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    The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis is a champ in funding racial equity

    (Oct. 18, 2021) Commercial Appeal columnist Tonyaa Weathersbee reports that the Philanthropy Initiative for Racial Equity recently named the Community Foundation as one of the nation’s top 20 charitable organizations funding work geared toward fixing inequality.

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    Community Foundation Nationally Named as a Top 20 Funder Focused on Racial Equity

    (Oct. 14, 2021) The Philanthropy Initiative for Racial Equality’s (PRE’s) latest report on charitable giving was recently released, and the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis is listed among the Top 20 Funders of Racial Equality Work.

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    Community Foundation and the National Compassion Fund Announce the Collierville Survivors Fund

    (Oct. 4, 2021) The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, Kroger Delta Division and the National Compassion Fund (NCF), the 501(c)(3) nonprofit that distributes charitable contributions in the aftermath of mass casualty crimes, today announced the establishment of the Collierville Survivors Fund to benefit those impacted directly by the mass shooting at a Kroger grocery store in Collierville.

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    Introducing Prime Buchholz, our new Investment Consultant

    (Oct. 1, 2021) This past year, for the first time in many years, we invited proposals from a number of national investment firms to be considered as our investment consultant. We are pleased to announce that, after a deliberate and rigorous selection process, we have engaged Prime Buchholz LLC, as our new Investment Consultant.

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    Year-End Giving Information

    (Oct. 15, 2021) See dates and deadline for year-end giving and granting through your donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation. Please note that in order for nonprofit recipients to receive grant checks in 2021, your grant recommendations should be made by noon on Wednesday, December 29.

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    “To change one person”: a conversation with donor Mario Ray

    (Aug. 25, 2021)  In 2019, Teresa and Mario Ray established the Charles E. Howard Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation to honor the memory of his beloved father-in-law. Read an interview with Dr. Ray covering his professional and philanthropic journey, the special legacy of Charles Howard, and Ray's plans to inspire and support BIPOC entrepreneurs.

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    Preserving Memphis's Musical Heritage

    (June 9, 2021) While it waits for its 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation, the Memphis Listening Lab, led by a group of local music professionals, is using a project fund at the Community Foundation to accept donations and create a listening facility, library, and offices at Crosstown Concourse that opened in June 2021.

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    Connecting Purpose to Impact

    (June 9, 2021) There are about as many stories about how our donors came to the Community Foundation as there are donors. Pooja and Kush Shah—who, respectively, serve on our Board of Governors and Strengthening Nonprofits committee—got involved with the Community Foundation by joining GiVE 365 in 2011.

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    Empowering Parents During Crisis

    (June 9, 2021) Gestalt Community Schools was awarded $50,000 in operating support from the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund in fall 2020, a grant that helped the charter school operator build on momentum that the Community Foundation had already helped it create.

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    A plan to ease inequities

    (Jun. 7, 2021) The Community Foundation is extremely proud to be part of the partnership, led by Seeding Success and with the support of Blue Meridian Partners, that has the audacious, transformational goal to improve economic and social mobility across our community. The Commercial Appeal reports.

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    Three join the Board of Governors

    (May 21, 2021) The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis votes in three new board members, Kontji Anthony, Erica Stiff-Coopwood and Dorcas Young Griffin, who foundation leaders say will help the board represent and reflect the rich diversity of perspectives within the Memphis community.

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    COVID-19 revealed Memphians' generosity. The Community Foundation will make it forever

    (May 13, 2021) The FOREVER Funds will generate income to not only deal with unprecedented crises such as COVID-19, but for other community needs that aren’t covered by some of the donor funds it manages. The Commercial Appeal columnist Tonyaa Weathersbee reports.

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    Guest column: Memphians answer the philanthropic call

    (Apr. 26, 2021) While Memphians continue to demonstrate their characteristic extraordinary generosity, Memphis philanthropy tracks with national trends—with more unrestricted giving and increased support to agencies that are minority-led and serve their most disadvantaged neighbors. Read more from our president, Bob Fockler, in the Memphis Business Journal.

