Community Foundation of Greater Memphis

What Community Foundation of Greater Memphis does

The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis (CFGM) is a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 1969 and headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. It is the Mid-South's largest grantmaker, managing $1.1 billion in charitable assets and distributing $148 million in grants across approximately 6,900 awards to 2,012 distinct nonprofit organizations in its most recent fiscal year. Over its 56-year history, CFGM has deployed $2.55 billion in cumulative grants across West Tennessee, eastern Arkansas, and northern Mississippi.

The foundation's core product is the donor-advised fund, established with a $10,000 minimum contribution, which allows donors to recommend grants over time while CFGM handles administration, due diligence, and tax documentation. Underlying infrastructure includes three secure online portals (DonorView for fund holders, GranteeView for grant applications, and a Scholarship Application Portal) built on what appears to be a standard web platform with TLS encryption and WAF protection. Investment management is delivered through nine distinct pools guided by investment consultant Prime Buchholz and a volunteer Investment Committee. The foundation also operates FOREVER Funds, a community-centered endowment awarding approximately $1.5M in discretionary grants annually; GiVE 365, a dollar-a-day collective giving circle at $365/year; LIVEGIVEmidsouth, a free public community information system with 100+ indicators and a directory of nearly 600 nonprofits; and the Next Gen Philanthropic Initiative, a selective cohort-based program for emerging donors with matching from the Hyde Family Foundation.

CFGM's revenue model is based on administrative fees assessed on $1.1B in charitable assets under management, supplemented by ancillary program revenue. GTM motion is a hybrid of direct sales-led advisor relationships and community-led engagement: dedicated philanthropic advisors (Chartered Advisors in Philanthropy, 21/64 certified) cultivate individual donors, while a professional advisor referral pipeline through attorneys, accountants, and financial planners feeds institutional fund establishment. The organization is governed by a Board of Governors with no parent company, private equity, or venture capital ownership. Strategic Plan 2024-2029 guides current priorities, and a full renovation of the 27-year-old headquarters at 1900 Union Avenue is underway with planned return in summer 2026.

Name

Community Foundation of Greater Memphis

Legal name

Community Foundation of Greater Memphis

Website

https://cfgm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis is a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 1969 that manages $1.1B in charitable assets and distributes roughly $148M annually across ~2,000 nonprofits, serving individual donors, professional advisors, and community organizations in the Mid-South region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Foundation and Philanthropic Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Capacity Building & Nonprofit Infrastructure Funders (BPAGAKAO), Advancement Services & Donor Operations (CRM, Gift Processing, Stewardship) (EDALAOAD)

Keywords

• Community foundation services
• Donor-advised funds
• Charitable fund management
• Grantmaking services
• Philanthropic advising

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Fund Management: The foundation manages charitable funds established by donors. While specific fee structures are not publicly disclosed, community foundations typically earn revenue through administrative fees assessed on assets under management. Donors establish funds with minimum $10,000 contributions.
2. Grants to Nonprofits: The foundation distributes grants totaling $148 million annually to approximately 2,000+ nonprofits. Most grants are recommended by donor-advised fund holders; the foundation also awards approximately $1.5 million annually in discretionary grants through FOREVER Funds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis stewards charitable assets for individual donors, families, and organizations across the Mid-South, offering Donor-Advised Funds, scholarship funds, endowed funds, the GiVE 365 giving circle, and professional advisor services. It reinvests returns as grants to nonprofit organizations and scholarships to students, and publishes community information through the LIVEGIVEmidsouth platform.

