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Children's Foundation of Memphis at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Private foundation

Children's Foundation of Memphis

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$1.3M
Granted FY2021
12
Grants FY2021
1
States reached
$564k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2021.

Health$4.5MPhilanthropy$1.5MEducation$888kHuman Services$855kYouth Development$292kCrime & Legal$90kEnvironment$50kFood & Nutrition$25k
02FY2021 · 12 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2021

  • Under $10k2 grants · $5k
  • $10k–50k4 grants · $155k
  • $50k–250k4 grants · $235k
  • $250k+2 grants · $935k
$50,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$38M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER MEMPHIS$564,109
LEBONHEUR$370,892
SALVATION ARMY$75,000
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER MEMPHIS$60,000
CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER$50,000
AGAPE CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES$50,000
A STEP AHEAD FOUNDATION$45,000
JUVENILE INTERVENTION AND FAITH-BASED FOLLOW-UP$45,000
MEMPHIS ORAL SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF$35,000
ARISE2READ$30,000
HARWOOD CENTER$2,500
HOPE HOUSE$2,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY21–21, $52k) land where the poverty rate runs at 17%, against an area that typically sits at 19%. 0% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 19%HOPE HOUSE: $2k → 17%CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER: $50k → 17%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

88%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$5.9M · 14 repeat orgs$837k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +19% since the first grant, against -47% for those funded once.

14 repeat relationships: 8 still active in FY2021, 6 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2021 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

14
9

Total granted

$5.9M
$414k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+19%
-47%

Still filing today

79%
56%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2021, 45% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $423k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21
EducationHuman ServicesYouth DevelopmentHealthEnvironmentCrime & LegalOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • CF
    Children's Foundation Research Institute
    4× · 2017–2020 · $3.5M · revenue +1%
  • TC
    THE CAMPBELL FOUNDATION
    2× · 2017–2018 · $450k · revenue +26%
  • AS
    A STEP AHEAD FOUNDATION INC
    5× · 2017–2021 · $338k · revenue +36%

Funded once

  • LC
    LEBONHEUR CHILDREN'S MEDICAL HOSPITAL
    one grant, 2017 · $140k
  • JI
    JIFF INC
    one grant, 2017 · $52k · revenue -47%
  • MB
    MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN FOUNDATION INCgraduated
    one grant, 2018 · $50k · revenue +98%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Methodist Children's Home

Methodist children's home equips children, youth, and families to flourish by offering hope through christian-centered relationships, services, and support.

Human Services
2
Alabama Partnership for Children

To work in partnership with families and organizations to ensure that all alabama children (birth to five) get everything they need to develop to their fullest potential.

Education
3
The Children's Museum of Memphis Inc

The mission is to create memorable learning experiences through the joy of play, in hands-on exhibits and programs. we accomplish this mission by reaching out to the mid-south school children, families, and the tourist visitor.

Arts & Culture
4
Harding Academy of Memphis Inc

Harding academy of memphis, inc. is a private school providing education from pre kindergarten through grade twelve.

Education
5
Kipp Memphis

Kipp memphis public schools (kmps) is part of the non-profit kipp public schools network. together with families and communities, kmps create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to…

Education
6
Tennesseans for Quality Early Education

To advance state policies and practices that ensure all tennessee children from birth through 3rd grade get the high quality early education they need to power our state's future.

Education
7
Friends of Children of Mississippi Inc

To operate a head start and early head start program for children and families in mississippi.

Education
8
Children's Foundation of Memphis
Health
9
Memphis Academy of Science and Engineeri

To produce lifelong learners, critical thinkers, effective communicators, and productive members of the global community

Education
10
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Inc

To make kids better today and healthier tomorrow.

Health
11
City Leadership

City leadership's mission is to recruit, develop, and catalyze leaders for the benefit of the city of memphis. the organization was founded in order to maximize the leadership capital and potential of memphis. city leadership strives to…

Public Benefit
12
Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis

To encourage philanthropy and foster leadership among women and support programs that enable women and children to reach their full potential.