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    JOIN US MAY 11! ANNUAL MEETING

    Join us virtually on Tuesday, May 11, for the Community Foundation's Annual Meeting, Forever Starts Today: Building the Future of Greater Memphis. Experience powerful stories of impact and help us envision a community where we can respond and build, together.

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    Small Businesses to Receive COVID Relief Money

    (Feb. 25, 2021) The Memphis Flyer shares about the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund's $750,000 investment in River City Capital Investment to provide grants to small businesses. Preference will be given to businesses owned by people of color and to restaurants.

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    $9.1 million investment in 2021 resilience efforts

    (Feb. 24, 2021) Through the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund, in 2021 the Community Foundation will make a series of grant awards, totaling approximately $9.1 million, to build resilience for those hardest-hit by the coronavirus crisis.

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    A great show of support from neighbor to neighbor

    (Feb. 12, 2021) Erica Stiff-Coopwood and Dr. Reginald Coopwood were key in driving the Pay It Forward Mid-South campaign, which raised nearly $474,000 for the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund, hosted by the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis. The Memphis Business Journal reports.

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    Pay It Forward Mid-South campaign awards $473,721 for individual relief

    (Feb. 5, 2021) In six weeks, the Pay It Forward Mid-South campaign raised $473,721 for hospitality and service industry workers. The Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund awarded grant dollars to two nonprofits that provide relief assistance: Welcome To Memphis ($236,860.50) and MIFA ($236,860.50).

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    Corporate citizens step up to support Pay It Forward Mid-South campaign

    (Jan. 26, 2021) As restaurant and hospitality workers continue to have their livelihoods negatively affected by the limitations and restrictions necessary to fight the current surge in COVID-19 cases in our community, several corporations have made significant donations to the Pay It Forward Mid-South campaign

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    More companies give to Pay It Forward fund to aid hospitality, service workers

    (Jan. 26, 2021) Four more companies have now contributed to the Pay It Forward fund established by the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis. The Memphis Business Journal reports.

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    2020 Professional Advisor Referrals

    (Jan. 15, 2021) Thank you to the professional advisors who directed their clients to the Community Foundation in 2020 and helped them discover a place where giving does more good.

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    Contributing to Dr. King's legacy

    (Jan. 18, 2021) As our nation, our Foundation, and the National Civil Rights Museum commemorate the birthday and lasting legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., outgoing Community Foundation Board chair Terri Lee Freeman, president of the Civil Rights Museum, shares her thoughts on the Community Foundation's recent progress and its role in continuing Dr. King's vision become reality in Memphis and the Mid-South.

    Read her essay

    Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund awards $165,000 in first round of Pay It Forward Mid-South Campaign grants

    (Jan. 6, 2021) Through the first two weeks of the Pay It Forward Mid-South campaign, donors contributed just over $169,000 for the relief of hospitality and service industry workers. The Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund made its first set of grant awards, totaling $165,000, to two organizations: Welcome to Memphis and MIFA.

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    Fund to help service industry workers announced amid COVID surge, new directive

    (Dec. 23, 2020) As the hospitality industry prepares to suffer more losses as tighter restrictions begin Saturday, Dec. 26, Dr. Reginald Coopwood and his wife, Erica, announced a new “pay it forward” campaign Tuesday, Dec. 22, to help them and other service industry employees. The Daily Memphian reports.

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    Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund directs funds to affected workers during Pay It Forward Mid-South Campaign

    (Dec. 22, 2020) During the Pay It Forward Mid-South campaign, running now through January 30, 2021, all donations to the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund will be directed to agencies supporting hospitality and service industry workers who lose employment, or whose work hours and pay are decreased, by the restrictions mandated by the Shelby County Health Department's most recent health directive.

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    Pandemic poses challenges for Memphis area nonprofits

    (Dec. 21, 2020) The Daily Memphian takes an in-depth look at the tremendous need that Memphis-area nonprofits are seeing, and the relief that Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund grants are helping them provide.

