Lawson Family Foundation
Accepts applications
Lawson Family Foundation is a private foundation in Knoxville, Tennessee. In tax year 2024 it gave $2.4 million in 86 grants; the typical grant was $10,000 and the largest $500,000. It accepts applications; its filing gives the instructions below.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.
- Grants paid, 2024$2.4 million
- Number of grants86
- Typical grant$10,000
- Largest grant$500,000
- Assets$76,463
- New grantees80%
Giving in 2024 was up from $915,150 the year before.
80% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $915,150 | 42 | $1.6 million |
| 2024 | $2.4 million | 86 | $76,463 |
How to apply
| Contact | Lawson Family Foundation 900 S Gay St, Suite 2000, Knoxville, TN 37902 |
|---|---|
| Phone or email | (865) 229-8206, info@lawsonfamilyfoundation.org |
| What to submit | Website application: https://www.lawsonfamilyfoundation.org/grants |
| Deadlines | Open applications |
| Restrictions | Only tax exempt 501C3 organizations. Preference given to organizations in knox county, tn and meeting funding priorities outlined at: https://www.lawsonfamilyfoundation.org/strategic- priorities |
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What Lawson Family Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 8 states, the most to Tennessee.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 71 | $2.2 million |
| Georgia | 1 | $100,000 |
| District of Columbia | 5 | $18,500 |
| Texas | 3 | $16,000 |
| California | 3 | $12,500 |
| Maryland | 1 | $5,000 |
| Virginia | 1 | $5,000 |
| New York | 1 | $2,500 |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Emerald Charter Schools Emerald Charter Schools | General support | $500,000 |
| University of Tennessee Foundation University of Tennessee Foundation | College of social work | $200,000 |
| United Way of Greater Knoxville United Way of Greater Knoxville | General support | $175,000 |
| East Tennessee Community Design Cen East Tennessee Community Design Center | Sponsorship | $150,000 |
| Knox County Community Gardeners Knox County Community Gardeners | General support | $100,000 |
| Knoxville Leadership Foundation Knoxville Leadership Foundation | General support | $100,000 |
| Your Move Collective Your Move Collective | General support | $100,000 |
| Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville | General support | $50,000 |
| East Tennessee Childrens Hospital East Tennessee Childrens Hospital | General support | $50,000 |
| Kim Health Center Kim Health Center | General support | $50,000 |
| Knoxville Opera Knoxville Opera | General support | $50,000 |
| Koinonia Foundation of Knoxville Koinonia Foundation of Knoxville | General support | $50,000 |
| Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Knoxville Symphony Orchestra | Sponsorship of concert | $40,000 |
| Real Talk Mentoring Inc Real Talk Mentoring Inc | General support | $35,000 |
| Healing the Home Healing the Home | General support | $30,000 |
| Focus Ministies Focus Ministries | General support | $25,000 |
| Interfaith Health Clinic Interfaith Health Clinic | General support | $25,000 |
| Knoxville Entrepreneur Center Knoxville Entrepreneur Center | 100knoxville | $25,000 |
| Knoxville History Project Knoxville History Project | General support | $25,000 |
| Men of Valor Men of Valor | General support | $25,000 |
| Partnership Tennessee Partnership Tennessee | General support | $25,000 |
| Raising A Voice Raising A Voice | General support | $25,000 |
| Spark Spark | General support | $25,000 |
| Street Hope TN Street Hope TN | General support | $25,000 |
| Thrive Thrive | General support | $25,000 |
| TN Achieves TN Achieves | Education | $25,000 |
| YWCA Knoxville YWCA Knoxville | Tech center | $25,000 |
| A Step Ahead Foundation of East TN A Step Ahead Foundation of East TN | General support | $20,000 |
| Seed Seed | General support | $20,000 |
| Childhelp Inc Childhelp Inc | General support | $15,000 |
| Girl Talk Inc Girl Talk Inc | Life prep academy | $15,000 |
| Historic Tennessee Theater Foundati Historic Tennessee Theater Foundation | General support | $15,000 |
| Kicko Kicko | General support | $15,000 |
| Southside Boarding Club Southside Boarding Club | General support | $15,000 |
| University of Tennessee College of University of Tennessee College of Nursing | General support | $15,000 |
| Wuot Wuot | General support | $15,000 |
| Youth Outreach in STEM Youth Outreach in STEM | Vine middle school robotics | $15,000 |
| Campbell Culture Coalition Campbell Culture Coalition | General support | $10,000 |
| Cherokee Health Cherokee Health | General support | $10,000 |
| Community Action for Affordable Nei Community Action for Affordable Neighborhoods | Sponsorship | $10,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Phillip Lawson
- Cristy Lockwood
- Gwen McKenzie
- Tim McLemore
- Carey Parker
- Clarence Vaughn
- Alan Williams
- Allie Welch
- David Arning
Questions people ask
Does Lawson Family Foundation accept grant applications?
Yes. Its latest IRS filing says it accepts applications, with this on deadlines: Open applications.
How much does Lawson Family Foundation give?
$2.4 million in tax year 2024, across 86 grants, with a typical grant of $10,000.
Who runs Lawson Family Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists Phillip Lawson (Chairman), Cristy Lockwood (Director), Gwen McKenzie (Director) and Tim McLemore (Director) among 9 officers and trustees.
What does Lawson Family Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly education, arts and culture and health.