Frequently Asked Questions

We accept applications from 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, public and charter schools, licensed community centers, and faith-based organizations with established youth-serving or family-serving programs. Applicants must operate within Middle Tennessee (Davidson County and adjacent counties including Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Sumner, Robertson, Cheatham, and Dickson). We require that applicant organizations have at least one full year of operational history; our Family Stability Fund requires at least two years. Individual teachers in Metro Nashville Public Schools may apply directly for Teacher Innovation Awards without organizational sponsorship. We do not fund individuals outside of the Teacher Innovation Awards program, for-profit businesses, political campaigns, or organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or age.

Each of our six programs operates on its own cycle: Early Childhood Literacy Grants have two deadlines per year (February 1 for the Spring Cycle and August 15 for the Fall Cycle). After-School Arts Enrichment applications are due March 15 annually. The Family Stability Fund accepts rolling applications reviewed on a quarterly basis (March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31). Teacher Innovation Awards applications are due October 1. Summer Learning Scholarship applications are due January 15. Parent Education Workshop applications are due May 1. All deadlines are at 11:59 PM Central Time. Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed. We recommend submitting your application at least one week before the deadline to allow time for any technical issues or questions from our grants team.

Grant amounts vary by program: Early Childhood Literacy ($2,500 to $15,000), After-School Arts Enrichment ($5,000 to $25,000), Family Stability Fund ($3,000 to $20,000), Teacher Innovation Awards ($500 to $3,000), Summer Learning Scholarships ($1,000 to $10,000 per organization, based on $275 per child), and Parent Education Workshops ($1,500 to $8,000). Eligible expenses include direct program delivery costs such as instructor and staff salaries, educational materials and supplies, facility rental, transportation, assessment tools, and participant support services like childcare during workshops. We do not fund general operating expenses, capital campaigns, endowment contributions, debt service, lobbying activities, or expenses incurred before the grant award date. All applicants must submit a detailed line-item budget as part of their application.

Yes. Organizations whose work spans multiple program areas may submit separate applications to different programs within the same grant cycle. Each application is evaluated independently by the relevant program reviewers on our advisory committee. However, we ask that each application describe a distinct program or initiative; submitting the same program narrative to multiple programs is not permitted and will result in both applications being returned without review. If you are unsure which program best fits your work, please contact our grants team at grants@levylovefoundation.com or use the Program Finder tool on our Programs page. We are happy to discuss your situation and recommend the most appropriate program before you invest time in the application.

Yes. First-year grantees receive one-year awards. Organizations that complete their program successfully, submit a timely outcomes report, and demonstrate measurable impact are eligible to apply for renewal funding in subsequent years. We have several grantee partners currently in their fourth or fifth consecutive year of funding. Multi-year renewal applications receive a streamlined review process and do not require a full resubmission of organizational background materials. However, renewal is not automatic; each year's funding decision is based on the prior year's performance, the quality of the outcomes report, the results of our annual site visit, and the availability of funds within the relevant program area. We view our grantee relationships as long-term partnerships, and our renewal rate across all programs is approximately 82 percent.

All grantees must submit a written outcomes report within 90 days of program completion (60 days for Teacher Innovation Awards). The report should include: a narrative summary of program activities and any deviations from the original proposal; the number of participants served broken down by age, grade level, and demographic information as applicable; quantitative outcomes data such as pre- and post-assessment results, attendance rates, and retention figures; qualitative outcomes including participant testimonials, teacher observations, and anecdotal evidence of impact; a financial report showing how grant funds were expended against the approved budget; and lessons learned or recommendations for program improvement. We provide a standardized reporting template to all grantees at the time of award. Failure to submit a timely and complete outcomes report will disqualify the organization from future funding consideration.

Applications are reviewed in three stages. First, our grants team conducts an administrative review to verify that the application is complete, the organization meets basic eligibility requirements, and the proposed program falls within one of our six funding areas. Incomplete or ineligible applications are returned with an explanation within 30 days. Second, applications that pass administrative review are evaluated by members of our advisory committee with relevant subject-matter expertise. Committee members score applications based on alignment with program goals, demonstrated organizational capacity, quality of the proposed program design, reasonableness of the budget, and strength of the evaluation plan. Third, finalists are invited for a site visit with foundation staff. During the site visit, we meet with program staff, observe program activities if currently in operation, and discuss the proposal in detail. Final funding decisions are communicated via email within 90 days of the deadline.

Yes. Site visits are an integral part of our grantmaking process. First-time applicants who are selected as finalists will receive a site visit from foundation staff before a funding decision is made. These visits are typically scheduled within 45 days of the application deadline and last approximately 90 minutes. We ask to meet with the program director or lead staff, observe the program environment, and review any supplementary materials such as curricula, assessment tools, or program schedules. Existing grantees receive an annual site visit during the active grant period. These visits are collaborative rather than auditing in nature; we use them to understand how the program is going, identify any challenges or needs, and discuss strategies for improvement. We also schedule our annual Educator Showcase as an opportunity to bring Teacher Innovation Award recipients together in a peer-learning environment at the Nashville Public Library's Main Branch.

Absolutely, and we encourage it. Pre-application conversations help both you and our team determine whether your program is a strong fit for one of our grant areas before you invest significant time in the application process. Our grants team is available Wednesday through Friday, 10 AM to 4 PM Central Time, by appointment. You can reach us by email at grants@levylovefoundation.com or by phone at (615) 555-0294. We are also happy to provide guidance on which program area best matches your work, explain reporting requirements in detail, discuss whether a preliminary concept note would be helpful before a full application, and connect you with current grantees who can share their experience working with the foundation. We typically respond to email inquiries within two business days.

The Levy Love Foundation primarily funds programs serving children and families in Davidson County (Nashville) and the surrounding Middle Tennessee counties, including Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Sumner, Robertson, Cheatham, and Dickson counties. Our Teacher Innovation Awards are limited to Metro Nashville Public Schools teachers. Some programs, particularly the Family Stability Fund and Summer Learning Scholarships, may consider applications from organizations serving rural Middle Tennessee communities beyond these core counties on a case-by-case basis. We do not fund statewide programs except in rare circumstances where the program maintains a significant operational presence and measurable impact within our core Middle Tennessee service area. If your organization operates outside our primary geographic area, we recommend contacting our grants team to discuss eligibility before applying.