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    Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott makes significant investment in Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund

    (Dec. 15, 2020) Author and venture philanthropist MacKenzie Scott awarded funding to the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund, which will be used to support recovery and resiliency grantmaking in 2021. The gift is one of 384 nationwide, totaling $4.2 billion to provide aid and minimize inequities for people suffering the economic effects of the crisis across the country.

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    Lynching Sites Project Shines Light on History

    (Nov. 13, 2020) The Lynching Sites Project of Memphis, whose fund is managed at the Community Foundation, focuses on meaningful conversation, research, and physical memorials of lynchings in Shelby County. Learn more about this vital work.

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    Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund announces $2.5 million in grants for recovery and resiliency

    (Oct. 1, 2020) In its second phase of funding, the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund awarded $2,473,791 to stabilize 78 nonprofits that are directly responding to the significant consequences of, and disparities exacerbated by, the public health crisis. This brings total grants to $4.9 million to 138 distinct agencies since March.

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    Community Foundation invests in transforming a college – and a city

    (July 13, 2020) LeMoyne-Owen College's Dr. Carol Johnson-Dean and Community Foundation president Bob Fockler share in The Daily Memphian about the foundation's $40 million investment in the college, one of Memphis's outstanding assets.

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    A $40M gift to LeMoyne-Owen was ‘the right thing at the right time’

    (July 9, 2020) "The right thing at the right time." Otis Sanford at The Daily Memphian takes a look at the Community Foundation's historic $40 million endowment gift to LeMoyne-Owen College.

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    Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund announces second phase of grantmaking for recovery and resiliency

    (July 7, 2020) In its second phase of funding, running July to September 2020, the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund, managed by the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, is awarding $1.8 million in grants to stabilize nonprofit organizations that are directly responding to the significant consequences of, and disparities exacerbated by, the coronavirus crisis.

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    LeMoyne-Owen College named beneficiary of $40 million endowment at the Community Foundation

    (July 2, 2020) LeMoyne-Owen College, the only Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Memphis, Tennessee, has been named the beneficiary of an endowment of $40 million, one of the largest gifts to any HBCU and the largest for the school in its 158-year history. The endowment was created from assets from the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis.

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    LeMoyne-Owen College quadruples endowment with $40 million from Community Foundation

    (July 2, 2020) Memphis' LeMoyne-Owen College has received its largest financial gift in school history, the college announced Thursday: $40 million from the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis will quadruple the college's current endowment. The Commercial Appeal reports.

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    $40 million endowment ‘transformative’ for LeMoyne-Owen

    (July 2, 2020) The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis awarded LeMoyne-Owen College a $40 million endowment Thursday morning, the largest in the school’s 158-year history. The Daily Memphian reports.

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    Lessons Learned: COVID-19 Response Funding

    (June 24, 2020) Saad & Shaw Comprehensive Fund Development Services shares the second of a two-part blog series taking an in-depth look at the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund.This installment explores the unique demands of crisis philanthropy and how we look towards the future with lessons learned.

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    A COMMUNITY WIDE FUNDRAISING RESPONSE TO COVID-19

    (June 15, 2020) In this first of a two-part blog series, Saad & Shaw Comprehensive Fund Development Services takes an in-depth look at the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund and chats with our president, Bob Fockler, about both the fund and equity & inclusion in local philanthropy.

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    Mid-South Food Bank’s mobile food pantries helping to feed thousands of families amid pandemic

    (June 12, 2020) WMC-TV 5 reports that the need for programs like the Mid-South Food Bank is still high even as the community reopens for business. That need is being met, in part, by the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund.

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    Responding to the Crisis

    (Jun 11, 2020) Memphis Magazine reports that the Community Foundation collaborates to take on the coronavirus disruption in its June/July 2020 issue.

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    Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund closes out first round of rapid-relief grants with $333,000 distribution

    (June 8, 2020) The Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund made its final, $333,000 distribution in the first, rapid-relief grant round from the fund. The second phase of funding, to be introduced later this month, is intended to stabilize nonprofit organizations that are directly responding to the significant consequences of, and disparities exacerbated by, this public health crisis.

