Skip to content
Cornerstone Foundation of Knoxville at a glance

· Public charity

Cornerstone Foundation of Knoxville

To serve as a catalyst to reach our god-given potential as a community with funding, activities, and effective strategic actions focused on the greater knoxville geographic area.

$1.5M
Granted FY2017
22
Grants FY2017
2
States reached
$300k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its fieldRead
04Through PlinthRead

Read this first · the figures below need context

100% of Cornerstone Foundation of Knoxville’s FY2018 grant dollars went to East Tennessee Foundation, not to grantees.

Its money now reaches organizations through that sponsor, which does not report who recommended each grant. FY2018 names 0 organizations directly, so a portfolio cannot be read from it. Everything below is therefore FY2017, the last year Cornerstone Foundation of Knoxville named its own grantees at scale: 20 organizations, $1M. It is dated, not current.

Organizations named directly on the return

20
’17
0
’18

Amber years are those where most dollars went to a sponsor.

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 2018.

Philanthropy$1.6MEducation$411kYouth Development$324kReligion$220kHealth$30kArts & Culture$28kEnvironment$15kHousing & Shelter$10k
02FY2017 · 22 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 22 grants below total $1,373,066, the rows itemized in this filing. The $1,499,288 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $126,222 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2017

  • Under $10k2 grants · $14k
  • $10k–50k13 grants · $221k
  • $50k–250k6 grants · $838k
  • $250k+1 grant · $300k
$20,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$0
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
GREAT SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP$300,000
EMERALD AVENUE YOUTH FOUNDATION$200,250
EAST TENNESSEE FOUNDATION$187,873
COMPASSION COALITION$160,000
YOUNG LIFE - TN REGION$107,000
UNITED WAY OF GREATER KNOXVILLE$100,000
LEADERSHIP KNOXVILLE$83,000
NATIONAL CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION$36,023
CEDAR SPRINGS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH$25,000
JONI & FRIENDS$25,000
ARTS & CULTURE ALLIANCE$20,000
VINE INTERNATIONAL$20,000
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE FOUNDATION$18,320
FRIENDS OF THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN$15,000
UNITED WAY OF BLOUNT COUNTY$11,000
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:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY17–18) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 100% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%UNITED WAY OF BLOUNT COUNTY: $11k → 10%HOPE RESOURCE CENTER: $10k → 12%FRIENDS OF THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN: $15k → 12%LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY: $10k → 20%EAST TENNESSEE FOUNDATION: $1.2M → 12%GREAT SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP: $300k → 12%EAST TENNESSEE FOUNDATION: $188k → 12%LEADERSHIP KNOXVILLE: $83k → 12%ALL SOULS FOUNDATION: $10k → 12%CEDAR SPRINGS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: $25k → 12%UNITED WAY OF GREATER KNOXVILLE: $100k → 12%UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE FOUNDATION: $18k → 12%BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF TENNESSEE VA: $6k → 12%EMERALD AVENUE YOUTH FOUNDATION: $200k → 12%COMPASSION COALITION: $160k → 12%YOKE YOUTH MINISTRIES: $10k → 12%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 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
Knoxville Leadership Foundation Inc

Klf promotes collaboration across congregations, neighborhoods, business, philanthropy, and government to connect people in need with resources needed to thrive. the current focus is on safe affordable housing, mentoring youth and adults,…

Religion
2
Knoxville Museum of Art

The purpose of the knoxville museum of art is to support and promote public interest, awareness, knowledge and education in the visual arts in east tennessee . to this end, the corporation shall, among other things, develop permanent…

Arts & Culture
3
Knoxville Academy of Medicine

The academy serves as the local medica society for physicians of knox county and surrounding counties in east tennessee. its purpose is to afford a medium for free discussion and exchange of ideas among physicians.

—
4
District Council of Knoxville Society of St Vincent De Paul

Committed to serving members of our parish and our larger community with outreach, financial support and prayer

Human Services
5
Young Men's Christian Association of East Tennessee Inc

To put christian principles into practice through programs and activities that develop the spirit, mind and body of youth, adults and families in knoxville, tn and surrounding communities. the ymca encourages growth for youth development,…

Human Services
6
Nourish Knoxville Inc

To cultivate healthy communities by supporting relationships between local farmers, producers, and the public.

Food & Nutrition
7
Knoxville Jewish Alliance Inc

To serve the jewish people locally, in israel, and throughout the world.

Education
8
Knoxville College

Knoxville college is a private, church related coeducational liberal arts institution. the college is open to students of diverse backgrounds and cultures who seek a quality liberal arts education.

