Lawson Family Foundation
Knoxville, TN · EIN 86-1740122. Reported 128 grants totalling $3,453,000 to 109 recipients across tax years 2023-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Lawson Family Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $14,250. Half of everything it gave fell between $5,000 and $25,000; the smallest was $1,000 and the largest $500,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald Charter Schools Emerald Charter Schools | Knoxville, TN | $750,000 | 3 | 2 | 2024 |
| University of Tennessee Foundation University of Tennessee Foundation | Knoxville, TN | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| United Way of Greater Knoxville United Way of Greater Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | $175,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| East Tennessee Community Design Cen East Tennessee Community Design Center | Knoxville, TN | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Knox County Community Gardeners Knox County Community Gardeners | Knoxville, TN | $150,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Knoxville Leadership Foundation Knoxville Leadership Foundation | Knoxville, TN | $120,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Your Move Collective Your Move Collective | Alpharetta, GA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Kim Health Center Kim Health Center | Knoxville, TN | $75,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Knoxville Opera Knoxville Opera | Knoxville, TN | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Community Coalition Against Human T Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking | Knoxville, TN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Connect Ministries Connect Ministries | Knoxville, TN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| East Tennessee Childrens Hospital East Tennessee Childrens Hospital | Knoxville, TN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Interfaith Health Clinic Interfaith Health Clinic | Knoxville, TN | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Koinonia Foundation of Knoxville Koinonia Foundation of Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Men of Valor Men of Valor | Antioch, TN | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Real Good Kitchen Foundation Real Good Kitchen Foundation | Knoxville, TN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Spark Spark | Knoxville, TN | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Change Center the Change Center | Knoxville, TN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Knoxville Symphony Orchestra | Knoxville, TN | $45,000 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Street Hope Tn Street Hope Tn | Powell, TN | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| A Step Ahead Foundation of East Tn a Step Ahead Foundation of East Tn | Knoxville, TN | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Real Talk Mentoring Inc Real Talk Mentoring Inc | Knoxville, TN | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Childhelp Inc Childhelp Inc | Knoxville, TN | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Healing the Home Healing the Home | Knoxville, TN | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Kicko Kicko | Knoxville, TN | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Southside Boarding Club Southside Boarding Club | Jacksboro, TN | $28,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| New Direction Healthcare Solutions New Direction Healthcare Solutions | Knoxville, TN | $26,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Bridge Refugee Services Bridge Refugee Services | Knoxville, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| East Tennessee Freedom Schools East Tennessee Freedom Schools | Jefferson City, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Focus Ministies Focus Ministries | Knoxville, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Karate Five Association Inc Karate Five Association Inc | Knoxville, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Knoxville Botanical Garden Knoxville Botanical Garden | Knoxville, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Knoxville Entrepreneur Center Knoxville Entrepreneur Center | Knoxville, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Knoxville History Project Knoxville History Project | Knoxville, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Partnership Tennessee Partnership Tennessee | Nashville, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Raising a Voice Raising a Voice | Knoxville, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Thrive Thrive | Knoxville, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Tn Achieves Tn Achieves | Knoxville, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| University of Tennessee College of University of Tennessee College of Nursing | Knoxville, TN | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Uunik Academy Uunik Academy | Knoxville, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| YWCA Knoxville YWCA Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Hand Up for Women Hand Up for Women | Knoxville, TN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Seed Seed | Knoxville, TN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Muse Knoxville the Muse Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Junior Appalachian Musicians Junior Appalachian Musicians | Independence, VA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Two Bikes Two Bikes | Knoxville, TN | $16,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Girl Talk Inc Girl Talk Inc | Knoxville, TN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Historic Tennessee Theater Foundati Historic Tennessee Theater Foundation | Knoxville, TN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Safe Families for Children Safe Families for Children | Knoxville, TN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Soar Youth Ministries Soar Youth Ministries | Knoxville, TN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Wuot Wuot | Knoxville, TN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Youth Outreach in STEM Youth Outreach in STEM | Knoxville, TN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Girls Inc of Tn Valley Girls Inc of Tn Valley | Oak Ridge, TN | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| 100 Black Men of Knoxville 100 Black Men of Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Beardsley Community Farm Beardsley Community Farm | Knoxville, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Campbell Culture Coalition Campbell Culture Coalition | Lafollette, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cherokee Health Cherokee Health | Knoxville, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Community Action for Affordable Nei Community Action for Affordable Neighborhoods | Knoxville, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Community Shares Inc Community Shares Inc | Knoxville, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Girls on the Run of Greater Knoxvil Girls on the Run of Greater Knoxville | Powell, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Knoxville Heritage Knoxville Heritage | Knoxville, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Maryville Alcoa Animal Rescue Cente Maryville Alcoa Animal Rescue Center | Maryville, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mclung Museum Mclung Museum | Knoxville, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Olive Tree Learning Academy Olive Tree Learning Academy | Knoxville, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Partnership With Native Americans Partnership With Native Americans | Addison, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Second Harvest Food Bank Second Harvest Food Bank | Maryville, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Soar Youth Ministries Thrive Soar Youth Ministries Thrive | Knoxville, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Restoration House of East Tenne the Restoration House of East Tennesee | Knoxville, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Angelic Ministries International Angelic Ministries International | Knoxville, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Appalachian Ballet Company Appalachian Ballet Company | Maryville, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Audubon Audubon | Chattanooga, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Austin & Austin-East Alumni Associa Austin & Austin-East Alumni Association | Knoxville, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Beck Cultural Exchange Center Beck Cultural Exchange Center | Knoxville, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Beta Theta Boule Foundation Beta Theta Boule Foundation | Knoxville, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bijou Theater Bijou Theater | Knoxville, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bip Knoxville Bip Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Dream Connection Dream Connection | Knoxville, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| East Knoxville Free Medical Clinic East Knoxville Free Medical Clinic | Knoxville, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| East Tennessee Historical Society East Tennessee Historical Society | Knoxville, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| East Tennessee PBS East Tennessee PBS | Knoxville, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Emerald Youth Foundation Emerald Youth Foundation | Knoxville, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| For the Love of Reading for the Love of Reading | Knoxville, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Great Smoky Mountains Institute of Great Smoky Mountains Institute of Tremont | Townsend, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Guide Dog for the Blind Guide Dog for the Blind | San Rafael, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Holston Home for Children Holston Home for Children | Greenville, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| International Campaign for Tibet International Campaign for Tibet | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Jane Goodall Institute Jane Goodall Institute | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Joel Osteen Ministries Joel Osteen Ministries | Houston, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| My Daughter's Journey My Daughter's Journey | Knoxville, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| National Campaign to Stop Violence National Campaign to Stop Violence | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Positively Living Positively Living | Knoxville, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Sierra Club Foundation Sierra Club Foundation | Oakland, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| St Jude Childrens Research Hospital St Jude Childrens Research Hospital | Memphis, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Nature Conservacy the Nature Conservacy | Arlington, VA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Vietnam Veterans of America Vietnam Veterans of America | Silver Spring, MD | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Welcome House Knoxville Welcome House Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| World Central Kitchen World Central Kitchen | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Consumer Reports Consumer Reports | Yonkers, NY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Oasis Institute Oasis Institute | Knoxville, TN | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Random Acts of Flowers Random Acts of Flowers | Knoxville, TN | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Smithsonian Smithsonian | Washington, DC | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wikimedia Foundation Wikimedia Foundation | San Francisco, CA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bearden Middle School Foundation Bearden Middle School Foundation | Knoxville, TN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Friends of Sequoyah Friends of Sequoyah | Vonore, TN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Fulton High School Fulton High School | Knoxville, TN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Great Smoky Mountain Council Great Smoky Mountain Council | Knoxville, TN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Paralyzed Veterans of America Paralyzed Veterans of America | Washington, DC | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The National Vietnam War Museum the National Vietnam War Museum | Weatherford, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
17 of 109 (16%) received money in more than one year over the 2 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 41%, across 1 year-to-year transition. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Youth Outreach in STEM Youth Outreach in STEM
VINE MIDDLE SCHOOL ROBOTICS - Mclung Museum Mclung Museum
MMIW EXHIBIT/DIRECTORS CIRCLE - Audubon Audubon
MEMBERSHIP - GREAT EGRET SOCIETY
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 43 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 42 | $1,053,500 | $18,000 |
| 2024 | 86 | $2,399,500 | $10,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
95% of its giving went to organizations in Tennessee. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $14,250. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Tennessee.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Lawson Family Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 2418 E 5TH Ave, Knoxville, TN, 37917. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 86-1740122 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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