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    $62,500 in New Grants to Agencies for Economic Relief

    (June 1, 2020) In its eleventh round of weekly immediate relief grants, the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund awarded $62,500 to five organizations, bringing its total distribution to $2.07 million to 87 agencies.

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    Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund Tops $2 Million in Grants for Economic Relief

    (May 26, 2020) The tenth round of seven rapid relief grants totaling $95,000 brought the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund's cumulative grantmaking to $2,011,000 to support neighbors in need.

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    $76,500 IN NEW GRANTS TO AGENCIES FOR ECONOMIC RELIEF

    (May 18, 2020) The Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund distributed another $76,500 in relief grants to seven agencies in its ninth grant round, bringing the total to $1,916,000 to 84 organizations since March 18.

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    FUND DISTRIBUTES $62,500 IN NEW GRANTS TO AGENCIES

    (May 11, 2020) The Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund awarded an eighth round of rapid relief grants totaling $62,500 to nine organizations. The grant round brings the Fund's total to $1,839,500 distributed to 81 nonprofits since March 18.

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    $237,000 IN NEW GRANTS TO AGENCIES FOR ECONOMIC RELIEF

    (May 4, 2020) The Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund granted another $237,000 to 13 organizations on May 1, bringing its total to date to $1.78 million deployed to 80 area organizations serving those affected by the coronavirus crisis.

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    Community Foundation distributes more than $1.5 million in donations in response to COVID-19

    (Apr. 28, 2020) Over the past six weeks, more than $1.5 million in donations has been spread throughout Memphis and the greater surrounding area to help in the pandemic. The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis is leading the charge in the local response to COVID-19. It wants to quickly meet the needs of people struggling right now. Fox 13 reports.

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    Fund Distributes $200,000 in New Grants to Agencies

    (Apr. 27, 2020) The Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund awarded another $200,000 in rapid-relief grants to 11 agencies, bringing its total to $1.54 million to support organizations and those they serve who are impacted by novel coronavirus and the economic consequences of the pandemic.

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    Here's how Community Foundation came to lead local COVID relief and where money goes

    (Apr. 27, 2020) The Memphis Business Journal reports how we are partnering with City of Memphis, Shelby County Government, United Way of the Mid-South, and Momentum Nonprofit Partners, and how we are uniquely qualified to lead the unified relief initiative to support organizations and those they serve who are impacted by novel corornavirus and the economic consequences of the pandemic.

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    #COVIDFEEDTN Tees for Sale

    (Apr. 23, 2020) Tennesseans can purchase a #COVIDfeedTN t-shirt with the inspirational message, “The Comeback is Always Stronger Than The Setback,” by ordering online or purchasing at a participating retailer. All proceeds will directly fund grants to nonprofit hunger-relief organizations or initiatives, located in the regional area of the Tennessee ZIP code of purchase.

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    Neighborhood Christian Center gives food and lifts spirits for families in crisis

    (Apr. 23, 2020) High Ground News reports how a $20,000 Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund grant has helped Neighborhood Christian Centers, Inc. distribute more than 4,000 meals to families during the coronavirus pandemic. They’ve also distributed more than 3,500 school snacks and meals.

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    A new funding model among COVID-19

    (Apr. 20, 2020) Extraordinary times are calling for a different kind of grantmaking, one that uses effective, rapid-relief grants to get dollars out the door quickly to our neighbors in need. Read more from our president Bob Fockler in the Memphis Business Journal about the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund, which has already deployed $1.34 million.

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    Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund Distributes $362,500 in New Grants to Agencies for Economic Relief

    (Apr. 20, 2020) In its fifth round of rapid-response grants, the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund granted another $362,500, bringing its total to $1,340,000 awarded to 63 organizations.

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    Kresge gives $485,000 to help Memphis nonprofits, artists, musicians during pandemic

    We are deeply grateful to the The Kresge Foundation for its thought partnership and investment in the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund, as well as ArtsMemphis and Music Export Memphis. The Michigan-based foundation and champion of American cities made a combined $485,000 donation to support coronavirus relief efforts in Memphis. Read more in The Daily Memphian.

