Jackson, Tenn. – The Community Foundation of West Tennessee awarded $120,000 in Community Impact Grants to 14 organizations during a celebration on June 24, 2025. The event welcomed representatives from each of the nonprofits as grant amounts were announced for the first time.
“It has become a tradition for us to keep the grant award amounts a secret until the celebration,” said Haley Fortune, Community Impact Manager for the Community Foundation. “The room is so energetic as we surprise each organization with a big check, announcing their grant. It’s a special moment to see how impactful these funds are to each of them and the people they serve.”
Marking its 40th anniversary, the Community Foundation prioritized the expansion of its grant program this cycle, leading to increased investments directly benefiting West Tennessee.
“Today is a testament to the incredible work of our nonprofits in the community,” said Dr. Frank McMeen, President of the Community Foundation. “We are grateful to uplift these organizations and support the vital work they do to strengthen our community.”
The 2025-2026 Community Impact Grant recipients are:
- Aspell Recovery received $15,000 to help purchase a van to provide transportation for pregnant and post-partum women.
- Regional Inter-Faith Association (RIFA) was awarded $15,000 to purchase fresh produce for one season of its Community Supported Agriculture Boxes, which are delivered to low-income residents of Centennial Pass and Rosewood Gardens.
- Benton County Schools Coordinated Health received a $14,000 grant to support a school-based food pantry building for storage and pick up.
- Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee was awarded $10,000 to launch a free, four-week Construction Training Program in Jackson.
- The Jackson Symphony received $10,000 to fund its Music Academy (JSMA), offering instrumental and vocal instruction to youth in their communities across Chester, Dyer, Henderson, and McNairy Counties.
- The STAR Center was awarded $10,000 to fund curriculum for the Employment and Workforce Development Program, which supports individuals with disabilities with workplace training and employment services.
- United Way of West Tennessee received a grant for $9,000 to address literacy in the community through the Hub City Baby Program.
- Second Harvest Food Bank was awarded $8,000 to provide residents across West Tennessee with equitable access to nutritious food.
- Love Your Block received $6,000 to support its home repair program, which provides exterior home repairs to low-income residents in Jackson.
- PAWS of Benton County, Tennessee was awarded $6,000 to increase its spay and neuter program in Benton County to 180 animals per year.
- Habitat for Humanity Jackson received a $5,000 grant to support its Aging in Place Program in Madison and Haywood Counties, which helps provide senior citizens with safe, accessible, and comfortable homes.
- Rotary Heart & Sole was awarded $5,000 to provide clean, new, and properly fitting socks and shoes to every student in a selected elementary school in the Jackson-Madison County School System.
- Hands Up! Preschool received $4,000 to help provide preschool students with a safe, developmentally appropriate, high-quality education.
- Selmer Senior Center was awarded $3,000 to support exercise programs that are essential to the overall health of senior citizens in the community.
“The variety of projects funded through the Community Impact Grants this year truly reflects the diverse needs of our community and allows us to connect with so many of our residents in different ways,” said Beth Koffman, Chief Operating Officer for the Community Foundation. “Whether we are supporting food security, literacy, the arts, or workforce development, we know that we are working together to improve the health and well-being of West Tennessee.”
Community Impact Grants were created in 2016 to serve as funding opportunities for local nonprofits and funds of the Community Foundation to make an impact on the region. The grant term is July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
Applications for the next cycle of Community Impact Grants will open in February 2026. For more information about the Community Foundation’s grant program, visit www.cfwtn.org/grants or contact Haley Fortune at [email protected].
The Community Foundation of West Tennessee was established in 1985 to strengthen the health and well-being of the region by serving as a catalyst for positive changes in the arts, education, healthcare, and other causes. It enhances the quality of life for residents by supporting programs, initiatives, and organizations serving rural West Tennessee. Learn more at www.cfwtn.org.
