SOURCE OF WEALTH: Southeastern Asset Management
FUNDING AREAS: Education & Youth, Human Services, Memphis community
OVERVIEW: G. Staley Cates serves as director and chairman of The Poplar Community Foundation, a charitable vehicle whose grantmaking strongly supports Memphis-area organizations. Education is a top cause, as are outfits that bolster the Memphis community in areas like community development and job creation. Available tax filings indicate that Poplar awarded around $26 million in grants in 2017.
BACKGROUND: G. Staley Cates graduated with a BBA in finance from University of Texas in 1986. He serves as serves as President, CIO, and portfolio manager of Southeastern Asset Management, a Memphis, Tennessee-headquartered firm founded by O. Mason Hawkins. Cates is also a minority owner of the Memphis Grizzlies NBA team.
ISSUES:
EDUCATION & YOUTH: The Poplar Foundation’s grantmaking heavily features schools and advocacy organizations. Big winners include Collegiate School of Memphis, whose mission is to “prepare young ladies and gentlemen for college success within a highly structured, nurturing, Christian environment,” Memphis Teacher Residency, a faith-based teacher preparation program, Teach For America – Memphis, and Soulsville Charter School.
Cates has also supported places like Catholic Memphis Urban Schools, Streets Ministries, Vision Preparatory Charter School, Frayser Community Schools, and Urban Youth Initiative. Outside Tennessee, Poplar has given grants to Relay Graduate School of Education in New York City.
MEMPHIS COMMUNITY: The Poplar Foundation’s grantmaking also supports human services. Issues like community development, civic space, and job creation are prioritized. Grantees have included Advance Memphis, Clean Memphis, Mid-South Minority Business Council, and Binghampton Development Corporation. Hope Christian Community Foundation, one of the largest Christian community foundations in the country has received tens of millions from Poplar.
LOOKING FORWARD: Cates is still young and engaged in business but expect him, along with Hawkins, to continue to heavily prioritize the Memphis community in their grantmaking. It is worth noting that according to available tax filings, Hawkins’ Pyramid Peak Foundation has awarded over $240 million in grants to the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis from 2014 to 2017.
CONTACT:
The Poplar Community Foundation does not provide a clear avenue for getting in touch but below is contact information:
The Poplar Foundation
6410 Poplar Ave., Ste. 720
Memphis, TN 38119
Telephone: (901) 818-5195
Contact: Thomas M. Marino, Exec. Dir.
