First Horizon Foundation – West Tennessee Grants (2026)

Grants Supporting Arts, Education, Sustainability, Financial Literacy, Health, and Human Services in Memphis, Shelby County, and Jackson

First Horizon Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations working to strengthen communities across its banking footprint. For the 2026 West Tennessee grant cycle, eligible organizations serving Memphis, Shelby County, and Jackson, Tennessee may apply for support across five priority areas: Arts & Culture, Education & Leadership, Environmental Sustainability, Financial Literacy, and Health & Human Services.

Applications open October 1, 2026 and are due December 31, 2026.

Organization: First Horizon Foundation
Support Type: Community grants
Funding Amount: Not specified
Geographic Focus: Memphis/Shelby County and Jackson, Tennessee
Application Opens: October 1, 2026
Deadline: December 31, 2026
Decision Timeline: February 2027

New to corporate grant fundraising?

Read our Corporate Grants for Nonprofits: Ultimate Guide to learn how corporate funding works.

About the Funder

First Horizon Foundation is the private charitable foundation of First Horizon Corporation. The Foundation invests in nonprofit organizations working to create meaningful, lasting improvements in the communities First Horizon serves.

First Horizon Foundation reports having provided more than $170 million in grants to community organizations.

Its giving strategy centers on five areas that contribute to long-term community growth and well-being.

What This Program Supports

Arts & Culture

First Horizon Foundation supports organizations and programs that strengthen arts and cultural opportunities and contribute to community enrichment.

Potential areas of alignment may include:

• Arts programming
• Cultural organizations
• Community arts initiatives
• Programs expanding access to creative experiences
• Arts education and enrichment

Education & Leadership

Funding supports efforts that educate and develop the next generation of leaders.

Potential programs may include:

• Youth education
• Leadership development
• College and career preparation
• Mentoring
• Educational enrichment
• Programs expanding access to opportunity

Environmental Sustainability

The Foundation supports initiatives contributing to a more sustainable future.

Organizations working on environmental stewardship, sustainability, conservation, and related community initiatives may align with this funding priority.

Financial Literacy

Financial education is a significant area of interest for First Horizon.

Potential programs may include:

• Financial literacy
• Money management education
• Youth financial education
• Homebuyer education
• Financial capability
• Economic empowerment

Programs that help individuals and families build greater financial knowledge and stability may be particularly well aligned.

Health & Human Services

First Horizon Foundation supports organizations working to improve community health and well-being.

Potential areas include:

• Hunger relief
• Basic needs
• Health services
• Family support
• Community wellness
• Services for underserved populations
• Programs promoting stability and self-sufficiency

Geographic Eligibility

The December 31, 2026 deadline applies specifically to organizations seeking funding in:

• Memphis, Tennessee
• Shelby County, Tennessee
• Jackson, Tennessee

First Horizon Foundation operates separate application schedules for other Tennessee markets, including Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, the Tri-Cities, and surrounding communities.

Organizations outside Memphis/Shelby County and Jackson should review the Foundation’s Tennessee grant page for the applicable regional timeline rather than relying on the December 31 deadline.

Eligibility

First Horizon Foundation supports eligible nonprofit organizations working within the communities it serves.

Applicants should demonstrate:

• A clear community need
• Strong alignment with one or more First Horizon Foundation focus areas
• Meaningful benefit to people in the eligible geographic area
• A defined use for grant funding
• The organizational capacity to successfully carry out the proposed work

Ineligible Requests

First Horizon Foundation grants are not provided to or for:

• Individuals
• Trips and tours
• Solely religious, social, or fraternal organizations
• Charities that primarily redistribute funds to other charitable organizations, except recognized united-fund type organizations
• K–12 schools
• Political organizations
• Organizations whose primary purpose is influencing legislation or promoting a particular ideological point of view
• Operating budget deficits

Organizations should carefully review these exclusions before beginning an application.

Funding Amounts

First Horizon Foundation does not publish a standard minimum or maximum grant amount for this program.

Award sizes may vary based on factors such as:

• Scope of the proposed work
• Community need
• Alignment with Foundation priorities
• Geographic impact
• Available funding

Applicants should develop a reasonable request tied to a specific program, initiative, or community need.

Tips for a Strong Application

Strong applications should clearly connect the organization’s work to both First Horizon’s local community presence and one of its five funding priorities.

Applicants should consider emphasizing:

• The specific population served in Memphis, Shelby County, or Jackson
• The community challenge being addressed
• How grant funding will be used
• Expected outcomes
• The number of people who will benefit
• How the work creates lasting community impact

Organizations working in financial literacy, education and leadership development, health and human services, environmental sustainability, or arts and culture should make the connection to the relevant First Horizon priority explicit.

Timeline & Review

📅 Applications Open: October 1, 2026
📅 Application Deadline: December 31, 2026
📅 Decisions Communicated: February 2027

Applicants have a three-month application window, but organizations should begin preparing before December to allow sufficient time to complete the online application.

Application / Request Process

Applications are submitted through First Horizon Foundation’s online grant portal.

Organizations should first confirm that they are applying through the correct geographic cycle.

For the December 31, 2026 deadline, the eligible Tennessee region is Memphis/Shelby County and Jackson.

The Foundation lists Kate Staggs as the contact for this regional grant cycle.

Apply / Learn More

➡️ Tennessee Grant Guidelines & Regional Deadlines:
https://firsthorizonfoundation.com/apply-for-a-grant/tennessee

➡️ Online Grant Application:
https://firsthorizon.kadince.com/external/forms/c8daa6735c1ce25bb7d964156575deed

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

This opportunity is a strong fit for nonprofit organizations that:

• Serve Memphis, Shelby County, or Jackson, Tennessee
• Have a strong local community presence
• Provide health or human services
• Deliver education or leadership programs
• Promote financial literacy and economic stability
• Support arts and cultural opportunities
• Advance environmental sustainability
• Can clearly demonstrate community need and impact

First Horizon Foundation may be especially worth pursuing for established, locally focused nonprofits with programming closely connected to one of the Foundation’s five stated impact areas.

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Review Type: Annual regional grant cycle
Application Opens: October 1, 2026
Deadline: December 31, 2026
Decision Timeline: February 2027
Funding Amount: Not specified
Geographic Focus: Memphis/Shelby County and Jackson, Tennessee
Primary Priorities: Arts & Culture, Education & Leadership, Environmental Sustainability, Financial Literacy, and Health & Human Services
Best Suited For: Nonprofits delivering measurable community impact in First Horizon’s West Tennessee markets