadline to funding decision

Success Rates

Not publicly available

Reapplication Policy

Not specified in available materials

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated priorities and approach:

  • Focus on transformative, neighborhood-level projects that demonstrate potential for lasting community impact
  • Align closely with one or more of the five priority areas
  • Demonstrate service to Hamilton County residents
  • Show collaboration with other community organizations
  • Emphasize how unrestricted funding will strengthen organizational capacity
  • Connect your work to economic mobility and community justice themes

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation Required: Contact Jon Berestecky before applying - the foundation uses an invitation-based application system
  • Unrestricted Funding: The Fund for Chattanooga provides unrestricted grants, allowing flexibility in fund usage
  • Geographic Limitation: Must primarily serve Hamilton County to be eligible
  • Strategic Alignment: Strong emphasis on economic mobility and community justice should be reflected in applications
  • Collaborative Approach: Foundation values partnerships and collaborative solutions
  • Site Visits: Be prepared for site visits during September-October as part of the evaluation process
  • Annual Cycle: Plan ahead for the annual summer application window

References

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