Tennessee — Knoxville Empower Knox 2027 Middle School Future Readiness Cohort Grants (Up to $10,000; December 2)

FundingUp to $10,000 per selected City of Knoxville 2027 Middle School Future Readiness Cohort project. Individual minimum and total program pool not published.

DeadlineDecember 2, 2026 before 4:30 p.m.; application window opened November 2, 2026. Exact time zone not specified in controlling City sources.

Last verified2026-11-03

Required next actionReview city 2027 Empower Knox Middle School Cohort Guidelines and official five-page application at https://tn-knoxville.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/6079/2026-Empower-Knox-Fillable-Application-PDF. Prepare six sections, project budget, annual budget/report, W-9, 501(c)(3) IRS letter for applicant/sponsor, TN charitable registration/exemption, sponsor letter if used; affirm participation in Harmony Family Center cohort. Submit to city youth engagement contact by Dec 2 2026 before 4:30 p.m.

Broad Eligibility

Knoxville middle-school youth-serving programs ages 11–14 through qualifying nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations with eligible 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, and other educational organizations subject to city review. Required TN charitable registration or exemption, IRS nonprofit/fiscal sponsor evidence, and Harmony Family Center cohort participation.

Atlas Analysis

2026-11-03: Verified official Knoxville program page https://tn-knoxville.civicplus.com/1590/Empower-Knox and November 2 city grant notice https://www.knoxvilletn.gov/1589/Grant-Opportunities plus controlling five-page official application https://tn-knoxville.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/6079/2026-Empower-Knox-Fillable-Application-PDF, pages 1–5 visually checked. Actual cash grant, not procurement; max $10k applicant, no individual minimum or overall pool stated; Nov2-Dec2 application period, 4:30 pm due (zone not stated); project Mar1-Sep15 2027; 20% max personnel/admin, required six-section application and TN/IRS documentation, cohort participation. The separate guidelines are linked on city site but downloaded as DOCX rather than PDF in web research; preserve Pending Review until full guidelines verification and protected approval authorized. Existing distinct Knoxville Opportunity Youth Engagement #6541 is not duplicate; WP checks titles/identifier/source negative for this Middle School Cohort. No explicit mandatory matching ratio in reviewed primary sources.

City of Knoxville — 2027 Middle School Future Readiness Cohort Grant

The City of Knoxville Office of Community Safety and Empowerment is accepting applications for the 2027 Empower Knox Middle School Future Readiness Cohort. This is an applicant grant supporting youth development, emotional well-being, leadership, goal setting, high-school readiness, life skills and future career exploration for middle-school youth served within Knoxville.

Funding and deadline

Selected organizations may receive up to $10,000 per grant. Applications opened November 2, 2026 and must be received December 2, 2026 before 4:30 p.m. The controlling city materials do not explicitly state a time zone. Funded programming must occur between March 1 and September 15, 2027. No binding lower award limit, total program funding pool, or matching percentage is stated in the official materials reviewed.

Eligible applicants and populations

The city application supports qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofits, community-based organizations using eligible nonprofit fiscal sponsorship, and certain other applicant categories including educational agencies and schools subject to city eligibility review. All funded activities must serve Knoxville-area middle-school youth, with the application requesting the estimated number of participants ages 11–14. Applicants must provide current Tennessee charitable registration or an exemption, and evidence of federal tax-exempt status for the applicant or fiscal sponsor.

Project expenses and conditions

Applicants submit an itemized project budget showing program materials, meeting and training supplies, operating costs, participant stipends if applicable, and staff or administrative costs. Personnel and administrative costs may not exceed 20% of requested grant funds. Awardees must participate in the Middle School cohort facilitated by Harmony Family Center and explain how they will measure outcomes; inability to participate may affect future eligibility.

Required application materials

Submit the completed six-section application with project narrative and budget, annual organization report or budget, W-9, current IRS tax exemption letter, Tennessee charitable registration or exemption, and fiscal-sponsor acknowledgment where applicable. The official form directs applicants to submit materials by email or in person to the designated city youth engagement manager before December 2, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. Consult the official Empower Knox program page, five-page application, and the linked 2027 grant guidelines for final details.

Research checked: November 3, 2026.

Source verificationReferenced source · tn-knoxville.civicplus.comAtlas last verified this record 2026-11-03. Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