FUNDING OPPORTUNITY CATALOG
2026
CFMT.ORG
Table of Contents A Wish Can Go Further Than You Imagine ....................................................................................2 Give In The Way That Works For You .................................................................................................3
WISH PROFILES Archie’s Promise ........................................................................................................................................4 Black Lemonade .......................................................................................................................................5 BrightStone, Inc. .......................................................................................................................................6 The Contributor..........................................................................................................................................7 Corrine’s Place of Love ..........................................................................................................................8 Ella’s House....................................................................................................................................................9 FLY Girl Institute ........................................................................................................................................10 Kindling Arts ................................................................................................................................................11 Legacy Mission Village ..........................................................................................................................12 The Mary Parrish Center ......................................................................................................................13 Monroe Harding ........................................................................................................................................14 MOVE Inclusive Dance ..........................................................................................................................15 Nashville Children’s Alliance .............................................................................................................16 Nurses for Newborns Tennessee ...................................................................................................17 Our Kids, Inc. ................................................................................................................................................18 The Porch Writers’ Collective ...........................................................................................................19 STARS Nashville .........................................................................................................................................20 Water Walkers ............................................................................................................................................21 Why We Can’t Wait .................................................................................................................................22 Youth Empowerment Through Arts and Humanities (YEAH!) .................................23 A Wish Is Never Just The Item On The Page ................................................................................24 3 Ways To Give ....................................................................................................................................................24
A Wish Can Go Further Than You Imagine Now in its second year, the Wish List connects community members and philanthropists with specific, tangible needs from nonprofit organizations serving Middle Tennessee. Inside, you’ll find wishes from 20 organizations helping young people learn and grow, supporting women and girls, strengthening mental well-being, and bringing creativity and the arts into people’s lives. Each wish represents something an organization can put directly to work serving people, strengthening a program, or responding to a need. Last year showed us how far one wish can go. Youth Empowerment Through Arts and Humanities (YEAH!) uses music to help young people find their voices, build confidence, and experience the sense of belonging that comes from creating alongside others. Its programs also help remove barriers to music education so more young people have the opportunity to participate. Through the Wish List, donors provided music production equipment that allowed YEAH! to add a recording and production class to its summer camp. Seventeen young people used it to learn recording techniques, experiment with sound, and create something of their own. One camper, Miles, recorded birds outside the studio, looped the sounds, and transformed them into an original beat. As YEAH! shared, “The equipment made it possible for him to experiment in real time, to hear an idea, capture it, and transform it into music.” And that equipment is still at work supporting workshops, community events, and YEAH!’s gear-lending program. This year, YEAH! returns to the Wish List with new needs and new possibilities. That is what a wish can do. A piece of equipment can open the door to creativity and connection. Furnishings can create a safer, more welcoming space. Supplies or technology can remove a barrier for someone seeking support or increase the reach of a nonprofit trying to help more people. A specific need met at the right time, can create possibilities that extend far beyond the gift itself. As you explore the Wish List, you can grant an entire wish, contribute toward one, or support several organizations whose work speaks to you. Find a wish that speaks to you. Then help make it possible.
GIVE IN THE WAY THAT WORKS FOR YOU MAKE GIVING A CONVERSATION. Gather with family, friends, or people important to you and talk about the needs that resonate most. Choosing a wish together can connect shared values with a direct act of generosity.
GRANT A WISH TOGETHER. Invite relatives, friends, colleagues, fellow fundholders, or others in your circle to help fulfill a wish. Our CFMT team members can share which requests still need support and offer recommendations based on the causes you care about most.
DISCOVER A NEW ORGANIZATION. Use these pages to meet nonprofits you may not know yet. Let curiosity guide your giving. Each profile introduces you to an organization, the people it serves, and a specific need that could strengthen its work.
INVITE THE NEXT GENERATION IN. If there are young people in your life, invite them to select a wish that speaks to them. Tangible requests can help young people see what a gift will provide and understand how generosity can respond to a real community need.
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Wish Profiles ARCHIE’S PROMISE archiespromise.org CHILDREN AND YOUTH, ALL AGES, PEOPLE FACING HOUSING INSECURITY, WOMEN AND GIRLS
Archie’s Promise is working hard to help individuals and families overcome barriers to appropriate clothing and basic hygiene supplies. Its Hygiene Vending Machine Access Program and hygiene packs place everyday necessities within reach for students, women, families, and people experiencing housing insecurity. Soap, deodorant, clean socks, and other hygiene essentials are easy to overlook until they are out of reach. When a household is balancing the cost of food, housing, utilities, and other necessities, these everyday items can become one more expense competing for limited resources. These wishes would help Archie’s Promise keep basic supplies readily available so people can access what they need, when they need it.
10 boxes of quarter-ankle socks $35.99 per box Approximately $359.90 total A clean pair of socks is a simple necessity that provides everyday comfort and supports foot health. Ten boxes would provide 1,200 pairs for Archie’s Promise to distribute through hygiene vending machines and care packs, putting a fresh pair within reach when someone needs one.
500 women’s deodorants $13.59 per five-count box | $1,359 total Deodorant is an everyday personal care item, but purchasing it can mean stretching an already tight household budget. Providing 500 deodorants would give women and girls free access to this basic necessity without having to redirect money from other household needs.
1,000 washcloths and 1,000 bars of soap $831.62 total Soap and a clean washcloth are among the most basic tools of a daily hygiene routine. Stocking 1,000 of each through Archie’s Promise hygiene vending machines and care packs would make these essentials readily available to students, individuals, and families who need them.
