OVERVIEW: The Tyson Family Foundation supports education, agriculture, business, engineering, computer science, nursing, health and youth in Arkansas.
FUNDING AREAS: Education, agriculture, business, engineering, computer science, nursing, health, youth
IP TAKE: The Tysons are a prominent, wealthy family in Arkansas, and TFF grants often fund well-established groups that have personal connections to the family. Given its corporate sister’s contribution to agricultural pollution and animal neglect, perhaps more funding will be made available to these areas down the line.
PROFILE: Established in 1970, the Tyson Family Foundation (TFF) is a family foundation based in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This is the foundation of the late Don Tyson, who was the CEO and chair of Tyson Foods. Olivia Tyson is the foundation president today. TFF funds local efforts for education, agriculture, business, engineering, computer science, nursing, health and youth in Arkansas.
The Tyson Family Foundation does not have a website to guide grantseekers. However, past tax records indicate that this is primarily an education funder that provides scholarships for students. Scholarships go to employees of Tyson Foods and their dependents. TFF often provides a few large gifts each year rather than spreading its assets around to many smaller grantees. Common grantees include children’s hospitals, health foundations, museums and local schools.
Grants range between about $50,000 and $2 million. The funder has granted over $8 million annually in recent years. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking largely focuses on the state of Arkansas. Past local grantees include Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the PTA Arkansas Congress/Don Tyson School of Innovation.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. Grantseekers must contact the foundation directly to apply for a preprinted application form with instructions. There are no submission deadlines or restrictions or limitations on awards. Direct general questions to the staff at 479-439-4920.
PEOPLE:
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