40 Years of Impact

The East Tennessee Foundation (ETF/Foundation) proudly marked a major milestone with its 40^th Annual Stakeholder Summits held in Knoxville, Athens, and Bristol. These events brought together community leaders, donors, nonprofit partners, and other partners to honor four decades of meaningful impact across East Tennessee.

These milestone summits served as a powerful morning of reflection on the Foundation’s legacy of philanthropic leadership, monumental impacts, and its continued commitment to make lives better and communities stronger throughout East Tennessee for generations to come.

During the summits, the Foundation shared key milestones from the past 40 years including:

• Over $476 million granted to nonprofit organizations since 1986
• More than $14 million granted in scholarships to deserving students in the past 40 years
• Assets peaked at over $700 million in 2025
• More than $35 million in estate gift commitments received in 2025
• Countless lives impacted because of generous philanthropic gifts.

“As the East Tennessee Foundation turns 40, we are as encouraged today as we have been for the past four decades,” shared Dr. Keith Barber, President & CEO of ETF. “We will continue to call upon our neighbors to help one another, learn from our fellow East Tennesseans, and build upon our success to be strategic in making impacts in our region. This milestone is a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when communities come together with a shared vision.”

Special highlights from the summits were the recognition of four outstanding honorees whose leadership, generosity, and dedication have made a lasting difference in our community. This year’s recipients include:

• Fifth Third Bank, Community Catalyst Award
• Pat Postma, Community Connector Award
• David Martin, the newly named Natalie L. Haslam Community Champion Award
• Appalachia Funders Network, Community Catalyst Award

“These honorees represent the very best of our region,” said Lisa Ford, Vice President of Strategic Engagement & Communications of ETF. “Their deep commitment to serving this region and shared passion for ETF’s mission reflects the spirit of what we celebrate at our Stakeholder Summit each year. We are grateful for their partnerships and dedication in building a brighter future for East Tennessee.”

Since its founding, ETF has played a vital role in supporting nonprofit organizations, expanding educational opportunities through scholarships, and addressing the region’s most pressing needs through strategic philanthropy. The Foundation remains focused on building upon its strong legacy by fostering generosity, deepening partnerships, and creating lasting change to make lives better and communities stronger across the region.

To view and share the 40th anniversary impact report, click HERE.

To view the 40th anniversary slideshow, click HERE.