TOTAL REQUESTED: $2,550.52
Volunteers pack hygiene supplies for distribution through the Hygiene Vending Machine Access Program at Archie’s Promise. Photo courtesy of Archie’s Promise.
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Black Lemonade students practice culinary skills and teamwork while squeezing lemons during a summer enrichment session. Photo courtesy of Black Lemonade.
BLACK LEMONADE blacklemonade.org CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Black Lemonade supports young people through afterschool programs, seasonal camps, and technology and career pathways. Students receive academic support while taking part in creative workshops and hands-on experiences that give them room to test ideas, work with others, and grow as leaders. Young people learn in different ways. A book that reflects a student’s culture or interests can make reading more personal and inviting. Running a lemonade stand turns lessons about entrepreneurship into decisions students make for themselves. These wishes would give middle school students resources to continue learning at home and youth teams practical equipment to take an idea from planning to marketplace.
50 Youth Literacy and Academic Enrichment Packs $80 each | $4,000 total Having books and literacy activities of their own would allow students to read at their own pace and continue learning after the program day ends. Each pack would give a student in fifth through eighth grade culturally engaging books, graphic novels, journal prompts, reading logs, and interactive tools. Students could explore materials that reflect their interests, think more deeply about what they read, and strengthen their skills through reading they can continue on their own.
10 Ninja FrostVault 65-quart wheeled coolers $350 each | $3,500 total A lemonade stand gives young people the chance to learn about business by running one. Each youth team would use a wheeled cooler to transport and organize drinks, cups, food supplies, and merchandise as they set up and operate their stand. With dependable equipment in place, students could focus on working as a team, serving customers, making decisions, and experiencing what it takes to turn their planning into sales.
TOTAL REQUESTED: $7,500
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BrightStone student Amelia creates pottery on a ceramics wheel alongside volunteer Tish. Photo by Mary Fran White, BrightStone.
BRIGHTSTONE brightstone.org OLDER ADULTS AND CAREGIVERS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH
Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities need a place where they can be active and take part in community. BrightStone provides year-round learning, vocational, wellness, and residential programs for these adults. Through its day and residential programs, adults can build new skills, form friendships, and take an active role in campus and community life. A full life includes places to go, friends to spend time with, and activities to enjoy together. Weekends, holidays, and program breaks can leave fewer opportunities for BrightStone residents to get out into
Community engagement memberships and passes for 10 people $5,550 total A trip to the zoo, a movie, or a museum gives friends a chance to experience something together beyond their usual routine. This package would provide admission for eight residents and two staff members to the Nashville Zoo, Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, Adventure Science Center, Country Music Hall of Fame/Frist Art Museum, and AMC Theatres. Regular outings would give residents more opportunities to explore Middle Tennessee, spend time together, and have new experiences to talk about when they return home.
Rifton X350 large adaptive tricycle $3,520 Riding alongside friends can be part of the fun of being outdoors, but a standard bicycle does not work for every body. The Rifton adaptive tricycle is designed to accommodate different physical needs, giving more BrightStone adults the opportunity to participate in cycling safely. With the right equipment available, a resident who might otherwise sit out could join friends for outdoor recreation while getting cardiovascular exercise in a way that works for them.
the community, while some recreational activities require adaptive equipment to make participation possible. These wishes would create more opportunities for shared experiences and outdoor recreation, while supporting a safe and welcoming campus for the people who spend their days there or call it home.
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2 Apple iPads $449 each | $898 total More than 120 students, residents, and staff members use the BrightStone campus, along with hundreds of visitors each year. Two iPads dedicated to the Visitor Aware system would give staff a consistent way to check in visitors and maintain accurate records of who is on campus. For the adults who participate in programs there and those who call BrightStone home, that system would support a safe, well-managed environment.
TOTAL REQUESTED: $9,968
The Contributor vendor shares Nashville’s stories with the community, one newspaper at a time. Photo by C. Jennings.
115 branded, weather-resistant vendor hoodies $44.49 each | $5,116.35 total
THE CONTRIBUTOR thecontributor.org ARTS & CREATIVE CULTURE, PEOPLE FACING HOMELESSNESS OR HOUSING INSECURITY
The Contributor publishes a biweekly street newspaper featuring local journalism, vendor writing, photography, poetry, and art. People experiencing homelessness or housing instability can train as vendors, purchase copies of the newspaper, and keep the money from each sale as they build their own small businesses and relationships with customers. A street newspaper depends on people connecting with one another. Vendors spend hours outdoors, often returning to the same locations and building relationships with customers over time. Branded clothing helps identify them as official The Contributor vendors while offering protection from the weather, and twice-monthly breakfasts create a place for vendors and unhoused neighbors to gather as each new issue begins. These wishes would support both sides of the vendor experience: being equipped to work and having a community to return to.
Cold or wet weather can make hours of outdoor selling physically difficult. A weather-resistant hoodie would help a vendor stay warmer and more comfortable while working. Clear The Contributor branding would also help potential customers recognize an official newspaper vendor, making it easier to begin the interaction that can lead to a conversation, a sale, and income for the vendor’s small business.
150 branded mesh-back vendor hats $9.15 each | $1,372.50 total During Nashville’s warmer months, lightweight mesh-back hats would provide vendors with practical sun protection while continuing the visual identity that helps customers recognize them. Each hat would equip a vendor for time spent outdoors connecting with people and selling a newspaper filled with local journalism, art, and writing, including work created by vendors themselves.
