East Tennessee Foundation

06/16/2026

We love getting to see how our grantees use their funding to help make lives better and communities stronger!

Congrats, Clayton Center for the Arts, on your arts grant! We look forward to seeing who takes the stage next! 🎭

06/12/2026

For four decades, the East Tennessee Foundation has been a trusted philanthropic leader in making lives better and communities stronger in our region.

Our story is one of vision, growth, stewardship, and a deep commitment to the people and places we serve in East Tennessee.

Take a walk down memory lane with photos from our rich history. Be sure to let us know if you recognize anyone from our first decade of impact!

06/11/2026

We’re kicking off our birthday celebration stories by sharing how the East Tennessee Foundation came to be.

On June 30, 1986, the East Tennessee Foundation was formed through the merger of the Community Foundation of East Tennessee and the Business Trust for the Arts, creating the only existing public foundation to benefit East Tennessee.

What is a community foundation? Our Foundation is a collection of hundreds of individual charitable funds and supporting organizations established by individuals, families, businesses, and other nonprofits and foundations to make the region we love a better place, today and for future generations.

How did you first hear about ETF?

💡 A scholarship?
🤝 A nonprofit partner?
🎉 An event?
💰A grant?
👤 A friend or colleague?
📍 Something else?

Let us know in the comments!

06/10/2026

For 40 years, the East Tennessee Foundation has partnered with generous individuals, families, and organizations to strengthen the communities we call home.

This month is our birthday month, and we’re celebrating the people, partnerships, and stories that have shaped our decades of impact across East Tennessee. 🎂🎉

Join us throughout June as we look back on where we started, the lives touched along the way, and the future ahead.

06/04/2026

Thank you, WBIR Channel 10 for helping us share the story of our 40th anniversary and our new office, Perkins Place.

Be sure to catch the feature here: https://www.wbir.com/video/news/state/east-tennessee-foundation-celebrates-40-years-and-new-perkins-place-home/51-691ec445-d9fa-41a5-b3fb-d02a107c77df

Stay tuned throughout the year as we continue celebrating our 40th anniversary, reflect on four decades of community impact, and provide stories about our new home.

East Tennessee Foundation marks 40 years, opens new Perkins Place home, preserving historic school building.

06/03/2026

Keep your eyes peeled for the East Tennessee Foundation on WBIR Channel 10 tonight! 👀

Our President & CEO, Dr. Keith Barber, recently sat down with WBIR to share how ETF is helping strengthen communities and improve lives across East Tennessee. We’re excited for the opportunity to highlight the power of philanthropy and the impact it has throughout our region.

Be sure to tune in!

06/02/2026

Congratulations to the 20 organizations selected to receive 2026 arts-related grants through the East Tennessee Foundation’s Arts Fund for East Tennessee and the Katherine Davis Moore and Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Davis Foundation Fund!

These grants will enrich lives through music, theatre, dance, visual arts, storytelling, arts education, and cultural traditions across East Tennessee.

We are proud to support organizations that expand access to the arts, inspire creativity, and strengthen our communities.

Read the full announcement here: https://easttennesseefoundation.org/news/the-east-tennessee-foundation-awards-more-than-271000-to-strengthen-arts-and-culture-across-the-region/.

05/30/2026

It was a community-filled morning for the BAPS Charities Walk at Victor Ashe Park! 👟

Last year, the East Tennessee Foundation was honored to be the event’s beneficiary, and this year we’re delighted our friends at Cancer Support Community East Tennessee are the nonprofit recipient.

Thank you to BAPS Charities for investing in organizations that make our community stronger.

05/29/2026

Our East Tennessee neighbors in Cocke and Greene Counties are facing devastating flooding after days of heavy rainfall. Through ETF's Neighbor to Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund, we can come together to help families and communities recover.

Every gift makes a difference. 💙

Donate TODAY: https://etf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=7933

05/22/2026

In observance of Memorial Day, our office will be closed on Monday. We pause to remember and honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

We hope everyone has a safe and meaningful holiday weekend.