Founded in 1969, the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis is the largest foundation in the Memphis area. With $260 million in assets and 950 charitable funds, this foundation awarded $40 million in grants last year to 1,600 organizations through 6,400 grants. They helped establish the Rise Foundation (see below), which assists public housing residents achieve financial self-sufficiency by teaching entry-level wage earners to budget, save, and accumulate assets.
Through the Community Partnership Fund they support initiatives and work in the arts, education, the environment, animal welfare, health services and research, mental health, community building, hunger and shelter, disaster relief, youth, human services, philanthropy and religious institutions.