26 issue-release community breakfasts $3,511.15 total Every two weeks, approximately 100 vendors and unhoused neighbors gather as The Contributor releases a new issue. Walmart gift cards would provide breakfast for 26 of these gatherings, offering a meal and time together before the day’s work begins. Vendors can learn about the new edition, reconnect with one another, and head out to sell knowing they are part of a larger community built around the newspaper.
TOTAL REQUESTED: $10,000
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Children’s Learning and Comfort Center package $4,200
Corrine’s Place of Love provides food and support for children and families facing hardship. Photo credit: Otis StClair.
CORRINE’S PLACE OF LOVE corrinesplaceoflove.org CHILDREN AND YOUTH, JUSTICE-IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS, PEOPLE FACING HOUSING INSECURITY, WOMEN AND GIRLS
Corrine’s Place of Love supports women experiencing homelessness or a life crisis with food, temporary respite, case management, employment assistance, and other resources. Its work also reaches families, children, and justice-impacted people as they seek stable housing and greater financial security. Moving forward often requires having the basics in place first. A parent needs to know their child is cared for while meeting with a case manager. A job or housing application requires access to a computer. Personal care supplies can address an immediate need while someone focuses on what comes next. These wishes would help remove practical barriers so participants can make fuller use of the resources and opportunities available to them.
While parents meet with staff or work toward housing and employment goals, their children need a space of their own nearby. Twenty nap cots, four child-sized activity tables, 24 classroom chairs, 100 books, educational toys, and storage shelves would create a place where children can learn, play, and rest. With their children cared for close by, parents could focus more fully on the conversations and decisions in front of them.
100 Hope and Dignity Care Kits $35 each | $3,500 total Sometimes the most immediate needs are also the most basic. Each kit would provide hygiene and personal care items, clean socks, a reusable tote bag, a guide to community services, and an encouragement card. Having these essentials readily available would give women, families, and justice-impacted individuals practical support they can use immediately while connecting with additional resources.
Digital Opportunity Resource Center $2,300 Applying for a job, searching for housing, completing training, or accessing financial resources increasingly requires reliable internet and computer access. Four laptops and accompanying accessories would give participants a place to prepare résumés, complete applications, build digital skills, and take online courses. Budgeting workbooks, financial literacy materials, and résumé supplies would provide additional tools as participants work toward employment, housing, and greater financial stability.
TOTAL REQUESTED: $10,000 8 | CFMT.org
An Ella’s House scholar celebrates her college graduation with her baby. Photo by Mya Leach.
ELLA’S HOUSE ellashouse.org CHILDREN AND YOUTH, PEOPLE FACING HOUSING INSECURITY, PREGNANT AND PARENTING STUDENTS, WOMEN AND GIRLS
Ella’s House helps pregnant and parenting college students care for their children while continuing their education. Through housing, connection, and wellness resources, student mothers receive support as they build stable lives for their families and work toward their degrees. For a student mother, caring for a new baby and pursuing a college degree happen at the same time. The right baby equipment can make everyday routines safer and more manageable, from settling a newborn at night to getting to class, childcare, and appointments. These wishes would equip five mothers with essentials that support daily life with their babies while they continue their education.
5 bedside bassinets $229 each | $1,145 total The earliest months with a newborn bring many nights of interrupted sleep. A bedside bassinet would give each baby a safe sleep space within easy reach, allowing a mother to respond to her newborn without repeatedly moving across the room during the night. For a student balancing nighttime care with classes and coursework the next day, that convenience can make an already demanding routine a little easier to manage.
5 infant car seat and stroller travel systems $349 each | $1,745 total College life does not happen in one place. Student mothers may move between home, campus, childcare, medical appointments, and other daily responsibilities with their babies alongside them. A Graco infant car seat and stroller travel system would give each mother dependable equipment for those trips, making it easier to safely get her baby where they both need to go while keeping up with school and family responsibilities.
TOTAL REQUESTED: $2,890 9
FLY Girl Institute participants join mentors and community supporters for a showcase celebrating the close of summer programming. Photo courtesy of FLY Girl Institute.
6 Insta360 X5 8K action cameras $550 each | $3,300 total Time behind the camera gives girls the opportunity to develop practical production skills while making creative decisions of their own. With six cameras available, participants could work in smaller teams rather than waiting for shared equipment. More girls could take a turn framing a shot, conducting an interview, directing a scene, and deciding what a finished story should look and feel like.
FLY GIRL INSTITUTE flygirlinstitute.org BLACK GIRLS AND GIRLS OF COLOR, WOMEN AND GIRLS
FLY Girl Institute creates safe, supportive spaces where Black girls and other girls of color can strengthen their emotional wellness, build relationships with mentors, and know their ideas are worth hearing. Its schoolbased programs, FLY Girl 2.0, summer experiences, and community projects give participants room to create, speak, and tell stories from their own points of view. The girls bring the ideas. These wishes would give them more of the tools to carry those ideas from concept to completion. With enough cameras, editing equipment, and audio technology to work in smaller teams, participants could take greater ownership of the creative process, making decisions about what to capture, what to ask, how to edit, and ultimately how they want their stories to be told.