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    $156,500 in New Grants to Agencies for Economic Relief

    (Apr. 13, 2020) The Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund released another $156,500 on April 10. This fund is the unified community relief effort to support organizations impacted by novel coronavirus and the economic consequences of the pandemic. To date, the Fund has awarded $977,500 to 48 area nonprofits.

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    COVID-19 Fund delivers nearly $1M so far in relief grants

    (Apr. 11, 2020) Donors to the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund are enabling Refugee Empowerment Program, Kindred Place, and dozens of other nonprofits provide vital services to our neighbors in need. Learn more from Community Foundation president Bob Fockler in The Daily Memphian.

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    Board Adopts New Community Investment Principles

    (Apr. 9, 2020) The Board of Governors approved a new Vision for the Mid-South and Values for Investing, a set of community investment principles—developed with the participation of dozens of diverse stakeholders— that will guide the Community Foundation's discretionary grantmaking.

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    Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund Deploys $821,000 to Agencies for Economic Relief

    (Apr. 6, 2020) In its April 3 grant round, the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund made grants to 29 nonprofits, bringing its total impact to $821,000 grants to 39 organizations.

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    Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund Contributes $415,000 to Agencies for Economic Relief

    (Mar. 31. 2020) Through the generosity of individual and foundation donors throughout the community, the Fund released its second round of rapid relief grants on March 27. The diversity of this week’s grants underscores the far-reaching impact this pandemic is having in every corner of our community.

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    Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund awards first, $150,000 round of grants

    (Mar. 24, 2020) On Friday, March 20, the fund awarded $50,000 each in unrestricted grants to MIFA, Mid-South Food Bank, and Whole Child Strategies. Each of those organizations is on the front lines distributing food, supplies, and resources to vulnerable populations in Memphis.

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    Coronavirus practices and precautions

    (UPDATED Mar. 23, 2020) As novel Coronavirus developments continue to unfold, the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis is monitoring the situation and has implemented a set of practices and precautions in order to safeguard the wellbeing of our staff and stakeholders.

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    Memphis non-profits, small businesses pitching in to meet coronavirus needs

    (Mar. 19, 2020) WMC-TV 5 spotlights the Community Foundation's launch a fund Wednesday to address food, income, and housing insecurity.

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    New Fund Helps Nonprofits Help Those Impacted by Coronavirus

    (Mar. 19, 2020) The Memphis Flyer reports that a new fund launched Wednesday to help respond to the coronavirus outbreak in Shelby County.

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    Community Foundation and partners launch Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund

    (Mar. 18, 2020) As individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations already feel the impact of the coronavirus public health crisis, the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, City of Memphis, Shelby County Government, United Way of the Mid-South, and Momentum Nonprofit Partners/Mid-South Philanthropy Network have launched the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund.

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    Elmwood Cemetery digitizes massive archives for public use

    (Feb. 18, 2020) The Memphis Business Journal reports that Elmwood Cemetery will integrate its 130,000+ file folders into an online database, which will then be made available to the public, free-of-charge. The work is made possible by a $21,000 nonprofit capacity building grant, given by the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis.

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    SECURE Act & IRAs

    The SECURE Act passed at the end of 2019 changed the IRA rules so that individuals must now take Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) beginning at age 72, not 70½. Individuals who are age 70½ may still direct QCDs from their IRA directly to charity, without taking the money into income or getting a tax deduction for the gift.

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    Grants build capacity of local nonprofits

    (Jan. 10, 2020) The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis announced grants totaling $210,041 in its Nonprofit Capacity Building funding category. These grants are awarded annually to established nonprofits that are working to become more effective organizations by increasing efficiencies in operations.

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    Website Connects Mid-Southerners to Data & Nonprofits

    (Nov. 29, 2019) WMC-TV 5 reports that LIVEGIVEmidsouth.org is helping Mid-Southerners find problems in their community and contribute to the solutions. The website is the first of its kind in the country and it's already making an impact.

