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 over 50 agencies in 2024 and over $99,000 to 61 different agencies in 2025, which was the largest sum that Akima had given in their over 75-year history!
This year’s Akima Cabaret once again made history! In our 78th year, 2026, we were again able surpass that record and award over $112,000 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. Thank you to all the sponsors and attendees for making 2026’s Cabaret the most successful yet!
Grant applications for 2027 will be available December 1, 2026, and are available by clicking the link below. Complete grant applications are due by February 28, 2027, at 5:00 pm. If the application is not received in the format requested with all documents by the deadline, your application will not be considered for the 2026-2027 year. For further information or other questions about Akima’s Grant Program, please send any questions to grants@akimaclub.org
Akima’s Recent Grant Recipients
2026
A Secret Safe Place for Newborns of Tennessee
Align 9
BLOC Ministries Knoxville
Breast Connect, Inc.
Cancer Support Community of East Tennessee
Catholic Charities of East Tennessee
Cedarbrook Outreach
ChildHelp, Inc.
Choices Resource Center
Church Street United Methodist Church (CSUMC)
Compassion Closet of East Tennessee
Concord Adult Day Enrichment Services
Contact Helpline, Inc. dba Contact Care Line
Daybreak
East Tennessee Kidney Foundation
Emerald Youth Foundation
Epilepsy Foundation of East Tennessee
Faith N Friends Horse Rescue and Sanctuary
Family Promise Knoxville
First Foundations, Inc.
Florence Crittenton Agency
For the Love of Reading
Fostering Hope TN, Inc.
Friends of Literacy
Friends of Tennessee’s Babies with Special Needs
Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians, Inc.
Girls on the Run of Greater Knoxville
Helping Mamas Knoxville
Hillcrest Healthcare
Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation
Hoof and Harness Experiential Learning, Inc.
Horse Haven of Tennessee, Inc.
Hospitality Pantries, dba FISH
InterFaith Health Clinic
Isaiah 117 House
James White’s Fort Association, Inc.
Joy of Music Youth Music School Corporation
Knoxville Children’s Theater
Knoxville Family Justice Center
Knoxville Leadership Foundation
Knoxville Opera Company
Knoxville/Knox County CAC – Mobile Meals
Knoxville/Knox County CAC – Daily Living Center
Knoxville/Knox County CAC – Grandparents as Parents
Knoxville/Knox County CAC - Project LIVE
Koinonia Foundation of Tennessee
Ladies of Charity Knoxville
Little Chefs, Big Change
MUSE Knoxville
Neighboring Knoxville dba Laundry Love
Olive Tree Early Learning Academy
Operation Inasmuch
Owl Ridge Raptor Center
Pellissippi State Community College Foundation
Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research
Random Acts of Flowers
Restoration House of East Tennessee (THR)
Rowan Tree Foundation of East Tennessee, Inc.
Royal Youth Dance Ensemble, Inc.
Sacred Ground Hospice House
Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding (STAR)
Street Hope TN
Sunshine Services
Susannah’s House, Inc.
Team BUSAR
University Health System, Inc.
UTHSC Audiology and Speech Pathology Program
YOKE Youth Ministries
76 grant requests were received totaling $265,997.15
68 grants totaling $112,507.05 were awarded
17 grant projects were fully funded
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
Emerald Youth Foundation
Epilepsy Foundation of East Tennessee
Faith N Friends Horse Rescue and Sanctuary
Family Promise of Blount County
Florence Crittenton 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