Akima Grant Program
The Akima Grant program provides financial support to several local nonprofit agencies. Since we are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, funding for our grants program is raised through Akima’s popular Cabaret event held every other year. Thanks to the community support of our 2024 Cabaret, Akima Grants gave over $94,000 to 50 different agencies which was the largest sum that Akima had given in their over 75-year history! This year, 2025, our 77th year, we were again able surpass that record to over $99,000 in grants given to over 60 different agencies! These community agencies are very diverse - covering programs for people of all ages involving the arts, culture, science, medical services, and social services.
Grant applications for 2026 will be available December 1, 2025, and are available by clicking the link below. Complete grant applications are due by February 28, 2026, at 5:00 pm. For further information or other questions about Akima’s Grant Program, please send any questions to grants@akimaclub.org
Akima’s Recent Grant Recipients
2025
A Secret Safe Place for Newborns of Tennessee
A Step Ahead Foundation
Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley
CADES - Concord Adult Day Enrichment Services
Cancer Support Community of East Tennessee
Catholic Charities of East Tennessee
Cedarbrook Outreach
Church Street UMC - formerly Beacon of Hope
Compassion Closet
Contact Helpline, Inc. - dba Care Line
Daybreak
East Tennessee Kidney Foundation
Emeral Youth Foundation
Epilepsy Foundation of East Tennessee
Faith N Friends Horse Rescue and Sanctuary
Family Promise of Blount County
Florence Crittendon Agency
Fostering Hope Tennessee, Inc.
Friends of Literacy
Friends of Tennessee’s Babies with Special Needs
GiGi’s Playhouse Down’s Syndrome Achievement Center - Knoxville
Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians, Inc.
Girls Inc. of the Tennessee Valley
Girls on the Run of Greater Knoxville
Helen Ross McNabb Center
Helping Mamas Knoxville
Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation
Hoof and Harness
Horse Haven of Tennessee
Hospitality Pantries - dba FISH
Interfaith Health Clinic
Isaiah 117 House
James White’s Fort
Junior Appalachian Musicians, Inc. - JAM
Knoxville Children’s Theatre
Knoxville Family Justice Center
Knoxville/Knox County CAC – Project LIVE
Knoxville/Knox County CAC – The Daily Living Center
Knoxville/Knox County CAC – Mobile Meals
Knoxville Opera
Knoxville Symphony Society
Koinonia Foundation of Tennessee
Ladies of Charity Knoxville
Little Chefs, Big Change
MUSE Knoxville
Nativity Pageant of Knoxville, Inc.
Neighboring Knoxville dba Laundry Love
Olive Tree Early Learning Academy
Our Place Art Organization, Inc.
Random Acts of Flowers
Rocky Top Trykes Chapter of National AMBUCS, Inc.
Sacred Ground Hospice House
Sunshine Industries
Susannah’s House
Team BUSAR
The Restoration House (THR)
Two Bikes
UTHSC Audiology and Pathology Program
Volunteer Ministry Center
YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley
73 grant requests were received totaling $255,628.78
61 grants totaling $99,801.18 were awarded
22 grant projects were fully funded
2024
A Secret Safe Place for Newborns of Tennessee
Arc Knox County/Sunshine Industries
Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley
CADES - Concord Adult Day Enrichment Services
Cancer Support Community of East Tennessee
Catholic Charities of East Tennessee
Cedarbrook Outreach
ChildHelp Tennessee
(Beacon of Hope) - renamed Church Street UMC
Compassion Closet
Contact Helpline, Inc. - dba Care Line
East Tennessee Kidney Foundation
Epilepsy Foundation of East Tennessee
Faith N Friends
Family Promise of Blount County
Fostering Hope TN, Inc.
Friends of Literacy
Girls Inc, of the Tennessee Valley
Girls on the Run
Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians
Helen Ross McNabb Center
Helping Mamas Knoxville
Hoof and Harness
Horse Haven
Hospitality Pantries, Inc. dba FISH Hospitality Pantries
InterFaith Health Clinic
Isaiah 117 House
Knoxville/Knox County CAC – Project LIVE
Knoxville/Knox County CAC – The Daily Living Center
Knoxville/Knox County CAC – Mobile Meals
Knoxville Children’s Theatre
Knoxville Family Justice Center
Knoxville Opera
Koinonia Foundation of Tennessee
Ladies of Charity
Little Chefs, Big Change
Marble City Opera
Nativity Pageant of Knoxville, Inc.
Neighboring Knoxville dba Laundry Love
Our Place Art Organization, Inc.
Random Acts of Flowers
Sacred Ground Hospice House
Sertoma Center
Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding
Susannah’s House
The MUSE Knoxville
The Pellissippi State Foundation
UTHSC Audiology and Speech Pathology
YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley
67 grant requests were received totaling $196,207.79
50 grants totaling $86,975.00 were awarded
30 grant projects were fully funded