Application Process

Impact100 Nashville awards grants to nonprofits in our community that offer creative and innovative services to their populations and show results of their services making an impact on the community. Eligible nonprofits may submit a Letter of Intent to apply for grant funding of up to $100,000.

For 2025, we will have two grant types available for consideration: the $100,000 Transformation and Innovation Grant, as well as two $35,000 Spark grants. For both grant types, we are seeking to award grants to nonprofits who have a sustainable plan to drive social transformation in Middle Tennessee by innovating on the current state, whether that’s new services, populations, or geographies. Our Transformation and Innovation Grant is designed for organizations that have a more established presence in Middle Tennessee and need a larger dollar amount to generate transformative change, whereas our Spark grant is designed to “spark” new innovations in organizations of any size. We recommend reading our eligibility criteria before proceeding.

Our goal is to highlight each of our five focus areas (Arts & Culture, Education, Environment & Preservation, Family, and Health & Wellness) by having at least one semi-finalist representing each focus area for both grant types.

Our member volunteers who have expressed interest in each focus area will review and score the Letters of Intent from their area based on 3 criteria before selecting a subset of organizations to complete a full grant application:

1. Alignment of overall mission, vision of organization with Impact100’s mission
2. Organization shows clear understanding of the unique issue they are facing and demonstrates innovation in the way the issue is addressed.
3. Proposed use of grant dollars is innovative and addresses the unmet needs of the community

Important Dates:

Jun 2 – Jun 30: Open Call for LOI Submissions

Aug 11 – Sep 12: Grant Applications Open for Selected Organizations

Oct 20 – Nov 7: Site Visits for Semi Finalists

 

Five Focus Areas

Our guiding theme for grants is “Transformation and Innovation.” Each $100,000 grant awarded will continue to emphasize visionary projects that bring about meaningful change within our Five Focus Areas. Whether it’s fostering artistic expression, improving educational outcomes, protecting our environment, strengthening families, or enhancing community health, our funding will drive impactful and creative solutions in the Middle Tennessee community.

Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture

Education

Education

Environment, Preservation & Recreation

Environment

Family

Family

Health & Wellness

Health & Wellness

Eligibility Requirements
  • Have average gross revenue above $500,000 and below $5,000,000 for past three fiscal years
  • Defined as a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
  • Organizations serving the 10 counties in the Nashville Economic Market (Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Maury, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson, Wilson)
  • Able to provide at least three full years (36 months) of independently prepared, audited, or reviewed financial statements
Grant FAQs
  • How should I submit my application?
  • Can our organization submit applications in more than one Focus Area?
  • Can we submit a proposal for more than $100,000?
  • Will you consider a proposal from a group of organizations collaborating on a project or program?