Product overview

The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis is a philanthropic services organization that operates as a unified platform combining charitable fund management, grantmaking, and community information tools. Its core offerings center on Donor-Advised Funds and Scholarship Funds, which are administered through the Foundation and connected to the secure DonorView, GranteeView, and Scholarship Application portals. The FOREVER Funds serves as the Foundation's flagship community endowment program that distributes competitive grants to nonprofits, while GiVE 365 is a sub-brand giving circle enabling collective grantmaking by everyday donors. LIVEGIVEmidsouth functions as a free community information platform providing data and nonprofit directory access. Additional services include professional investment management across nine investment pools, nonprofit capacity building, professional advisor education, the Next Gen Philanthropic Initiative for emerging donors, and personalized philanthropic advising.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GiVE 365: A giving circle where members pool $365 per year to fund local nonprofits, creating collective change in Memphis.
• FOREVER Funds
• LIVEGIVEmidsouth

Products and services

• Donor-Advised Funds (Charitable Funds and Endowed Funds)

Quantifiable outcome

• $148 million in grants distributed last year to 2,012 distinct nonprofits
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Prime BuchholzcoreTechnology or IntegrationInvestment consultant guiding the Community Foundation's $1.1 billion in charitable assets. Provides informed manager selection and disciplined asset allocation advice through a local volunteer investment committee of seasoned professionals.
• Planned Giving Council of the Mid-SouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association for professionals developing, marketing, and administering charitable planned gifts. Includes estate planners, tax attorneys, accountants, bank trust officers, and financial advisors.
• Memphis Estate Planning CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterdisciplinary organization fostering understanding between life underwriters, trust officers, attorneys, accountants, and others involved in estate planning.
• Financial Planning Association of Greater MemphisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association promoting financial planning as a profession and its value to the community. Works with national FPA to advance knowledge and public education.
• Tennessee Society of CPAsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association dedicated to advancing Tennessee CPAs through peer networking, educational opportunities, and legislative activities.
• BackBlack MovementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal movement that merged with Black Philanthropy Month in 2025, focused on directing capital, growing capacity, and building community for Black-led nonprofits.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta: Regional community foundation serving the Atlanta metro with donor-advised funds, competitive grantmaking, and community information platforms. Directly comparable as a large, established community foundation operating a similar model of fund management and regional grantmaking.
• The Pittsburgh Foundation: Community foundation serving the Pittsburgh region with comparable products including donor-advised funds, scholarships, competitive grant cycles, and nonprofit capacity building programs.
• Silicon Valley Community Foundation: Major community foundation managing very large AUM with a strong focus on donor-advised funds, custom philanthropy services, and venture-style giving initiatives.
• The Boston Foundation: Established community foundation serving Greater Boston with donor-advised funds, discretionary grantmaking, and a civic leadership focus similar to CFGM's role in Memphis.
• The Chicago Community Trust: Large regional community foundation managing multi-billion AUM with donor-advised funds, competitive grantmaking, and a community impact focus across the Chicago metropolitan area.
• The Cleveland Foundation: One of the oldest and largest community foundations in the U.S. (established 1914), managing multi-billion dollar AUM with donor-advised funds, scholarship programs, and discretionary grantmaking across Greater Cleveland.
• The Dallas Foundation: Texas-based community foundation offering donor-advised funds, scholarships, competitive grantmaking, and community leadership programs across the North Texas region.

Broad incumbents

• Fidelity Charitable: The largest national donor-advised fund sponsor in the U.S., part of Fidelity Investments. Competes for the same donor-advised fund dollars as CFGM but offers broader investment menus, lower minimums, and a national brand.
• Schwab Charitable: National donor-advised fund sponsor affiliated with Charles Schwab, providing low-cost DAFs with multiple investment options. Represents a major alternative for high-net-worth Memphis donors considering DAFs.
• National Philanthropic Trust: National donor-advised fund sponsor offering charitable giving accounts with flexible investment options and a focus on helping donors manage large-scale giving strategies. Competes for high-net-worth donor-advised fund business nationally.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/cfgreatermemphis
• Facebookfacebook.com/CommunityFoundationGreaterMemphis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-foundation-of-greater-memphis
• Instagraminstagram.com/cfgmemphis
• Xx.com/cfgmemphis

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Community Foundation of Greater Memphis