The Day Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Day Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests, so a grant writer should approach it only through an invitation or an existing relationship, not with a cold application.
- Its stated priority is Memphis, as other published sources report it, and most of its grant dollars went to organisations in Tennessee, with education and social services as its main themes.
- Its grants are mostly operating support, and half of its 90 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less, so a request of around $100,000 is a realistic starting point, though a typical band runs from $10,000 to $1,000,000 and the largest grant was about $4,000,000.
- In the filing, 88% of grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in earlier years, so a first-time applicant should expect to compete with established grantees, and the filing gives no application deadlines, so timing should be raised directly with the foundation.
Overview
The Day Foundation 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 web pages about the foundation (cbu.edu), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation describes its purpose as supporting and uplifting Memphis, investing in transformative programmes focused on education and social services and fostering opportunities that strengthen the city and its future generations. Its filed grants are predominantly operating support; the filings also record grants described as a national growth plan and scholarships. Recipients include schools and colleges, health-services organisations, churches and other religious bodies, and cultural institutions such as museums and gardens. Most grant dollars went to organisations in Tennessee. Contributions are limited to preselected charitable organisations, so the available evidence supports grantmaking to charities but does not state general eligibility criteria or an open request process.
Themes
- Education
- Social services
Geographic Focus
Priority: Memphis. (as reported in other published sources)
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 88% 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 90 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 33% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 88% of grant dollars went to organisations The Day Foundation 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 31 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $100k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Youth Villages · National growth plan$3,000,0002024 tax year
- Saint Paul Catholic School · Operating support$2,000,0002024 tax year
- Rhodes College · Scholarships$1,220,0002024 tax year
- Memphis Allies · Operating support$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Junior Achievement of Memphis · Operating support$800,0002024 tax year
- Alliance Healthcare Services · Operating support$500,0002024 tax year
- Porter-Leath Children's Center · Operating support$500,0002024 tax year
- Christian Brothers High School · Operating support$335,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- J Richard Buchignani — President / Trustee
- C Thomas Whitman — Trustee As Necessary
- Charlotte A Henderson — VP-Treasurer / Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $8,821,622 | $7,105,193 | $145,059,253 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $13,733,293 | $12,183,139 | $151,808,164 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $13,042,682 | $11,461,994 | $159,451,113 | 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
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At a glance
Applying to The Day Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Memphis, TN
Applying to The Day Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Memphis, TN