Welcome! 

GivingMatters^® exists to provide you with information to help you give with confidence. 



The Issue Overviews here provide a look at particular Middle Tennessee issues and opportunity.  They use research to answer basic questions like:  What are the community’s greatest challenges? How might I be able to help?

The Nonprofit Profiles provide you with information about both nonprofits you know and love AND ones with which you may not be familiar but which are working on issues of interest to you.

Taken together, information about nonprofits doing good work and a factual look at issues affecting our quality of life should help you feel good about your giving.

It is our hope that the better you feel about the impact of your giving and the difference you can make … the more you will give and the more you will encourage others to do the same.

On behalf of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, please know that your giving matters to us and let us know how we can help!



Nelson Andrews



Issue OverviewsThe Issue Overviews are here to help us understand the context, challenges, and opportunities in areas spanning “arts to zoology.”  Not intended to be exhaustive, they have been created by journalists who have conducted research, interviews, and focus groups and studied the subjects.  Notes on how to access more information, if you are so inclined, are included.  Ideas on how you can give any amount in a way that will really matter are included as well.

Nonprofit ProfilesNonprofit profiles are provided by the nonprofits.  Verifiable information has been given to the GivingMatters.com staff.  For instance, if an organization says it has a strategic plan, then the GivingMatters.com staff has a copy.  Although the GivingMatters.com staff may have added a note here or there, these nonprofits have not been evaluated or “graded” in any way.

Please visit the nonprofit profiles by clicking on the “NONPROFIT PROFILES” button to the left. This will take you to information about Middle Tennessee nonprofits addressing these issues.  Through the profile, you can learn more about nonprofit programs, board, staff and finances. 

If you choose to make a donation to one or more nonprofits, you can click “Make a credit card donation” and make your gift online through GivingMatters.com.

Reader ResponseWe welcome your response to the research papers. Responses will not be posted automatically but will be reviewed by the GivingMatters.com staff. Preference will be given to responses that provide updated information or constructive insight. Please limit responses to 100 words.

GivingMatters.com PartnersWe are thankful for our funding partners who have contributed to GivingMatters.com: 

Ingram Charitable Fund, HCA, Aladdin Industries Foundation, Atticus Trust, Baptist Healing Trust, Bridgestone-Firestone Trust Fund, Iris & Mike Buhl, Caterpillar Financial, CBRL Group Foundation, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Joe C. Davis Foundation, Jane & Richard Eskind, The Ezell Foundation, First Tennessee Foundation, Tommy & Trish Frist, The Frist Foundation, Gannett Foundation, Harnisch Family Foundation, Maddox Fund, The Memorial Foundation, Charlie N. Martin, Jr., The Mick Foundation,  McWhorter Fund, NewsChannel5 Network, the Louie M. and Betty M. Phillips Foundation, Publix Super Markets Charities, Joan & Ben Rechter, Cal Turner Family Foundation and James Stephen Turner Family Foundation.

We are grateful to them for appreciating that in Middle Tennessee, giving really does matter!