Root. Growth. Flourish.

Turning ideas into solutions, research into cures, people into partners, and places into flourishing communities.

Our Work

We envision a thriving Middle Tennessee and a nation where everyone flourishes. Our decisions, relationships, and investments are shaped by the following values:

Trust & Respect

We understand the inherent power imbalance between those seeking grants and those giving them. Therefore, we start by trusting, respecting, and seeking partners responsively and proactively.

Responsiveness & Proactiveness

We sustain long-term partners and proactively identify emerging opportunities that require philanthropic capital for thoughtful risk and innovation.

Leveraged Collaboration & Partnership

We see philanthropy as a collaborative team sport, where successful teams move at the speed of trust.

Thoughtful Risk & Innovation

We believe that acceptance of the status quo represents the greatest risk and fewest solutions for communities. We are thoughtful risk-takers and curious innovators.

We welcome partnerships with U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits. While we fund select national and global efforts, we prioritize those rooted in Middle Tennessee, particularly Davidson and Sumner Counties, where our story began and our commitment continues.

Our Priority Issues

We believe flourishing communities are created through partnerships, knowledge, and ideas that connect multiple issues, not by addressing challenges in isolation.

In 2026, our top funding priorities are:

Economic Prosperity

Advancing affordable and accessible housing, food security, and economic mobility.

Dementia and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Supporting advocacy, research, and treatment for children and adults.

We also welcome opportunities to support:

Animal Welfare

Arts and Culture

Education

Environment

Healthcare

Grantmaking Timeline

Spring Cycle

Operational Grants

Application period: February 1 – March 1

Supports nonprofit partners’ organizational health and community impact.

This application includes an optional section for sharing creative and strategic initiatives and capital campaigns that will be considered for an invitation to participate in the Fall Cycle.

Fall Cycle

Invitation-Only Grants

Engages select partners to support creative and strategic initiatives, capital campaigns, and medical research, treatment, and advocacy for childhood and adult forms of dementia and neurodegenerative diseases.

About the Carolyn Smith Foundation

The Carolyn Smith Foundation was founded in 2016 to celebrate the life of Carolyn Smith. She and her husband, Randy, started Smith Travel Research (STR) – the leader in hospitality data analytics- in Hendersonville, Tennessee, in 1985.

Carolyn is remembered for her strategic mind and strong drive for excellence, matched by her kindness and compassion for those around her. The Foundation continues her legacy by investing in organizations that better communities locally, nationally, and globally.