Tennessee Baptist Foundation
Tennessee Baptist Foundation is a 1938-founded non-profit religious foundation headquartered in Franklin, TN, providing faith-based estate planning, planned giving guidance, and ministry fund management to Tennessee Baptist Convention churches, associations, institutions, and individual Baptists across $180M in managed assets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1938
- HeadquartersFranklin, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Tennessee Baptist Foundation does
The Tennessee Baptist Foundation is a Tennessee-based non-profit religious foundation organized in 1938 and headquartered in Franklin, TN. It provides faith-based estate planning, planned giving guidance, and ministry fund management services primarily to Tennessee Baptist Convention churches, associations, institutions, and individual Tennessee Baptists, with extended service to like-minded evangelicals. The foundation manages assets under management of $180 million (2024) across investment and financing vehicles for churches and Baptist institutions, and assists individuals with planned giving arrangements that benefit denominational ministries. It also administers college/medical and seminary scholarship programs.
Revenue is generated through three primary streams: asset management fees on invested ministry funds, professional services for planned giving arrangements, and one-time license fees for educational Bible study products. The foundation's technology footprint is minimal and relationship-driven, centered on a client portal (iphiview.com) for account access, a website for content and forms, and Calendly-based booking for individual estate planning consultations. Educational products include "Practical Stewardship" and "Lordship Generosity" 6-session studies, each priced at $25. The go-to-market model is community-led, leveraging referrals from church leaders and ministers within the Tennessee Baptist Convention and Southern Baptist Convention networks, supplemented by content marketing, email newsletters, and Facebook presence.
The foundation holds ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability) accreditation, which provides compliance and credibility validation within the evangelical donor community. The organization operates with a lean team of approximately six staff members, led by President and Treasurer Sam Warner (appointed July 2024), who succeeded Bill Gruenewald following a structured transition. Warner brings 20 years of non-profit development experience, including prior leadership at Georgia Baptist Convention where he oversaw AUM growth from $348M to $522M between 2014 and 2023. As a private non-profit, the foundation has no equity ownership structure, no public listing, and no external PE/VC ownership.
Tennessee Baptist Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tennessee Baptist Foundation
- Legal name
- Tennessee Baptist Foundation
- Website
- https://tbfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1938
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Tennessee Baptist Foundation is a 1938-founded non-profit religious foundation headquartered in Franklin, TN, providing faith-based estate planning, planned giving guidance, and ministry fund management to Tennessee Baptist Convention churches, associations, institutions, and individual Baptists across $180M in managed assets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tennessee Baptist Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Faith-Based Financial Services
- NAICS
- Religious Organizations (81311), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious Organizations (813110)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Philanthropic & Charitable Trust Services (FSAAANAI), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)
Keywords
Where Tennessee Baptist Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Franklin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Tennessee Baptist Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Asset Management Fees: The foundation manages assets for Tennessee Baptist churches, associations, and institutions. Assets under management currently total $180 million. Revenue is generated through management of investment accounts and ministry funds.
- Planned Giving Services: The foundation assists individuals with faith-based estate planning and planned giving arrangements. They help donors create legacies that benefit Baptist churches and ministries through structured gift vehicles.
- Educational Study Materials: The foundation sells stewardship study materials, including 'Practical Stewardship' and 'Lordship Generosity' studies priced at $25 each, providing educational resources for churches and individuals.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Practical Stewardship Study |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Lordship Generosity Study |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Estate Planning Services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Tennessee Baptist Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Tennessee Baptist Foundation provides faith-based estate planning, planned giving guidance, and ministry fund management services for individual Tennessee Baptists, churches, associations, and Baptist institutions. The foundation manages investment accounts for ministry entities, administers planned giving vehicles, and offers scholarship programs for college/medical and seminary students. It also publishes stewardship educational resources including the Practical Stewardship and Lordship Generosity Bible study series.
Product overview
Tennessee Baptist Foundation offers a suite of faith-based financial and stewardship services centered around estate planning, planned giving, and ministry fund management. The core offerings include faith-based estate planning services, planned giving guidance, and investment services for churches and ministries. The organization also provides educational resources through two Bible study products: Practical Stewardship (a 6-part series on biblical stewardship principles) and Lordship Generosity (a 6-session series on generosity and legacy), both available for $25. Additionally, the Foundation administers scholarship programs for college/medical and seminary students. All services are designed to help individuals and churches steward resources with eternal impact in alignment with Christian principles.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Faith-Based Estate Planning Faith-based estate planning services that help individuals plan where their assets will go after death, enabling them to bless the next generation of believers through thoughtful distribution of their estate. Designed for individual Tennessee Baptists and like-minded evangelicals.
- Planned Giving Guidance Expert guidance on planned giving strategies for individuals and ministries, helping donors explore ways to support Kingdom work through structured and impactful gift vehicles. Designed for individuals seeking to leave a faith-aligned legacy.
- Ministry Fund Management Investment and financing services that help Tennessee Baptist churches, associations, and institutions manage their funds and build strong bridges to the future. Currently manages $180 million in assets under management for ministry entities.
- Practical Stewardship Bible Study A 6-part Bible study series focused on biblical stewardship, managing finances, and aligning one's life with God's purpose. Priced at $25 for all six sessions. Designed for individuals, small groups, and churches.
