Herbert A Fritch Family Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $8,000 - $1,530,000 (highly variable)
Grant Range: $2,500 - $200,000
Number of Grants: 2-5 per year
Total Assets: $32.5M (2024)
Geographic Focus: Nashville, TN and select locations with personal connections
Application Process: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: 57 Brookhill Cir, Nashville, TN 37215-6111
Phone: (615) 291-8683
EIN: 62-6404383
Type: Private Family Foundation

Note: This foundation does not maintain a public website or accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Herbert A Fritch Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2007 in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded by Herbert A. Fritch, the former CEO of HealthSpring (acquired by Cigna for $3.8 billion in 2012), and his wife Barbara, the foundation manages approximately $32.5 million in assets as of 2024. The foundation demonstrates highly variable giving patterns, ranging from $8,000 in 2023 to $1.53 million in 2019, reflecting a discretionary approach to grantmaking. Operating without paid staff, the foundation is managed by the Fritches as unpaid co-trustees. Their grantmaking focuses on organizations with personal connections to the trustees, supporting diverse causes including memory care, higher education, wildlife conservation, social services, and public media, with a particular emphasis on Nashville-area organizations. The foundation operates exclusively on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Invitation-Only Grantmaking

No formal grant programs
Grants range from $2,500 to $200,000
Unrestricted gifts to selected organizations
Highly variable annual giving

Priority Areas

The foundation does not specify particular subject areas for funding. Based on documented grants, areas of support include:

Memory Care and Dementia Services (Abe's Garden - $200K in 2022)
Higher Education (Carleton College - $100K in 2022)
Wildlife Conservation (African People & Wildlife - $10K in 2022)
Social Services (Nashville Rescue Mission - $5K in 2022)
Public Media and Education (Nashville Public Television - $2,500; National Geographic Society - $5,000)
Food Security (Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee)

Geographic Focus:

Primary: Nashville, Tennessee area
Secondary: Minnesota, New Jersey, Washington D.C.

What They Don't Fund

Given the invitation-only nature of the foundation:

Organizations without personal connections to the trustees
Unsolicited proposals from any organization
The foundation makes strategic, relationship-based grants rather than responding to external requests

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Herbert A. Fritch, Co-Trustee (unpaid)

Founder and former CEO of HealthSpring, built into a $4.6 billion enterprise
Led HealthSpring from founding in 2000 until acquisition by Cigna in 2012
Served as President of Cigna-HealthSpring until retirement in November 2016
Currently serves as Chairman of the Nashville Predators
Actuary by training with nearly 40 years of healthcare industry experience
Bachelor's degree in mathematics from Carleton College
Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and member of the Academy of Actuaries
Serves as Trustee at Carleton College

Barbara A. Fritch, Co-Trustee (unpaid)

Co-manages foundation with Herbert Fritch

Organizational Structure

No paid staff
No formal advisory board
Operated as private family foundation with trustee discretion

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Herbert A Fritch Family Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and explicitly does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees, Herbert and Barbara Fritch, to organizations with which they have established personal connections or demonstrated interest.

The foundation's grantmaking appears driven by:

Personal relationships and connections of the trustees
Organizations where trustees serve in leadership roles (e.g., Carleton College, where Herbert Fritch is a trustee)
Nashville-area organizations aligned with trustees' interests
Causes related to trustees' professional background (healthcare, dementia care)

Getting on Their Radar

Given Herbert Fritch's specific background and documented giving patterns, organizations may increase visibility through:

Nashville Healthcare and Senior Care Connections:

Herbert Fritch has a 40-year career in healthcare and demonstrated support for dementia care (Abe's Garden received $200K in 2022)
Organizations in Nashville's healthcare ecosystem, particularly those focused on senior care or innovative care models may align with his professional expertise

Carleton College Network:

Herbert Fritch serves as Trustee at Carleton College, his alma mater
Organizations connected to Carleton College or its alumni network may have indirect access

Nashville Business and Civic Leadership:

As Chairman of the Nashville Predators and former healthcare CEO, Fritch is active in Nashville's business community
Organizations where Fritch or his wife serve on boards or advisory councils

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process exists. Grants made at trustees' discretion throughout the year.

Success Rates

Not applicable - foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

This section is not applicable as the Herbert A Fritch Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are made by invitation only based on trustee discretion and personal connections.

However, organizations that have received grants demonstrate these characteristics:

Personal Connection to Trustees - Carleton College received $100K; Herbert Fritch is both alumnus and current trustee
Nashville Geographic Tie - Multiple Nashville organizations funded including Abe's Garden ($200K), Nashville Rescue Mission ($5K), Nashville Public Television ($2,500)
Alignment with Healthcare/Senior Care Expertise - Abe's Garden's $200K grant reflects Fritch's healthcare background and focus on innovative care models
Unrestricted Support Model - All documented recent grants were unrestricted
Wide Range of Grant Sizes - From $2,500 to $200,000, indicating flexibility based on organizational need and trustee relationship

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No Public Application Process: Foundation operates by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited proposals
Personal Connections Essential: Grants driven by trustee relationships and board service rather than competitive processes
Nashville Focus with Exceptions: Strong preference for Nashville-area organizations, with exceptions for trustee-connected organizations
Healthcare Expertise Matters: Herbert Fritch's 40-year healthcare career suggests alignment with innovative healthcare/senior care organizations
Highly Variable Giving: Annual giving ranges from $8K to $1.5M, reflecting discretionary, relationship-based approach
Unrestricted Funding Philosophy: Recent grants are unrestricted, indicating trust in recipient organizations
Limited Annual Grants: Only 2-5 grants per year, making this an extremely selective funder

References

ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Herbert A Fritch Family Foundation (Form 990-PF filings, 2011-2024), https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/626404383, accessed January 5, 2026
Cause IQ - Herbert A Fritch Family Foundation Profile, https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/herbert-a-fritch-family-foundation,626404383/, accessed January 5, 2026
GrantExec - Herbert A Fritch Family Foundation, https://grantexec.com/foundations/626404383, accessed January 5, 2026
Charity Navigator - Herbert A Fritch Family Foundation Profile, https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/626404383, accessed January 5, 2026
Candid Foundation Directory, https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=FRIT028, accessed January 5, 2026
Healthcare Dive - "Founder of Cigna-HealthSpring sets November retirement," https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/founder-of-cigna-healthspring-sets-november-retirement/428078/, accessed January 5, 2026
Nashville Predators - Chairman announcements, accessed January 5, 2026
The Org - Herbert A. Fritch, Trustee at Carleton College, https://theorg.com/org/carleton-college/org-chart/herbert-a-fritch, accessed January 5, 2026
ReFED Capital Tracker - funding relationships, https://insights-engine.refed.org/capital-tracker/funders/, accessed January 5, 2026