October 17, 2017
Charitable component of Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival names more than 30 recipients of 2017 grants; 26 in Tennessee
Bonnaroo Works Fund (BWF), the charitable arm of Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, has announced its annual grant distributions of more than $225,000 to over 30 philanthropic organizations with an emphasis on Tennessee-based nonprofits.
“This year’s Bonnaroo Works Fund recipients are vital organizations, projects, programs and events that make communities stronger and healthier,” said Nina Miller, BWF executive director. “It’s extremely gratifying to help these amazing organizations continue their invaluable contributions.”
The Bonnaroo Works Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that supports organizations that advance the arts, education and environmental sustainability, with a focus on local reinvestment and asset building in the communities where “we work, live and play.” Since the inception of the festival, Bonnaroo and the BWF have awarded more than $7 million in funding to deserving organizations. (The full list of 2017 recipients is included below.)
The impact of the BWF can be seen through a number of ongoing programs and projects. This year marks the fifth year of Arts at the Airport, a joint public arts effort with the Nashville International Airport. Five proposals were selected from dozens of applicants, and the resulting installations, revealed in March, have been enjoyed by millions of travelers and will continue to be on display until early 2018. The Bonnaroo Works Fund Arts at the Airport exhibit continues to receive recognition for its creativity and impact, as indicated by this recent story from Nashville Public Television.
In addition, the BWF is providing support for three programs that will install refillable water stations for the Coffee County Board of Education, Tullahoma City Schools and the Grundy County School District. BWF is also partnering with the Manchester Coffee County Conference Center in support of its greening efforts with conversion to solar panels.
“The Bonnaroo Works Fund remains an integral component of the overall Bonnaroo experience,” said Ashley Capps, co-founder of Bonnaroo and president of BWF. “With the help of our patrons and sponsors, we are able to expand the festival’s impact throughout the year by supporting dynamic and enriching causes.”
The BWF is a joint effort between Bonnaroo organizers and attendees, with a portion of ticket sales allocated to the BWF. In addition, proceeds from festival activities, such as the Silent Auction, Root for Roo, the Bonnaroo 5K Run, and the Les Paul Spirit Awards along with a pre-Bonnaroo benefit at Peter Nappi in Nashville, all benefit the Bonnaroo Works Fund and, in turn, its grant recipients.
Bonnaroo Works Fund is administered by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Grants are selected based on a variety of criteria and approved by the board of directors. Previous recipients are welcome to reapply each year, but the BWF is always seeking new applicants with innovative approaches to supporting the core missions of the BWF. The next grant cycle will begin in the first quarter of 2018.
About Bonnaroo Works Fund
Bonnaroo Works Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was founded in 2009 as the charitable division of Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. Its mission is to support national and regional organizations that advance the arts, education and environmental causes. With a primary focus on local reinvestment and asset-building, Bonnaroo Works Fund and Bonnaroo have provided more than $7 million in support to over a hundred causes since the festival’s inception. For more information:www.bonnarooworksfund.org
About the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee oversees more than 1,050 charitable funds, providing customized philanthropic solutions with flexibility for donors, nonprofit organizations and the community. In the past 23 years, The Community Foundation has distributed more than $715 million to community programs and institutions. It is located at 3833 Cleghorn Avenue, #400, Nashville, TN 37215. For more information, call 615-321-4939 or visit www.cfmt.org.
2017 Grant Recipients
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee
Coffee County Board of Education
Coffee County Central High School
Coffee County Raider Academy
Coffee County Schools Family Resource Center
Country Music Foundation
Frist Center for the Visual Arts
Grundy County School District (Refillable Water Stations)
Hands-On Science Center
Hickerson Elementary School
Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee
Land Trust for Tennessee
Little Kids Rock
Manchester Coffee County Conference Center
Manchester Municipal Arts Commission
Manchester Parks & Recreation
Metro Nashville Airport Authority (Arts at the Airport)
MIMA Music
Music Makes Us/Nashville Public Education Foundation
Music Rising
Nashville Symphony Association
New Union Elementary School
Notes for Notes
Tennessee Performing Arts Center
The Conservancy for the Parthenon and Centennial Park
The Joy of Music School
The Nashville Food Project, Inc.
Tipitina’s Foundation
Tullahoma City Schools
VH1 Save The Music Foundation
Youth Villages Inc.
