The General’s® Community Grant Program
The General’s Community Grant Program builds on our long‑standing commitment to the communities we serve by offering unrestricted, general operating grants to eligible non‑profit 501(c)(3) partners.
Our Commitment
Our approach to grantmaking is ever‑evolving. We are committed to using trust‑based values to create meaningful, impactful relationships and reduce the inherent power imbalances of the traditional funding model.
The General’s grant funding priorities are:
Academic Achievement
& Education
Healthy Youth
Development
Economic
Opportunity
Community
Resiliency
Like many of our community partners, we are also committed to learning, listening and changing through collaboration and trust. These priorities align with our efforts to invest in and improve the communities where we live and serve.
Granting Process
The General hosts one grant cycle per year and utilizes a single‑step process which includes an open call for applications in June. Organizations may submit an online application to initiate the grant process. All organizations will be notified of their status by email. Non‑profit organizations are only permitted to submit one application per year.
Submission Deadlines
- Grant portal opens: June 15, 2023
- Applications due: July 15, 2023, 5 p.m. CDT
- Notifications about application status and next steps (if any): Early August 2023
- Grant award notification and disbursement: Mid‑August 2023
With limited funds, and a large pool of applicants, the grantmaking process is highly competitive. Unfortunately, we are only able to support a small portion of the total number of grant requests received. The average grant award is $5,000‑$10,000.
We encourage you to review our specific giving priorities, timelines and instructions before starting your submission. All grant applications must be submitted through the when it opens on June 15th.
Grant Priority Details
Academic Achievement and& Education
Programs and services that advance educational equity in learning and academic achievement through access to high quality education. Our grantmaking focus includes wrap‑around educational programming from birth through college with an emphasis on the following:
- Early childhood education
- Academic Support and achievement
- STEAM
- Reading and literacy
Healthy Youth Development
Programs and services that support the ongoing needs of young people from birth through 25 including:
- Social‑emotional learning
- Mental and behavioral health
- Reducing mental health stigma and discrimination
Economic Opportunity
Programs and services that increase employment access and opportunity, including:
- Job training
- Financial literacy
- Workforce and career readiness
- Reading and literacy
Community Resiliency
Programs and services that remove barriers to short and/or long‑term needs of individuals and families. Specific areas of grantmaking include:
- Food security through foodbanks and pantries, community gardens and sustainable food sources
- Housing via emergency shelter, and transitional/long term stable housing
- Transportation and daycare to pursue education and/or maintain employment
Communities of Focus
Within our grant priorities, we seek to support organizations that work with individuals and communities that include:
- Economically disadvantaged communities
- Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
- Youth (birth through 25) and young families
Additionally, we prioritize the funding of organizations and programming that offer educational or workforce opportunities for individuals who are currently incarcerated, justice involved or returning citizens experiencing re‑entry into their community.
Eligibility
An organization must have current tax‑exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and be in and/or offer programming in the city of Nashville, TN. The General is proud to call Nashville home!
The General’s Community Grant funding is unable to support:
- Individuals
- Fundraising events and sponsorships
- Memorial grants
- Places of worship
- Scouting groups
- Lobbying, political, or fraternal activities
- 501c3 organizations outside of the city of Nashville, TN
Application Process
All applications must be submitted through the grant portal to be considered.
The General’s Community Grant Program is proudly funded and supported by the American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation. Learn more about the community and American Family Insurance Mutual Holdings Company here.