Community Foundation of Greater Memphis

Creating brighter futures for Memphis starts with investing in young people.

This Saturday, May 16, something extraordinary opens in Memphis. The National Civil Rights Museum—built around the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968—unveils its new Legacy Building, a landmark expansion debuting in the museum’s 35th anniversary year.

Art is more than expression—it’s a tool for transformation.

In Memphis neighborhoods affected by violence, Heal 901 is meeting young people where they are, and helping guide them toward where they can go.

In Memphis, safety is being reimagined—not through more policing, but through community power.

Everystory, a Community Solutions grantee of the Community Foundation, uses the power of storytelling to bring people together. Through a model called Playback Theatre, artists and facilitators create spaces where individuals can share their experiences and see them reflected back on stage.

This month, the Community Foundation will once again support local efforts to responsibly control our local pitbull and pitbull mix breed dog population. And it’s happening because of the forethought one of animal lover: Margarette Sather.

Individual givers can adopt the principles of trust-based philanthropy. It is about developing more equitable relationships with nonprofits, trusting them to be the experts in how to fulfill their work and eliminating burdensome application and reporting hoops.

Memphis and the Mid-South are full of people who care—about their neighbors, their community, and our future. At the Community Foundation, our vision is to be a hub that connects generosity with the solutions that help our region thrive. Through segments like the Greater Giving Moment, we share ways to give more intentionally, highlight nonprofits and initiatives, and keep you informed about opportunities to make an impact.

In today’s rapidly changing media landscape, local journalism is under real strain. Newsrooms have shrunk, advertising revenue has declined, and communities across the country are losing trusted sources of in-depth reporting. Yet strong local journalism is essential to a healthy democracy.