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5 video and media production laptops $800 each | $4,000 total Capturing a story is only the beginning. Editing is where participants decide what stays, what goes, what the audience hears, and how the pieces come together. Each laptop would have the memory, storage, and processing power needed for production software, allowing girls to edit video, mix audio, produce podcasts, and organize footage. With greater access to their own workstations, participants could follow an original idea all the way through to a finished piece they are ready to share.
RODECaster Duo two-person mobile podcasting kit $2,700 A conversation can become a story when someone knows what she wants to ask and has the tools to capture the answer. This mobile studio would allow participants to sit across from a peer, mentor, or community member, plan questions, conduct interviews, and produce professional-quality audio stories about subjects that matter to them. Because the equipment can travel between schools, summer programs, and community settings, girls in multiple FLY Girl programs could experience leading a conversation and producing it for others to hear.
TOTAL REQUESTED: $10,000
Asia Pyron/PYDANCE’s “EGO,” a dance theater collaboration with punk band Snooper, premieres at Kindling Arts Festival 2026. Photo by Tiffany Bessire.
Professional multimedia projector $3,496 Creative ideas often evolve through experimentation. Having a professional projector available throughout the process would allow artists to incorporate video, animation, projection, and other visual elements into rehearsals, works-in-progress, workshops, and performances without waiting until the final production to rent equipment. The Epson PowerLite L570U laser projector would become a shared creative tool artists can use to test, revise, and fully develop their ideas.
KINDLING ARTS kindlingarts.com ARTS & CREATIVE CULTURE, LOCAL INDEPENDENT ARTISTS, ALL AGES, IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES, NEW AMERICANS, WOMEN AND GIRLS
Kindling Arts supports Nashville’s independent artists as they create experimental new works across artistic disciplines. Through the annual Kindling Arts Festival and year-round programming, artists receive space, production support, and opportunities to develop
Shared sound and lighting package Approximately $5,280 Audiences experience a performance differently when they can hear every voice and see each moment as the artist intended. For artists with smaller budgets, sound and light can make or break their creative vision (or stop it completely). With earset microphones, a professional lighting controller, an LED fixture, and a moving spotlight, artists will have access to dependable sound and lighting. Production quality would not have to come at the expense of paying performers, designers, and other collaborators for their work.
and present work that may not fit within traditional performance settings. For independent artists working with limited project budgets, access to professional production equipment can determine how fully an idea comes to life. Building a shared collection of projection, sound, lighting, and audience equipment would give artists more freedom to experiment while preserving more of their budgets to pay the performers, designers, and collaborators bringing the work to life. And because the equipment can be used again and again, each investment can support many artists and audiences over time.
Flexible audience and front-of-house package $1,009 Independent artists often present work in borrowed or unconventional spaces where seating and a front-of-house setup cannot be assumed. Thirty-six stackable chairs would give audience members a place to sit while allowing each artist to shape the room around the performance they created. Two portable Square Stands would give people a consistent place to check in or make purchases when events travel to partner spaces and neighborhoods. Together, these tools would help artists bring their work closer to audiences and help each person feel welcomed from the moment they arrive.
TOTAL REQUESTED: $9,785
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Citizenship literacy books and naturalization materials $3,000
Young learners take part in a Legacy Mission Village tutoring session. Photo courtesy of Legacy Mission Village.
LEGACY MISSION VILLAGE legacymissionvillage.org ALL AGES, CHILDREN AND YOUTH, IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES, AND NEW AMERICANS
Founded by refugees for refugees, Legacy Mission Village supports legally resettled families as they build new lives in Middle Tennessee. Children receive help with school, while adults can learn English, prepare for citizenship, and build computer skills for work and daily life. Learning a new language can happen alongside learning how to navigate a new school, apply for a job, access health care, or prepare for citizenship. Having dependable tools for that learning can make unfamiliar systems easier to understand and use. These wishes would equip children and adults with resources they can use to study, complete everyday tasks, and become more independent as they establish their lives in Middle Tennessee.
Preparing for the naturalization test requires learners to understand detailed civics information while continuing to strengthen their English. Books, civics cards, binders, and printed lessons would give 50 students organized materials to use in class and revisit as they study. Learners could build their understanding of U.S. government, individual rights and responsibilities, and the naturalization process while preparing for an important milestone in the lives they are building here.
6 computers for family digital access $750 each | $4,500 total School assignments, job applications, health care information, and many other everyday services now require computer access. Six computers would give children and adults dependable technology for completing those tasks while developing practical digital skills. Regular access would allow family members to practice using the online tools and systems they increasingly encounter at school, at work, and in daily life.
2 wall-mounted whiteboards $750 each | $1,500 total Sometimes better learning begins with something as straightforward as being able to clearly see the lesson. New wall-mounted whiteboards would give instructors a dependable surface for examples, exercises, and group instruction during English classes, adult learning, and community workshops. Secure installation would also eliminate the need for volunteers to move aging equipment before and after classes.
TOTAL REQUESTED: $9,000 12 | CFMT.org
A family in The Mary Parrish Center’s transitional housing program shares a meal in their apartment. Photo courtesy of The Mary Parrish Center.
100 Walmart gift cards $50 each | $5,000 total Every family arrives with different needs. One survivor may need groceries, while another may need clothing for their children or basic supplies for a new home. A $50 Walmart gift card would give each recipient the flexibility to decide what would be most useful to their family at that moment. Survivors know their own needs best, and that choice allows them to direct the support where it can help most.
