Home prices in Nashville have climbed more than 40% since 2020, and more than half of renters are spending too much of their income on rent. The Nashville Catalyst Fund was created in direct response. The partnership between CFMT and Metro Nashville directs early-stage capital to mission-driven developers working to preserve and expand affordable housing across the city.

555 housing units funded in 2025

$9.1 Million in loans

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In 2025, CFMT reached a milestone that has been building since our very first scholarship. For the first time, total awards surpassed $1 million, supporting 384 students across 159 colleges and universities around the country. Behind that number are donors who chose to invest in potential and students who turned that belief into classrooms, careers, and communities throughout Middle Tennessee and beyond.

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CFMT has always believed that a welcoming space is its own kind of resource. Our building is a community clubhouse, open to the organizations shaping Middle Tennessee. In 2025, we welcomed 11,790 visitors, hosted 529 nonprofit meetings, and donated 1,945 hours of staff support, saving nonprofits $97,250. That is time and money they can put right back into strengthening our community.

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In honor of Black Philanthropy Month, we celebrated the 2025-26 Gamechangers cohort, a powerhouse of Black philanthropic leaders and bold community collaborators shaping a stronger Middle Tennessee through innovation, generosity, and trust.

Honorees included: Chandra Allen, Charmin Bates, Rev. Jen Bailey, Ashford Hughes, Sr., Sam Jackson, Monchiere’ Holmes-Jones, Johari Matthews, Hon. Lonnell Matthews, Jr., Phylanice Nashe, Jennifer Oldham, Holly Rachel, Charles Story, and Gail Carr Williams.

CFMT’s Gamechangers are visionaries and bridge-builders, grounded in community and driven by equity.

Meet The Gamechangers

Established as a local chapter in 2025, Press Forward Middle Tennessee works to close gaps in reliable local information by strengthening the region’s news and information ecosystem in sustainable, community-informed ways. Across Middle Tennessee, 24 counties have one or fewer local news sources. Yet 87% of Americans believe local news matters. Like other forms of civic infrastructure, strong local news helps communities function, adapt and grow by helping people understand what is happening where they live, how decisions are made and how they can help shape their communities.

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When employees face an unexpected crisis, time matters. In 2025, CFMT’s Employee Care Fund team received 1,831 applications from workers across Middle Tennessee navigating emergencies ranging from natural disasters to the death of a household member. Of those, 1,135 were approved, directing $2,658,454 in assistance to employees and families in crisis, with housing assistance representing the greatest area of need at $1,507,821.

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For 27 years, The Power of the Purse® was a cherished daytime luncheon bringing together supporters of women and girls in Middle Tennessee. In 2025, The Women’s Fund celebrated that legacy by reimagining it. Year 28 the event moved to OZ Arts Nashville, where guests experienced an evening of innovative dishes crafted by female chefs, signature cocktails, live entertainment, and a one-of-a-kind live auction featuring curated purses and exclusive items.

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Some of the most important work in a community happens before an organization is ready to stand alone. As a fiscal sponsor, CFMT provides the administrative and financial backbone that allows emerging initiatives to focus on their mission. In 2025, that support powered three efforts: The Village, an incubation space for Black nonprofit leaders building capacity and community; the Middle Tennessee Donors Forum, a hub for philanthropic learning and collaboration across the region; and the Nashville Early Education Coalition, which brings partners together to strengthen early learning across Nashville.

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In 2025, CFMT introduced two new tools to help donors give with greater clarity and confidence. The Wish List made giving tangible, connecting donors directly to Middle Tennessee nonprofits to fund 21 wishes. The updated Donor Handbook gave fundholders a practical, human guide to every step of their philanthropic journey.

Through the Fundraising Academy, CFMT helped leaders from its Community Impact grantees cohort build practical development skills, sharpen their strategy, and grow more confident in sustaining their missions. More than a yearlong training program, the Academy created space for peer learning, candid conversation, and actionable tools, equipping organizations to approach fundraising with greater clarity and long- term vision. Early results showed the power of that approach, with one participating organization increasing its year-end donor count by 87.5%, and another having a 30% increase in total donations.

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