Human Services
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Le Bonheur Children's Hospital Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Child Advocacy Center. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

21 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 21 of the 27 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
1
Early backer (in before they grew)
20/21
Grantees still filing
14/21
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Children's Foundation Research Institute: $3,535,100 · OtherChildren's Foundation Research InstituteTHE CAMPBELL FOUNDATION: $450,000 · OtherTHE CAMPBELL FOUNDATIONTHE SALVATION ARMY: $225,000 · OtherAGAPE CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES INC: $190,000 · Other+11 more: $677,500 · Other+11 moreCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER MEMPHIS INC: $1,464,109 · PhilanthropyCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION…MEMPHIS TEACHER RESIDENCY INC: $200,000 · EducationTeach for America Inc: $195,000 · EducationARISE2READ INC: $80,000 · EducationMEMPHIS OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP TRUST INC: $50,000 · EducationA STEP AHEAD FOUNDATION INC: $337,500 · Human ServicesChild Advocacy Center: $50,000 · Human Services+1 more: $2,000 · Human ServicesLe Bonheur Children's Hospital Foundation: $370,892 · HealthBOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER MEMPHIS: $240,000 · Youth DevelopmentJIFF INC: $51,704 · Youth DevelopmentMEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN FOUNDATION INC: $50,000 · Environment
Other$5,077,600Philanthropy$1,464,109Education$525,000Human Services$389,500Health$370,892Youth Development$291,704Environment$50,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetChildren's Foundation Research Institute: $3,535,100 over 4y, 20% of budgetCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER MEMPHIS INC: $1,464,109 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetTHE CAMPBELL FOUNDATION: $450,000 over 2y, 7.0% of budgetLe Bonheur Children's Hospital Foundation: $370,892 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetA STEP AHEAD FOUNDATION INC: $337,500 over 5y, 4.4% of budgetBOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER MEMPHIS: $240,000 over 4y, 1.1% of budgetMEMPHIS TEACHER RESIDENCY INC: $200,000 over 4y, 1.1% of budgetTeach for America Inc: $195,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetAGAPE CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES INC: $190,000 over 4y, 0.6% of budgetPORTER-LEATH: $100,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetBinghampton Christian Academy Inc: $100,000 over 3y, 3.1% of budgetARISE2READ INC: $80,000 over 2y, 7.9% of budgetSPEECH & HEARING CENTER OF THE MIDSOUTH DBA MEMPHIS ORAL SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF: $70,000 over 3y, 1.6% of budgetJIFF INC: $51,704 over 1y, 3.8% of budgetChild Advocacy Center: $50,000 over 1y, 23% of budgetMEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN FOUNDATION INC: $50,000 over 1y, 2.1% of budgetMEMPHIS OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP TRUST INC: $50,000 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetKindred Place Inc: $40,000 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetMID-SOUTH FOOD BANK: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHARWOOD CENTER INC: $10,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetHOPE HOUSE: $2,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Christian Community F…Community Foundation …The Kemmons Wilson Fa…Thomas W Briggs Found…Plough FoundationThe Urban Child Insti…John Dustin Buckman C…Crews Family Foundati…United Way of the Mid…Thomas Garrott Founda…Belz FoundationSlingshot Memphis Inc
Christian Community Foundation of MemphisTN31.4× affinity13 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Christian Community Foundation of Memphis · Community Foundation of Greater Memphis Inc · The Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation · Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc · Plough Foundation · The Urban Child Institute · John Dustin Buckman Charitable Trust · Crews Family Foundation · United Way of the Mid South · Thomas Garrott Foundation · Belz Foundation · Slingshot Memphis Inc

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Children's Foundation of Memphis funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Children's Foundation of Memphis. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%2%6%14%25%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    10report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 27 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2021, released 2021. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2024) is on record but names no grant recipient in the published copy, so the figures above are from FY2021, the most recent year this funder’s grantee list reached the public record.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Children's Foundation of Memphis’ filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
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    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
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    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home