THE MARY PARRISH CENTER maryparrish.org PEOPLE FACING HOUSING INSECURITY, POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH, SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE, ABUSE, OR TRAFFICKING, WOMEN & GIRLS
The Mary Parrish Center provides survivors of interpersonal violence and their children with safe housing and individualized support. Its housing programs help families regain stability, rebuild their independence, and work toward permanent housing. After leaving an unsafe situation, rebuilding can begin with very practical things: choosing what your family needs, having a reliable way to get to an appointment, or preparing a familiar meal in a new kitchen. These wishes would give survivors greater flexibility and control over everyday decisions as they establish new routines and work toward the future they want for themselves and their families.
50 Uber gift cards $50 each | $2,500 total Work, medical care, court dates, housing meetings, and childcare can all require transportation. For someone without a dependable way to get there, even a short trip can become complicated and costly. A $50 Uber gift card would give a survivor transportation she can use when she needs it, helping her keep appointments and continue working toward the goals she has set for herself.
25 cookware sets $100 each | $2,500 total A furnished apartment may provide a place to live without containing everything a family needs to begin living there. A cookware set would allow a parent to prepare familiar foods and family meals from the first day in Transitional Housing. During a stay of up to one year, something as ordinary as making breakfast or sitting down together for dinner can become part of establishing new routines and creating a sense of home.
TOTAL REQUESTED: $10,000
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Monroe Harding supports children and young adults in foster care as they build stable futures. Photo courtesy of Monroe Harding.
9 Full XL mattress and platform bed frame sets $544 each | $4,896 total
MONROE HARDING monroeharding.org CHILDREN AND YOUTH, JUSTICE-IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS, PEOPLE FACING HOUSING INSECURITY, SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE, ABUSE, OR TRAFFICKING
Monroe Harding supports children and young adults who grew up in foster care with supportive housing, counseling, and its Youth Connections Resource Center. Across its programs, young people gain support and resources as they pursue education, employment, stable housing, and greater independence. For young people navigating foster care, housing instability, or the transition into adulthood, dependable support can make everyday life feel more manageable. These wishes address some of those everyday needs: a comfortable place to sleep, the ability to choose and purchase groceries, and an opportunity to make a holiday feel special.
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The nine beds in Monroe Harding’s highestturnover transitional residence have reached the end of their usable lives. New mattresses and platform frames would give each young adult who moves into the home a clean, comfortable place to rest and recharge while taking their next steps toward independence.
25 Kroger grocery gift cards $100 each | $2,500 total Visitors to the Youth Connections Resource Center can receive a meal while they are there, but food needs may continue long after they leave. Grocery cards would allow young adults to choose food that works for them and have something on hand between visits, providing flexibility and greater choice in meeting a basic everyday need.
25 prepaid Visa cards for holiday experiences $100 each | $2,500 total For a young person spending the holidays away from their birth family, an experience created especially for them can carry added significance. These cards would give licensed foster families the flexibility to plan an outing, purchase a requested gift, or create another holiday experience based on the interests and wishes of the young person in their care.
TOTAL REQUESTED: $9,896
Dancers prepare for MOVE Inclusive Dance’s annual recital with their teachers and volunteers. Photo by Sarina Kurrimbukus Photography.
6 community outreach class bins $1,015.81 total Whether a dancer is at a MOVE studio, school, day program, or residential community, they should have access to the same tools that help make class engaging and accessible. Each bin would include dance scarves, ribbons, movement dice, stepping stones, pom-poms, and a portable speaker. With three complete bins assigned to each studio, outreach instructors could arrive prepared without having to transfer materials between teachers and locations.
Philips HeartStart Onsite AED package $1,674.99
MOVE INCLUSIVE DANCE moveinclusivedance.com ARTS & CREATIVE CULTURE, CHILDREN AND YOUTH, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
MOVE Inclusive Dance creates opportunities for people of all abilities to learn, express themselves, and connect through movement and music. Its year-round programs bring dancers together at studios in Bellevue and Franklin, as well as through partnerships with schools, day programs, residential communities, and other nonprofits. Where a dancer participates should not determine whether an instructor has the props, sound equipment, visual materials, or emergency resources needed to support them. Because classes take place across many locations, teachers currently transport and exchange equipment between programs. These wishes would help every class begin prepared so dancers can focus on moving, learning, and creating together.
Families and participants should have peace of mind that when they practice, there is lifesaving equipment ready and nearby. MOVE already has an AED at its Bellevue studio, and this package would provide the same emergency resource at its Franklin location, giving CPR-trained staff access to appropriate equipment if a medical emergency occurs. The package here includes an AED, adult pads, child and infant pads, a battery, and instructional materials. This wish provides safety, security, and peace of mind to participants and their families.
2 iMac desktop computers $1,899 each | $3,798 total An inclusive dance class begins before the music starts, with a lesson plan and visual materials designed to help each dancer follow along and participate. Having the right tools at both locations would help instructors arrive ready with clear, engaging lessons while allowing them to spend more of the class focused on the dancers in front of them. One iMac in the lobby of each studio would give staff and volunteers a dependable place to prepare those materials and manage attendance.
TOTAL REQUESTED: $6,488.80
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Nashville Children’s Alliance provides a pantry for its clients. Photo by Nashville Children’s Alliance.