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    LIVEGIVEMIDSOUTH HAS NEW LOOK, SPEED AND LOTS MORE TO SEE

    (Nov. 15, 2019) The Daily Memphian reports that LIVEGIVEmidsouth is a trove of information on just about anything that pertains to Memphis, the nonprofits working to make it better, and ways to get involved.

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    TECH: NEW SITE SHOWS CITY ISSUES AT A GLANCE

    (Nov. 14, 2019) The Memphis Flyer reports that Memphis has problems and hundreds of organizations fighting to ease them; LIVEGIVEmidsouth maps them together, making it easier to find out who’s fighting what where and how you can help.

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    LIVEGIVEMIDSOUTH RELAUNCHES WITH ENHANCED SITE

    (Nov, 7, 2019) In November 2019, the Community Foundation unveils a completely refreshed and enhanced version of the LIVEGIVEmidsouth system. Developed by urban specialists at the Thriving Cities Group in Charlottesville, VA, the new website more seamlessly connects users exploring data about the Mid-South to the organizations addressing our community's needs.

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    Community Foundation marks 50 years of serving the Mid-South

    (Sep. 8, 2019) While the Community Foundation has traditionally had funds that people donate to on an annual basis, its new FOREVER Fund is a permanent endowment that leverages more immediate donations to ensure foundation funding in perpetuity. The Daily Memphian reports.

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    Bridging the Gap

    (Sep. 5, 2019) The Memphis Flyer reports how the Community Foundation has fueled solutions in Memphis for 50 years.

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    The Extra Podcast: The Community Foundation Turns 50

    (Sep. 4, 2019) For nearly 50 years, the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis has been helping people in Memphis give money – some $1.5 billion – to non-profits and organizations dedicated to helping others. Eric Barnes of The Daily Memphian interviews Community Foundation leaders on "The Extra" podcast.

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    Funding Opportunity: Leftwich Tennis Center

    (Aug. 12, 2019) A bold vision to create a first-rate regional tennis center is close to becoming reality, with less than $1 million left to raise towards a $19 million goal. Double your impact on the future of tennis in Memphis by making a gift to support the Leftwich expansion.

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    Protecting and Restoring Children

    (Jul. 1, 2019) Memphis Child Advocacy Center uses funds to strengthen its ability to serve children who are or may become victims of sexual and severe physical abuse through prevention, education, and intervention.

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    Investing in a Neighborhood

    (Jul. 1, 2019) Donors Lori and Eric Robertson are among Soulsville, USA’s proudest and most vocal ambassadors. As inspiring as the neighborhood’s past is, the Robertsons are focused on its future, and how they can play a part.

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    Funding Opportunity: "Real World" STEM Kits

    The University of Tennessee Foundation invites you to support Shelby County Schools students' access to "real world" level science by sponsoring a $1,500 STEM kit.

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    Setting the Stage for the Arts

    (Jun. 1, 2019) Gene Katz appreciates the high quality and relatively low costs of a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis. It’s a tool he and his wife, Carol, have used for years to target and administer their charitable giving, primarily to support Memphis's arts and culture.

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    MLK50 Next Step grant recipients discuss how they are changing Memphis

    (Apr. 16, 2019) The Daily Memphian reports on the impact to date of nonprofits awarded $25,000 each to drive Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s social justice platform in our MLK50: The Next Step Forward grant program.

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    Change in the Community Foundation’s Grant Due Diligence Policy

    (Mar. 28, 2019) In response to a small but growing national controversy around the funding of hate groups through donor-advised and similar funds, the Board of Governors has voted to amend the Foundation’s Grant Due Diligence Policy to prohibit grantmaking to recognized hate groups.

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    Small business owners take creative approaches to philanthropy

    (Feb. 5, 2019) The Daily Memphian presented a seminar on Small Business Philanthropy, sponsored by the Community Foundation, that showcased how different entrepreneurs and business owners serve their communities through philanthropy.

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    Community Foundation awards $200,000+ to strengthen nonprofits

    (Dec. 20, 2018) The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis announced grants totaling $200,437 in its Nonprofit Capacity Building funding category. These grants are awarded annually to established nonprofits that are working to become more effective organizations by increasing efficiencies in operations.

