Apply For Funding

We fund in four impact areas to create a unified, thriving Memphis for all. Review our mission and impact area descriptions in detail to determine whether your work aligns with our funding strategy.

• Arts & Culture

• Education

• Leadership & Civic Pride

• Neighborhoods & Public Spaces

Only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that serve the Memphis area are eligible to apply for funding. We do not make grants to individuals or political organizations.

Grant amounts vary based on scope, need, and alignment. There is no minimum or maximum grant amount. We recommend contacting the relevant program staff member to ensure your request is scoped appropriately.

Equity is central to how we think about every investment we make. We prioritize work that expands access and opportunity for Memphians who have historically had less of both, particularly communities of color, lower-income residents, and people in neighborhoods that have been underserved by public and private investment.

In practice, this means we look carefully at who a proposed program serves, whether its approach is grounded in the community it's meant to benefit, and whether its outcomes will meaningfully close gaps rather than reinforce them.

We also track the number of grants and total dollars we direct to organizations led by people of color, and we report that data publicly in our annual impact report. We don't have a fixed target, but we take the numbers seriously, they're one way we hold ourselves accountable to the commitment we're describing here.

Yes, many of the grants we make are for general support. You can also apply for funding for a specific project. Existing grantees may request support for a capital campaign.

Applications are considered three times each year.

Application deadlines:
- March 1
- June 1
- September 1

If the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, applications will be considered through the end of the following business day.

You’ll need to be ready to answer our grant application questions. Be prepared to upload supporting documents including:
- Project budget (if applicable)
- Organizational budget
- Most recent audited financial statements
- Board of Directors list
- Staff list
- Income statement and balance sheet (from current and prior fiscal year)
- Cash flow (current fiscal year)

Your application is reviewed by staff and considered by our board of trustees. You will be updated on the status of your application within 8-12 weeks of submission.

If you need to change your application, please contact Lauren Jenkins at ljenkins@hydefoundation.org.