NASHVILLE CHILDREN’S ALLIANCE nashvillechildrensalliance.org CHILDREN AND YOUTH, POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH, SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE, ABUSE, OR TRAFFICKING
Nashville Children’s Alliance supports children who have experienced abuse or witnessed violence. In a child-friendly setting, children and caregivers can receive forensic interviews, family advocacy, clinical therapy, and coordinated care from people trained to respond with compassion. Bringing this support together helps families navigate a difficult process without facing each step alone. The circumstances that bring a family to Nashville Children’s Alliance can affect everyday life in unexpected ways. A sudden move or loss of income can strain a household budget, while a child may arrive for an appointment hungry or need something to eat after an emotionally demanding session. These wishes would help meet those immediate needs, giving caregivers flexibility to choose food for their households and making sure children have something nourishing available while receiving care.
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50 grocery gift cards $100 each | $5,000 total After an emergency move or loss of income, a caregiver may be balancing new expenses alongside the family’s regular needs. A $100 grocery gift card would give each family the flexibility to choose foods that work for their household without adding another expense to an already stretched budget. That freedom allows caregivers to decide what their families need most and bring home food they know their children will eat and enjoy.
1,500 high-protein snack packs $2.50 each | $3,750 total A forensic interview or therapy session can require a great deal from a child. Hunger can make it harder to focus and add physical discomfort to an already demanding experience. A ready supply of high-protein snack packs would allow staff to offer food to a child who arrives hungry or needs something to eat before heading home, meeting a simple but important need in the moment.
TOTAL REQUESTED: $8,750
Nurses for Newborns staff prepare welcome kits for new clients. Photo by a Nurses for Newborns staff member.
981 individual packs (approx.) of baby wipes Up to $2,000
NURSES FOR NEWBORNS TENNESSEE nursesfornewborns.org/tennessee MOTHERS, BABIES, AND FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, WOMEN AND GIRLS
Nurses for Newborns Tennessee provides free registered nurse home visits to families throughout Middle Tennessee. During each visit, a nurse checks an infant’s health and development, answers caregivers’ questions, connects families with social and mental health support, and provides supplies that help parents care for their babies. A nurse may spend a limited amount of time in a family’s home, but the support from that visit can continue long afterward. Wipes meet an immediate need. A flexible gift card allows a caregiver to decide what the household needs most. Developmental toys give parents simple ways to support learning through everyday play. These wishes would equip nurses with practical resources they can leave behind for families to use in the days and weeks ahead.
Baby wipes are used throughout the day and can be difficult to keep in stock when household budgets are stretched. Having wipes readily available helps caregivers keep their babies clean and comfortable while preserving household funds for other needs. This wish would allow nurses to leave an everyday essential with families during home visits, ready to use as soon as it is needed.
120 Kroger gift cards $25 each | $3,000 total Every family’s needs are different, and caregivers know their households best. One may need formula or diapers, while another may need groceries, medication, or gasoline to get to an appointment. A $25 Kroger gift card would give 120 families the flexibility to put that support toward the need that matters most at that moment.
Developmental learning toys Up to $3,000 Babies learn through everyday interaction and play with their caregivers. Sixty sensory developmental learning sets and 68 busy boards would give nurses hands-on tools for introducing activities that support language, movement, problem-solving, and other developmental skills. Parents could continue using those toys between visits, turning ordinary moments together into opportunities to play, connect, and learn.
TOTAL REQUESTED: $8,000 17
Our Kids provides medical care and crisis counseling for children and families when there are concerns about child sexual abuse. Photo by Sayyo Production.
150 Walmart gift cards $50 each | $7,500 total
OUR KIDS ourkidscenter.com
A sudden move or change in circumstances can leave a family needing groceries, clothing, or other necessities with little time to plan. A $50 Walmart gift card would give each caregiver the flexibility to decide what the family needs most at that moment. Addressing an immediate household expense can relieve one concern while the family focuses on the child and the care they are receiving.
CHILDREN AND YOUTH, SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE, ABUSE, OR TRAFFICKING
Music package for exam rooms $1,050
Families who arrive at Our Kids are often experiencing
A medical exam can feel unfamiliar or frightening, particularly for a child already navigating a difficult experience. An iPad, portable speaker, protective case, and two years of music streaming would allow a child to choose something familiar to listen to during the visit. Selecting a favorite song offers a gentle distraction and one small decision the child can make for themselves while receiving care.
emotions and feelings that can be incredibly difficult to process. Our Kids provides expert medical evaluations and crisis counseling when there are concerns that a child has experienced sexual abuse. Making each child feel safe while the care team works to reduce fear is the number one priority. Children and caregivers receive compassionate care at no cost. When so much may feel outside a child’s control, small choices can matter. Choosing a familiar song during an exam, having personal care supplies available when they are needed, or knowing a caregiver has help purchasing groceries or clothing can make a difficult time a little more manageable. These wishes would give children and families practical support, comfort, and opportunities to make choices for themselves.
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Women’s health and puberty education supplies $1,064 Puberty brings questions and changes that every young person should be able to navigate with reliable information and the supplies they need. Pads, tampons, period underwear, bras, and underwear would allow providers to assemble kits based on each girl’s individual needs. Fifty copies of The Care and Keeping of You would provide age-appropriate information recipients could take home and revisit privately when questions arise.
TOTAL REQUESTED: $9,614
Mending Hearts residents display their custom journals after an expressive writing workshop supporting healing. Photo courtesy of The Porch Writers’ Collective.