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    Looking to the Future

    (Dec. 7, 2018) In its December 2018/January 2019 issue, Inside Memphis Business magazine spotlights the work of the Community Foundation with an interview with president Bob Fockler.

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    Community Foundation commemorates MLK50 by awarding six grants to nonprofits

    (Oct. 25, 2018) The Daily Memphian covers our MLK50: The Next Step Forward grant program. The publication chats with Tech901 and Neighborhood Christian Centers about how the grants will expand their work.

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    Paying It Forward

    (Aug. 30, 2018) This year, 25 different scholarship funds held at the Community Foundation made 62 scholarship awards to 55 students, totaling $109,645. Read the Memphis Daily News article that takes a deeper look at one, the Annie Ervin Willis Scholarship. Learn how the Willis family is helping support African-American students who are committed to community service.

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    Remembering George Riley at MLK50

    (May 1, 2018) Donors John and Maryellen Riley were determined to bring his brother George's vision of a multi-disciplinary cultural celebration to fruition in the wake of his 2016 death. A fund at the Community Foundation let them support arts- and justice-focused programming as part of the MLK50 commemoration.

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    Encore

    (May 1, 2018) A Charitable Lead Annuity Trust established by his grandfather allows donors Jonathan and Mary Catherine Schallert to support the arts. It also creates a tradiiton of giving they instill in their own children.

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    Giving Hope

    (May 1, 2018) LEO Events' Cindy and Kevin Brewer use funds at the Community Foundation to support not only their family's giving to organizations like Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, but also to further their company philanthropy.

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    Lighting the Path Forward

    (May 1, 2018) The Power & Telephone Supply Company Charitable Fund matches each charitable contribution made by its employees. Funds allow the Pentecost family to encourage employee giving and make their own contributions to the community.

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    Stepping Up

    (May 1, 2018) Donors Lois DeBerry and Charles Traughber established a scholarship fund in memory of their beloved goddaughter that annually supports the educational dreams of promising students.

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    Next-Level Arts

    (Feb. 15, 2018) Not only does DeltaARTS now have its own freestanding facility in West Memphis, but the building has state-of-the-art technology upgrades made possible through a Nonprofit Capacity Building grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis. The Daily Memphian takes a closer look.

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    Strength in Flexibility

    (May 1, 2017) As they became more intentional about succession planning, a set of cousins recognized their most efficient option would be to dissolve their family foundation and create distinct funds at the Community Foundation. Learn how the Schadts simplify giving with a donor-advised fund.

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    An Eye Toward the Next Act

    (May 1, 2017) After having an endowment fund at the Community Foundation for decades, Opera Memphis bolsters its future with a reserve fund - what CEO Ned Canty calls its "sunny day fund."

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    Dunbar Abston Fund for Sustainable Excellence

    In recognition of late donor Dunbar Abston's love for education, his family established the Dunbar Abston Chair for Sustainable Excellence with the Tennessee Shakespeare Company, an organization that reaches and educates many hundreds of children in the public schools each year.

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    Supporting Jewish causes 100+ years later

    Over a century after its founding and 40 years after it ceased operations, the Jewish Neighborhood House is still supporting Jewish causes through an endowed fund at the Community Foundation.

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    Strengthening our Community through Philanthropy

    A community foundation is a philanthropic organization that manages charitable funds with a broad base of donors to benefit a specific geographic area—in our case, West Tennessee, eastern Arkansas, and northern Mississippi. Founded in 1969, the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis brings a half-century of experience and expertise, working with donors, professional advisors, and nonprofits to help strengthen our community through philanthropy. Together, we have built a trusted resource that helps transform the way you give.

    Who we are

    Investing in Memphis and the Mid-South

    The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis is a place where generous people from diverse backgrounds come together to make our community a better place. Collectively, they have created the largest grantmaker—public or private—in the region. Together with these donors, we fulfill our mission of strengthening our community through philanthropy.

    Our impact