- Lordship Generosity Bible Study A 6-session comprehensive study guide for believers, small groups, and churches that challenges and inspires surrender to Christ in daily life, stewardship, and legacy. Priced at $25.
- Scholarship Programs Scholarship programs including College/Medical Scholarships and Seminary Scholarships for Tennessee Baptists pursuing higher education.
Quantifiable outcome
- 7 out of 10 people die without an estate plan, missing the opportunity to decide what happens to their assets
Companies that use Tennessee Baptist Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Tennessee Baptist Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Tennessee Baptist Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Tennessee Baptist ConventioncoreThe Tennessee Baptist Foundation is a proud partnering organization of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, assisting individual Baptists as well as Convention churches, associations, and entities with estate and planned giving to advance the Great Commission.
- Southern Baptist ConventioncoreAs a proud partnering organization of the Southern Baptist Convention, the foundation extends appreciation to all institutions working toward common Kingdom goals.
- Tennessee Baptist Adult HomesminorAffiliated Tennessee Baptist institution working toward shared ministry goals.
- Tennessee Baptist Children's HomesminorAffiliated Tennessee Baptist institution working toward shared ministry goals.
- Union UniversityminorAffiliated Tennessee Baptist educational institution; President Sam Warner earned two degrees from Union University.
- Carson-Newman CollegeminorAffiliated Tennessee Baptist educational institution working toward shared ministry goals.
- Harrison-Chilhowee Baptist AcademyminorAffiliated Tennessee Baptist educational institution working toward shared ministry goals.
- Baptist Memorial Health Care Corp., Inc. MemphisminorAffiliated Tennessee Baptist healthcare institution working toward shared ministry goals.
- ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability)coreThe foundation holds ECFA accreditation, demonstrating financial accountability and transparency standards expected by evangelical organizations. Members are reviewed annually for compliance with ECFA standards.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights8 records
Tennessee Baptist Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Southern Baptist Foundation: National-level foundation affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, offering planned giving, charitable trust, and endowment services to Southern Baptist churches and individuals.
- Kentucky Baptist Foundation: State Baptist foundation providing faith-based estate planning, planned giving, and church fund management to Kentucky Baptist congregations, with a comparable service model and donor base.
- Barnabas Foundation: Faith-based nonprofit that helps Christians create charitable estate plans, gift annuities, and donor-advised funds. Directly comparable in faith-aligned estate planning and planned giving services.
- Georgia Baptist Foundation: Direct peer operating as the Georgia state Baptist foundation, providing estate planning, planned giving, and ministry fund management to Georgia Baptist churches and individuals. Sam Warner led this foundation prior to joining TBF, making it the closest comparable peer.
- North Carolina Baptist Foundation: State-level Baptist foundation serving NC Baptist churches, associations, and institutions with planned giving, estate planning, and investment management services under a comparable model.
Broad incumbents
- Thrivent Financial: Faith-based financial services company providing investment, insurance, and planning services to Christian individuals and households, offering overlapping faith-aligned financial planning capabilities.
- National Christian Foundation: One of the largest Christian donor-advised fund providers in the US, offering planned giving and charitable giving services to evangelical donors and ministries at a national scale.
- GuideStone Financial Resources: Southern Baptist-affiliated financial services organization providing retirement, insurance, and investment services to pastors and ministry workers, with overlap in Baptist-aligned financial stewardship.
Emerging players
- HighGround Advisors: Faith-based financial advisory firm offering biblically responsible investing, retirement planning, and estate planning to Christian individuals and families, with a narrower service spectrum than TBF.
- Charitable Advisors LLC: Specialized firm providing charitable gift planning, donor-advised funds, and endowment management services to faith-based and community foundations, with comparable planned giving expertise.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Tennessee Baptist Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceTennessee Baptist Foundation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Tennessee Baptist Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tennessee Baptist Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Tennessee Baptist Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tennessee Baptist Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tennessee Baptist Foundation
What does Tennessee Baptist Foundation do?
The Tennessee Baptist Foundation provides faith-based estate planning, planned giving guidance, and ministry fund management services for individual Tennessee Baptists, churches, associations, and Baptist institutions. The foundation manages investment accounts for ministry entities, administers planned giving vehicles, and offers scholarship programs for college/medical and seminary students. It also publishes stewardship educational resources including the Practical Stewardship and Lordship Generosity Bible study series.
Is Tennessee Baptist Foundation a public or private company?
Tennessee Baptist Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Tennessee Baptist Foundation founded?
Tennessee Baptist Foundation was founded in 1938. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Tennessee Baptist Foundation based?
Tennessee Baptist Foundation is headquartered in Franklin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tennessee Baptist Foundation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Asset Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are planned Giving Services and educational Study Materials.
Who are Tennessee Baptist Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Southern Baptist Foundation, Kentucky Baptist Foundation, Barnabas Foundation, Georgia Baptist Foundation and North Carolina Baptist Foundation. Broad incumbents are Thrivent Financial, National Christian Foundation and GuideStone Financial Resources. Emerging players are HighGround Advisors and Charitable Advisors LLC.
Does Tennessee Baptist Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tennessee Baptist Foundation.
What industry is Tennessee Baptist Foundation in?
Tennessee Baptist Foundation's product category is Faith-Based Financial Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAB, Community Foundations, with a secondary code of FSAAANAI, Philanthropic & Charitable Trust Services. Its NAICS code is 81311 and its SIC code is 6282.