Federal grants in Tennessee
Federal agencies awarded $98 billion in grants to recipients in Tennessee from fiscal 2021 to 2025. The largest program was Grants to States for Medicaid, with $48 billion.
- Tennessee ranks 23rd of the 50 states and DC for federal grant awards over five years.
- Federal grant money to recipients in Tennessee fell from $24 billion in fiscal 2021 to $21 billion in fiscal 2025.
- State and local governments received the largest share, 87%.
- Grants to States for Medicaid alone accounted for 49%.
Grants in Tennessee by type of organization
- Grants for state and local governments in Tennessee
- Grants for nonprofits in Tennessee
- Grants for colleges and universities in Tennessee
- Grants for businesses in Tennessee
- Grants for small businesses in Tennessee
- Grants for tribes in Tennessee
- Grants for individuals in Tennessee
Private foundations based in Tennessee: 1,144 foundations, with who accepts applications.
Project grants won in Tennessee
Most federal grant money is formula and block grants that go to the state by law: $69 billion in Tennessee, 70% of the total. Programs that pay project grants and cooperative agreements, which organizations apply for, brought $14 billion to recipients in Tennessee. These are the largest:
Largest federal grant programs in Tennessee
Largest grant recipients in Tennessee
| Recipient | Type | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finance & Administration Tennessee Depar | State and local governments | 22 | $50 billion |
| Department of Education Tennessee | State and local governments | 138 | $10 billion |
| Tennessee Department of Transportation | State and local governments | 5,372 | $6.9 billion |
| Tennessee Department of Human Services | State and local governments | 152 | $5.5 billion |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nonprofits | 1,184 | $2.2 billion |
| Tennessee Department of Health | State and local governments | 226 | $2.2 billion |
| Tennessee Emergency Management Authority | State and local governments | 86 | $1.3 billion |
| Department of Environment & Conservation Tennessee | State and local governments | 178 | $1.3 billion |
| Economic and Community Develop | State and local governments | 39 | $1.2 billion |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Colleges and universities | 1,214 | $1.0 billion |
| Department of Childrens Services Tennessee | State and local governments | 77 | $795 million |
| TN Department of Labor & Workforce Dr | State and local governments | 107 | $689 million |
| Tennessee Housing Development Agency | Nonprofits | 38 | $664 million |
| Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration | State and local governments | 84 | $585 million |
| Tennessee Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services | State and local governments | 56 | $580 million |
| University of Tennessee | Colleges and universities | 635 | $549 million |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital Inc | Nonprofits | 291 | $506 million |
| Eastman Chemical Company | Businesses | 1 | $375 million |
| Tennessee State University | Colleges and universities | 226 | $359 million |
| University of Tennessee | Colleges and universities | 244 | $305 million |
Browse all 686 federal grant recipients in Tennessee
Where the work happens
The totals above count grants by where the recipient is based. Counted by place of performance, where the funded work happens, grants in Tennessee came to $97 billion. Grants for statewide or multi-county work count in no county, so county totals add up to less.
| County | Awards | Grants |
|---|---|---|
| Davidson County | 3,921 | $17 billion |
| Shelby County | 1,923 | $2.8 billion |
| Knox County | 1,366 | $1.8 billion |
| Hamilton County | 610 | $1.1 billion |
| Rutherford County | 318 | $404 million |
| Montgomery County | 196 | $379 million |
| Putnam County | 210 | $318 million |
| Washington County | 283 | $275 million |
| Madison County | 314 | $257 million |
| Cocke County | 169 | $249 million |
| Robertson County | 89 | $234 million |
| Sullivan County | 208 | $227 million |
| Sumner County | 162 | $207 million |
| Williamson County | 237 | $197 million |
| Anderson County | 683 | $181 million |