2024 Community Impact Grantee Recipients Gather for a Convening.
Community Impact Grants

Building a Vibrant Future
Grant Opportunities Supporting Arts, Education, and Mental Health
Our Community Impact Grants focus on three key areas: Arts & Creative Culture, Child/Youth Development & Education, and Positive Mental Health. Each of these areas is integral to supporting a vibrant, inclusive community where everyone can thrive.
Middle Tennesseans deserve to experience greater belonging and well-being. CFMT’s Community Impact Grants focus areas align perfectly with our unique capacity to drive meaningful change and honor the generosity of our donors, who have supported these core areas for the past 30 years.
Through our Grants program, we continue to build on this legacy, ensuring that our community remains strong, creative, and resilient.

Arts & Creative Culture

Child/Youth Development & Education

Positive Mental Health
Helpful Links
Grants Portal: Registering and Applying for a Grant
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has updated our grant application system! The Grants Portal, powered by Foundant’s Grant Lifecycle Manager (GLM), is where all grant applications will now be submitted.
If you have any questions, reach out to us, we’re here to help!
Here is the link to a short how-to video After clicking the link, select GLM Applicant Tutorial (New Dashboard). Then, use the drop-down menu to choose GLM Applicant Tutorial Video.
If you’re the first person from your organization to access our Grants Portal (GLM), you’ll need to register both:
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Yourself as an individual user
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Your organization in the system
During registration, you’ll be asked to provide the following:
Organization Information
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Organization Name
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EIN / Tax ID (e.g., 12-3456789)
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Website (optional)
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Phone Number (e.g., 615-555-1234 x123)
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Mailing Address
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Organization Mission
Proposal Contact (You)
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First Name
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Last Name
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Role within the organization
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Email address (this becomes your GLM username)
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Phone Number
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Mailing Address (you can copy the organization’s address)
Executive Officer Details
If you are the Executive Officer, select “Yes” and continue.
If you are not, select “No” and provide the following:
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First Name
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Last Name
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Role within the organization
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Email address
Final Step
Create your password and click Create Account to complete your registration.
- Community Impact Grants are classified as unrestricted operating support. Funds can be used at the discretion of the organization to cover any costs necessary to carry out its core mission work within one of CFMT’s focus areas.
- Applicants may only apply to ONE focus area. Please choose the focus area that best describes your organization’s mission aligned work.
- Grants are awarded for one-year terms and requests must stay within our guidelines based upon the total size of the organization’s operating budget.
Budget Size | Maximum Request |
Under $500,000 | $15,000 |
$500,000 to $1,500,000 | $20,000 |
$1,500,000 to $3,000,000 | $25,000 |
$3,000,000 to $5,000,000 | $30,000 |
While CFMT is prioritizing supporting organizations whose total operating budget is less than $5,000,000, those above that amount are still eligible to apply.
GivingMatters Requirement
All 501(c)(3) public charities interested in being considered for a Community Foundation grant must maintain a complete and up-to-date profile in GivingMatters.com. This requirement ensures that we have all the necessary information to thoroughly consider your organization for funding.
All profiles must be claimed or created — and fully completed — on the new GivingMatters.com platform by July 31, 2025.
You’re welcome to begin and submit your CFMT grant application before completing your GivingMatters.com profile, but please note: both must be complete by the application deadline in order to be eligible for funding.
Let us know if you need help at any point — we’re here to support you!
Community Impact Grant 2025 Timeline
July 1 – July 31
Application open for submissions
August – October:
Applications under review
Late October – November:
Community Impact Grants award and declination sent to nonprofits
Late November-December:
Grants processed

CFMT’s Community Impact Grants: General Info Virtual Session
Questions? Contact our experts in Philanthropy and Grantmaking
Adnan Karim
Vice President of Community Impact
Laundrea Lewis
Grants Senior Manager
Nicole Rose
Community Impact Program Officer