HOW WE STARTED:

In 2011, our organization was a mere entry at a 48 Hour Launch event...where we were ultimately voted crowd favorite and awarded a $17,000 services package. Teal Thibaud was organizing the Social Track of the competition and was introduced to Ben Garrison, who had an idea for a grassroots-level philanthropic organization in Chattanooga.  Teal liked the idea so much that she volunteered brand genius Tavis Salazar to develop the name and branding. Bijan Dhanani jumped in as the pitch artist and promoter, and Joda Thongnopnua joined the event to support building the organization. 

The idea we presented at the competition was simple: local philanthropy through collective action.  We saw a gap in the philanthropic funding landscape for seed stage and small program grant awards.  Foundations have millions to give away and typically prefer larger multi-year grants to established nonprofits. We don't. Our members (or trustees, as we call them) each contribute $100 per month, and we pool those funds together to make a $3,000 (at the time we started that was only $1,000) micro-grant.  So where does an engaged Chattanoogan go for the seed money for their big idea?  Look no further.

NOW:

The UNFoundation is run by a group of four regular folks with full time jobs just like you. They volunteer their time to promote philanthropy and bring awesome ideas to life. Promoting philanthropy involves recruiting trustees and meeting their needs for networking, warm hugs, and community knowledge. Trustees are the heartbeat of The UNFoundation giving $100 each month to fund our grants. If you are interested in becoming a trustee click here. #facesofphilanthropy

Bringing awesome ideas to life requires spreading the word about our easy monthly grant process to everyone in Chattanooga. We advertise to social media crawlers and public radio listeners about the opportunity for easy grants, we spread word of mouth through everyone we know and we promote ourselves to other foundations in town. #wefundcoolideas

Here’s a little more info on the four regular folks running this shindig (more tenured first):

When she's not having lunch with prospective trustees or planning the next UNFoundation meeting, she's usually out adventuring with Otter and Juniper, their rescue pups. She rocks a hot mullet and despite her preference to drink copious amounts of craft beer, she can no longer handle her alcohol and is typically in bed before 10 PM after consuming her Chinese herbs. The creative arts refuel her and fostering social justice ignites them. She is the COO at Hinton and Co, a leadership and coaching consulting firm, but is the CEO of dishes and laundry at home with her wife, Ashley.

With a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and over 10 years of expertise in community marketing, outreach, and program development, Summer has a proven track record of success in closing resource gaps and empowering underserved communities, raising awareness about and promoting health equity. Can you see why we’re so lucky to have her? Summer is the Executive Director of the Greater Chattanooga Colon Cancer Foundation (GCCCF) while also working at The Partnership. After spending over a decade at orgs like Erlanger and Girls, Inc. she is rooted in the CHA community. Her kiddo, Eli, says she is the best Mom ever, and we tend to agree with him. He has better birthday parties than we do.

Michelle is a lifelong student and lover of learning who went from high school drop-out to a master’s in educational leadership. Like, whoa! They spent 10 years teaching elementary and middle school, then danced into nonprofit work for several years, spreading service and good vibes with grassroots orgs like UnifiEd and A Step Ahead. These days, you’ll find Michelle outside with fifth graders, turning the forest into a classroom and chasing joy instead of a CEO title. When they’re not in the trees, they’re soaking up time with family, lost in a good book, or wandering somewhere new.

Lisa Atkins is a marketing maven with a knack for crafting compelling stories that captivate audiences. As the Director of Human Resources and Operations at Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy CGLA, Lisa is connected to our public schools and loves kids, people, and Snoopy. As a board member here, Lisa is channeling her expertise into elevating newsletter marketing—ensuring every update informs, inspires, and ignites action. When she’s not fine-tuning messaging strategies, you can find her exploring new trends in marketing or championing causes close to her heart. Get ready for newsletters that don’t just land in inboxes—they leave a lasting impression!