East Tennessee Foundation
Youth Endowment Fund
A community foundation grant of up to $20,000 for youth programs in East Tennessee, focused on early childhood education, health and childhood trauma. The next round will be announced by January 31, 2027.
- Amount
- Last cycle: up to $20,000 (two-year grants); next cycle's terms not posted
- Can a for-profit school apply?
- No: for-profit schools excluded
- Deadline
- Next round not posted
- Who this fits
- Private school · Microschool · Homeschool co‑op501(c)(3) public charities that serve children and youth in ETF's 25-county East Tennessee area (mainly, or with programs that have shown they serve youth). A nonprofit school, microschool or co-op may fit if its project is open to all. Not for a for-profit school, though a new group can apply through a nonprofit fiscal sponsor.Religious schools: yes, not for religious activities
- New schools
- Not stated for new schools
- Where
- Tennessee only, local area
- Last checked
- Oct 28, 2026on easttennesseefoundation.org
Unconfirmed: check with the funder
We couldn’t confirm these on an official page. Treat them as open questions, not facts.
- 2027 deadline and amount
- Whether private schools have been funded before
- Whether a religious school's admission policy counts as limiting participation by faith
What to do now
- Step 1: Check the Youth Endowment Fund page after January 31, 2027 for the new cycle
- Step 2: Confirm your county is in ETF's service area
- Step 3: Have your 501(c)(3) letter, financial statements, budget and board list ready
- Step 4: Shape a project around early childhood education, drivers of health or ACEs
- Step 5: Apply through ETF's online grant system
Funders change their requirements. Check the official page before you apply. Getting ready? See what funders usually ask for.
Who can apply
“Confirmation that the organization is a 501(c)(3) public charity, unit of government, or public educational institution”
Projects must address early childhood education, drivers of health, or preventing and easing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The applicant must mainly serve children and youth, or have programs that have shown they serve them. Groups outside the 25 counties can get grants only in special circumstances, for programs run in or directly benefiting those counties. Faith-based groups may apply, but not for projects with religious content, that limit who can take part by faith, or that require religious activities. Capital campaigns, endowments, deficits and general fundraising are not funded. ETF needs financial statements, a budget and a board list. The $20,000 cap and two-year term are from the last cycle.
- 501(c)(3) public charity (or a fiscal sponsor)
- Mainly serves children and youth, or has shown its programs serve them
- Serves ETF's 25-county area (outside groups only in special circumstances)
- Project on early childhood education, drivers of health or ACEs
- Financial statements or Form 990, current budget and board list
- Program open to all, with no required religious activities
Timing
No grants in 2026. ETF says information about the next cycle will be posted by January 31, 2027. The last grants ran two years (August 2025 to July 2027).