300 custom journals with therapeutic writing prompts $14 each | $4,200 total
THE PORCH WRITERS’ COLLECTIVE porchtn.org ARTS & CREATIVE CULTURE, PEOPLE IN RECOVERY, WOMEN
The Porch Writers’ Collective brings writers and readers together through classes, literary events, and community programs. Through its Writing for Good program, The Porch also brings therapeutic expressive writing into community settings, including workshops for women in active recovery at Mending Hearts. A workshop may last only a few hours, but writing does not have to end when the session does. These wishes would give women a private place to continue putting their experiences into words, recognize the work they choose to share by publishing it, and provide The Porch with dependable technology to keep those opportunities accessible.
Sometimes the words come during a workshop. Sometimes they come later that evening or several days afterward. Custom journals with guided prompts and quotes connected to the workshops would give each woman a private place to continue writing when she is ready. Participants could decide what to explore, revisit, or share while keeping their own words and reflections in a place that belongs to them.
300 copies of the Mending Hearts Anthology $7.50 each | $2,250 total Seeing her words in a professionally printed book tells a participant that her work matters. The anthology would collect writing created by women who complete The Porch’s workshops at Mending Hearts, recognizing them as authors whose voices belong in print. With this wish, each woman could keep a lasting record of what she created and share it with loved ones if she chooses.
2 Apple MacBook Neo 13-inch laptops $699 each | $1,398 total Behind every workshop are the practical details that help participants find programs, register, and stay connected. Two dependable laptops would help The Porch manage classes and events, connect participants with opportunities, support publications, and track program results, strengthening the day-to-day work that keeps its community programs running.
TOTAL REQUESTED: $7,848 19
Beech High School students gather for a youth summit focused on hope and connection. Photo by a STARS Nashville counselor.
105 bulk snack boxes $36.70 each | $3,853.50 total
STARS NASHVILLE starsnashville.org CHILDREN AND YOUTH, POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH
STARS Nashville provides school- and communitybased prevention, intervention, and treatment services for young people. In schools, students can turn to trained adults when they are dealing with stress, conflict, trauma, or other experiences affecting their well-being. Restorative Practice Assistants work in 35 Metro Nashville Public Schools, helping students talk through conflict, repair relationships, and return to the classroom ready to move ahead. Their Peace Centers offer a place to pause and work through what happened with a caring adult. For a student who arrives upset, hungry, or restless, that conversation may begin with something simple: a snack, something to occupy their hands, or a blank page. These wishes would give students different ways to settle in, gather their thoughts, and engage in finding a way forward.
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Hunger can make it difficult for a student to focus, particularly during a conversation that requires patience and attention. Restorative Practice Assistants could offer students something to eat before or during a Peace Center visit, addressing an immediate physical need so they can turn their attention to the conversation in front of them.
70 fidget toy assortments $39.99 each | $2,799.30 total Some students find it easier to talk when their hands have something quiet to do. Fidget and sensory tools can provide an outlet for restless energy while a student listens, talks, and works through a conflict. Two assortments for each Restorative Practice Assistant would give students a variety of options to choose from during Peace Center visits and restorative conversations.
35 packs of A5 kraft notebooks $49.90 each | $1,746.50 total Some thoughts are easier to put on paper before saying them out loud. These 3,500 notebooks would give students a private place to write about frustration, peer conflict, or other experiences they are trying to process. A student could begin writing during a Peace Center visit and take the notebook with them, creating a tool they can return to when they need time to sort through what they are thinking or feeling.
TOTAL REQUESTED: $8,399.30
Water Walkers combines outdoor adventures with daily literacy and math support for Nashville youth. Photo courtesy of Water Walkers.
30 Chromebook laptops $100 each | $3,000 total
WATER WALKERS waterwalkerstn.org CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Water Walkers helps Nashville youth in the Edgehill public housing community grow through year-round academic support and outdoor adventure. Its programs also make room for wellness, practical assistance, and leadership development while connecting students with adults who believe in their potential. Record attendance means more young people are taking part in Water Walkers’ programs. The organization recently moved into a larger facility and is preparing for enrollment. These wishes would help its now larger learning environment keep pace, giving students greater access to technology, books designed for emerging readers, and classroom spaces ready for learning.
Students use IXL for individualized reading and math lessons, but limited access to devices leaves children waiting for a computer and stalls their learning progress. Thirty additional Chromebooks would allow more students to learn at the same time, preserving instructional time and helping Water Walkers serve additional students as enrollment grows.
Heggerty Complete Decodable Classroom Library $3,500 For children learning to read, having the right book at the right stage matters. This collection of 120 books is designed to help kindergarten through third-grade students practice phonics and connect letters with sounds as their reading skills develop. A complete library would give multiple reading groups access to books matched to their learning level.
2 mobile backpack cubbies $1,654.99 each | $3,309.98 total With up to 48 students arriving each day, even something as simple as where backpacks go can shape the learning environment. Dedicated cubbies would keep belongings organized and walkways clear, helping students settle in and transition more easily between activities. Because Water Walkers shares its fellowship hall with a church, mobile storage would also allow staff to transform the space for weekend use and quickly have it ready for students when they return.
TOTAL REQUESTED: $9,809.98
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Why We Can’t Wait participants practice swimming during a lesson. Photo by Darrell Caldwell.
WWCW One year of youth swim lessons $300 per quarter | $1,200 total Drowning is one of the leading causes of death among young men, with a major increase among Black and brown adolescent boys. Why We Can’t Wait wants to address this by partnering with the Northwest Family YMCA to provide swim instruction throughout the year. Lessons would help young people work through their fear of water, learn foundational swimming skills, and become better prepared to stay safe in and around pools and other bodies of water.
