THOUGHTFUL GIVING FOR STRONGER  COMMUNITIES AND BETTER LIVES
Fundholder Login
Give Now

The East Tennessee Foundation & CNS Y-12 Community Investment Fund Announce Grant Opportunity Benefiting 20 East Tennessee Counties

June 1, 2026

The East Tennessee Foundation (ETF/Foundation) is now accepting applications for the 2026 CNS Y-12 Community Investment Fund grant cycle. Applications opened May 15 and will close on June 11, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.

Established by Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS), the contractor for the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, the fund supports nonprofit organizations serving communities across a 20-county region in East Tennessee. Since 2015, the fund has awarded more than 200 grants benefiting more than 140 nonprofit organizations.

Organizations may apply for grants of up to $12,500 for one-year projects running from September 15, 2026, through September 14, 2027.

This year’s funding priorities include:

  • Teen Resilience: Programs supporting at-risk middle and high school students and young adults through services such as mental health support, education, life skills development, and foster care transition assistance.
  • Veteran Support: Programs serving veterans and their families through mental health services, housing assistance, job training, disability support, service dogs, and community reintegration efforts.

“We are grateful for CNS’s continued commitment to invest in and strengthen the well-being of East Tennessee communities,” said Dr. Keith Barber, President & CEO of the East Tennessee Foundation. “These grants will empower local nonprofits to meet critical needs and create meaningful opportunities for teens, veterans, and families across our region.”

Eligible nonprofit organizations serving one or more of the following counties may apply: Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Cumberland, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Rhea, Roane, Scott, Sevier, and Union.

For more information Grant applicants can find more information on our website at https://easttennesseefoundation.org/grants/cns-y-12-community-investment-fund/ or by contacting Ashley Siferd Butler, Director of Competitive Grants, at ab*****@*tf.org.