Education
9
Knoxville Christian School

Educate preschool through twelfth grade children in a Christian environment while developing them spiritually,academically, emotionally, and physically with Jesus Christ as their standard and the Bible as their foundation.

—
10
Union University

Union university provides christ-centered education that promotes excellence and character development in service to church and society.

Education
11
Knox Co Council On Aging

To provide services for senior citizens in knox county

—
12
Knoxville Academy of Medicine Foundation

To provide no-cost health care to families who have no insurance and do not qualify for the states low income insurance program.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Leadership Knoxville Inc; the most unlike its peers is Lincoln Memorial University. 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

20 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. 20 of the 22 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)
5
Early backer (in before they grew)
18/20
Grantees still filing
15/20
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

EAST TENNESSEE FOUNDATION: $1,435,665 · PhilanthropyEAST TENNESSEE FOUNDATION+2 more: $47,023 · PhilanthropyTHE GREAT SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP CHARITABLE TRUST: $300,000 · OtherTHE GREAT SCHOOLS PARTNERSH…COMPASSION COALITION INC: $160,000 · OtherCOMPASSION COALITION INCUNITED WAY OF GREATER KNOXVILLEINC: $100,000 · OtherUNITED WAY OF GREATER KNOXV…JONI AND FRIENDS: $25,000 · OtherCEDAR SPRINGS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: $25,000 · Other+3 more: $27,950 · OtherEMERALD YOUTH FOUNDATION: $200,250 · Youth DevelopmentEMERALD YOUTH…YOUNG LIFE: $107,000 · Youth DevelopmentYOUNG LIFE+1 more: $6,400 · Youth DevelopmentLEADERSHIP KNOXVILLE INC: $83,000 · EducationTHE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE FOUNDATION INC: $18,320 · EducationLINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY: $10,000 · EducationVine International Inc: $20,000 · HealthHOPE RESOURCE CENTER: $10,000 · HealthARTS AND CULTURE ALLIANCE OF GREATER KNOXVILLE: $20,000 · Arts & CultureFRIENDS OF GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK: $15,000 · Recreation & SportsYoke Youth Ministries: $10,250 · Religion
Philanthropy$1,482,688Other$637,950Youth Development$313,650Education$111,320Health$30,000Arts & Culture$20,000Recreation & Sports$15,000Religion$10,250

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 budgetEAST TENNESSEE FOUNDATION: $1,435,665 over 2y, 5.5% of budgetTHE GREAT SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP CHARITABLE TRUST: $300,000 over 1y, 6.2% of budgetEMERALD YOUTH FOUNDATION: $200,250 over 1y, 2.4% of budgetYOUNG LIFE: $107,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED WAY OF GREATER KNOXVILLEINC: $100,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetLEADERSHIP KNOXVILLE INC: $83,000 over 1y, 9.0% of budgetKNOXVILLE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $36,023 over 1y, 11% of budgetJONI AND FRIENDS: $25,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetVine International Inc: $20,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetARTS AND CULTURE ALLIANCE OF GREATER KNOXVILLE: $20,000 over 1y, 2.6% of budgetTHE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE FOUNDATION INC: $18,320 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFRIENDS OF GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK: $15,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetUNITED WAY OF BLOUNT COUNTY: $11,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetYoke Youth Ministries: $10,250 over 1y, 2.1% of budgetLINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetALL SOULS FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 6.8% of budgetHOPE RESOURCE CENTER: $10,000 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetBOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE TENNESSEE VALL: $6,400 over 1y, 0.1% 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.

East Tennessee Founda…Haslam Family Foundat…Stowers Machinery Fou…University Health Sys…The Aslan FoundationThe Clayton Family Fo…The Boyd FoundationBill and Crissy Hasla…Food City Charitable …The Clayton Homes Fou…Raymond James Charita…The Charlie & Moll An…
East Tennessee FoundationTN32× affinity13 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: East Tennessee Foundation · Haslam Family Foundation Inc · Stowers Machinery Foundation Inc · University Health System Inc · The Aslan Foundation · The Clayton Family Foundation · The Boyd Foundation · Bill and Crissy Haslam Foundation · Food City Charitable Foundation · The Clayton Homes Foundation · Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund · The Charlie & Moll Anderson Foundation

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 Cornerstone Foundation of Knoxville funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Cornerstone Foundation of Knoxville. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%3%5%8%10%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    6report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–10%
    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.
    04Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Cornerstone Foundation of Knoxville?

    Find your warmest path to Cornerstone Foundation of Knoxville through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    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 22 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 e-file return for fiscal year 2017, released 2017. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Cornerstone Foundation of Knoxville’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $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