Message from Our President

As we stepped into 2025, I found myself reflecting on the unpredictability and transformative nature of 2024.  We faced multiple challenges, all of which provided unique opportunities for the East Tennessee Foundation (ETF) to live out our mission and cultivate our future.

The year began by testing ETF’s newly formed organizational structure when we experienced an unprecedented and extended health leave by the CEO. While this required multiple adjustments, it offered the opportunity to emphasize our team’s strength and adaptability. During this same time, we navigated critical hires and transitions. Weathering expected and unexpected retirements of long-tenured team members, we also welcomed exceptional new talent across all areas of the organization, ensuring the right people are in the right seats on the ETF bus.

Our Board of Directors also saw growth, gaining new leaders from robust professional backgrounds that have enhanced our collective expertise. Throughout the year, our office culture – built on integrity, humility, and generosity – continued empowering us to navigate challenges with a unified spirit.

Among our proudest accomplishments was the revitalization of our Affiliate Fund program. Re-energized as our “secret sauce” to drive our mission locally, we thoughtfully restructured the Affiliate Fund program which expanded our capacity for community-driven impact. These efforts, plus other regional engagement initiatives, increased understanding of our work across East Tennessee and spurred new opportunities that united volunteers, donors, and nonprofit organizations to address needs throughout the region.

Hurricane Helene brought life-changing challenges to our neighbors and communities, and the ETF’s response highlighted our role as a philanthropic leader and trusted partner. We immediately re-prioritized our focus on natural disaster-related initiatives to assist our neighbors in their recovery. Within weeks, we received, processed, and stewarded more than 6,000 disaster-related gifts from around the world, resulting in more than $5.6 million committed to our Neighbor to Neighbor fund. To date, we have now granted out more than $2.4 million to more than 50 non-profits who are doing meaningful work in this space.

In addition, we listened to, learned from, and leaned into on our Affiliate Fund advisory groups and local contacts to begin providing strategic, long-term recovery support. The ETF’s leadership in this work was recognized across local, regional, and national platforms, solidifying our reputation as an experienced crisis responder for East Tennessee and as a model for others beyond our region.

Navigating through immediate needs, we gained momentum on long-term goals. Highlights included unprecedented growth in fundraising and assets under leadership, the exploration of new revenue streams, and our Board of Directors’ endorsement of impactful Opportunity Fund expenditures. We celebrated meaningful milestones such as the 25th anniversary of our partnership with the Knoxville Jewish Community Family of Funds and Carolyn Schwenn’s 36-year work anniversary with the ETF.

Through all the challenges of 2024, one constant stands out to me: You. Your demonstrated commitment to our mission and contributions to our community humbles and inspires all of us at the ETF, and we’ll look for that again in the years ahead.

Moving forward, we remain committed to supporting our neighbors on the road to recovery and to addressing East Tennessee’ s challenges, together. We have begun grassroots initiatives in preparation of the ETF’s next strategic plan and will continue seeking community knowledge and know-how to address important needs and make transformational investments for thriving communities.

Looking ahead, I am humbled with hope and inspiration.

This year, let us remember that in all situations, we have the choice to make a difference. To see less negative, we should continue seeking out goodness and leaning on each other for stability. Together, we foster a culture of resilience, compassion, and positive impact that defines the ETF and the extraordinary region we have served for nearly 40 years.

Thank you, and as always, let us hear from you,

Keith Barber
President & CEO
East Tennessee Foundation