WHY WE CAN’T WAIT wwcwnash.com CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Why We Can’t Wait provides free afterschool and summer programming for youth in Nashville’s underserved communities, creating a place where students can learn, build confidence, develop new skills,
10 laptops $300 each | $3,000 total Having the ability to continue practicing reading on weekends is critical for students who are in the Learning A-Z Raz-Plus literacy program. Laptops and individual logins for students would help by giving them a dedicated system to work on restrengthening reading comprehension and vocab beyond normal program hours. More opportunities to see the material means that the students will have more time to practice.
and prepare for what comes next. These wishes reflect what growing up requires both inside and outside the classroom. Learning to swim can build confidence and potentially save a life. Access to a laptop can strengthen reading skills and make homework easier to complete. Learning to drive can give a graduating senior greater independence and the ability to help their family.
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Driver education for 4 graduating seniors $800 each | $3,200 total Many WWCW families have parents working more than one job, leaving older students to help with sibling transportation, grocery trips, or other household responsibilities while their parents work. For students nearing graduation, driving without a license can impact their driving record as an adult, and risk their future. Driver education would give graduating seniors the training needed to earn a license and take on those extra responsibilities.
TOTAL REQUESTED: $7,400
A YEAH! camper experiments with a beat-making machine while keyboard students listen to a peer. Photo by Mariela Moscoso.
2 digital piano packages $550 each | $1,100 total
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT THROUGH ARTS AND HUMANITIES (YEAH!) yeahrocks.org ARTS & CREATIVE CULTURE, CHILDREN AND YOUTH, IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES, NEW AMERICANS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE, ABUSE, OR TRAFFICKING, GIRLS, AND LGBTQ+ YOUTH
YEAH! creates welcoming music education experiences where young people can learn an instrument, perform with others, and create original work. Through YEAH! Rocks Music Camp and year-round programs, students from many backgrounds receive the equipment,
Choosing an instrument for the first time can be the beginning of a lifelong relationship with music. Many students at YEAH! continue to express interest in learning to play piano. A complete setup allows them to begin playing without worn or mismatched equipment getting in the way of their curiosity and eagerness to learn. Each package would include an 88-key digital piano, headphones, pedals, a stand, a bench, and carrying bag. With two dependable instruments available at camp and throughout the year, more students could learn, experiment, and begin writing / recording songs of their own.
Portable PA system $1,135 Learning a song is one experience. Hearing it come together in performance is another. YEAH! currently relies on one aging PA system or equipment loaned by individuals for its programs. A new portable system could support a full auditorium or divide into two independent classroom setups, allowing more groups to rehearse and perform at the same time. Students could carry what they create from the practice room to the stage and experience what it feels like to share their work with an audience.
instruction, and space they need to explore music and discover what they can create. For a young person learning an instrument, having dependable equipment means more time to practice, experiment, and play with others. Many students choose piano or drums as their first instrument, but much of YEAH!’s equipment is nearly 20 years old. These wishes would refresh some of the tools students use most, giving more young musicians the opportunity to turn an interest in music into something they can play, write, record, and share.
5 drum kit refresh bundles $312.58 each | $1,562.90 total Drums are another popular entry point for young musicians, but worn drumheads, unstable stands, and aging equipment can make learning more difficult. Five refresh bundles with new drumheads, snare stands, and stable drum thrones would restore YEAH!’s existing kits and give students more reliable instruments to learn on. As their skills grow, young drummers can move from keeping a beat to writing, recording, and playing alongside their bandmates.
TOTAL REQUESTED: $3,797.90 23
A Wish Is Never Just the Item On The Page. You’ve now seen 20 organizations and the specific needs that could help move their work forward. Behind each request are people working every day to strengthen our community and people whose lives can be touched when those needs are met. A fulfilled wish can remove a barrier, expand a program, create an opportunity, or give someone the tools to learn, heal, create, and grow. Perhaps one wish stood out to you. Perhaps several did. You can fulfill an entire wish, contribute toward one, or support multiple organizations. Whatever you choose, thank you for looking beyond the item on the page to the people and possibilities behind it. Your generosity can be where the next story begins.
3 Ways To Give: Option #1: Give Online Anyone can visit the Wish List at cfmt.org/wish-list to browse nonprofit wishes and choose where you’d like to give. You can fulfill a wish in full, contribute toward one, or support multiple wishes.
Option #2: Give From Your CFMT Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Log in to your CFMT Donor Portal and click “Grant Catalog” to view Wish List items and recommend a grant. You can also complete a Grant Recommendation form for the amount you choose with the memo: “The Wish List – [Organization] – [Item]” If the wish is fully funded when your grant arrives, we’ll contact you to reallocate it within the same category or return the funds to your DAF, as per our policy.
Option #3: Give Us A Call If you’d like help deciding which wishes to support or making your gift, call our Philanthropic Services team. We’re here to talk through your interests and help you find a wish that’s a good match. The catalog is open through January 30th, 2027.
3421 Belmont Blvd., Nashville, TN 37215 • CFMT.org Cover photos courtesy of the following organizations, clockwise from bottom most photo: Fly Girl Institute, Black Lemonade, The Porch, Brightstone, The Mary Parrish Center, Kindling Arts, Water Walkers, and Legacy Mission.