Just 8% Of Middle TN Community Foundation Tornado Grants To Putnam

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has made some $3.76 million in grants for tornado relief since March.

Of that amount, just $258,550 has gone exclusively to Putnam County organizations. That’s roughly 6.8 percent of the grants.

Donor Services Vice President Amy Fair said the lack of money going to Putnam is due to a lack of applications.

“Any non-profit and that includes not only 501-C organizations, but also, includes churches and other entities of governments,” Fair said. “We have really only seen a handful of applications from Putnam County.”

The Foundation’s website said it serves 43 counties in Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. However, the majority of the 119 grants to 98 non-profits, as listed on the Foundation’s website, have been awarded to Davidson County agencies.

“In terms of Putnam County, which is in a Middle Tennessee service area, we have given a hand full of grants,” Fair said. “The first one really being the Cookeville Regional Medical Foundation that was involved with direct cash assistance after the tornado.”

The agency’s website shows two grants given to the Cookeville Regional Medical Foundation. Other Putnam County grantees include Heritage Academy, Heart of the Cumberland, and Inspiritus. Several other agencies listed by the Foundation are using some part of a grant in Putnam County, listing Davidson, Wilson and Putnam County as beneficiaries. That makes up another $235,000 in grants.

Several other organizational grants that could have benefited Putnam County include the Legal Aid Society and the Salvation Army.

Fair said the foundation works with Cookeville Regional Foundation to spread the word to non-profits across Putnam.

“John Bell of the Cookeville Regional Medical Center Foundation shares our links to the applications to non-profit organizations,” Fair said. “One thing you see in disaster is you see early applications for immediate need items, but then there is a lag until that reconstruction begins.”

Fair said more funds are expected to come Putnam County’s way as more begin to rebuild and apply. Applications for tornado relief are still being accepted.

More than $8 million in tornado relief gifts made to the Community Foundation have yet to be given to non-profits, according to the Foundation website.