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Tennessee Golf Foundation

EIN 58-1893478 · Franklin, TN

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE GOLF AND ITS LIFE-ENHANCING VALUES WITH AN EMPHASIS ON TEACHING THE YOUTH, VETERANS AND THE DISADVANTAGED.

Income
$8.6 million
Spending
$9.8 million
Spent on programs
59%
Reserves
17.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 51%
Employees
0
Volunteers
330
Highest pay
$307,662, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $1.8 million spent. IN 2021 THE TENNESSEE GOLF FOUNDATION STARTED OPERATING THE SIMMONS BANK OPEN TOURNAMENT. IT IS A KORN FERRY TOUR EVENT. THE KORN FERRY TOUR IDENTIFIES & DEVELOPS PLAYERS READY TO COMPETE & WIN. IT IS "THE PATH TO THE PGA TOUR". THE SIMMONS BANK OPEN WAS A 7 DAY EVENT IN 2024 WITH 563 PARTICIPANTS (PLAYERS, CADDIES, & VOLUNTEERS).
  2. $1.8 million spent. VARIOUS PROGRAMS SUCH AS GOLF TOURNAMENTS ARE PERFORMED EACH YEAR TO PROMOTE GOLF IN TN.
  3. $886,338 spent. THE FIRST TEE PROGRAM STARTED IN 2001 IN NASHVILLE CONTINUES TO GROW. THERE ARE NOW 5 FIRST TEE CHAPTERS AND OVER 1,700 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED AT THE TENNESSEE FIRST TEE PROGRAMS IN NASHVILLE, CHATTANOOGA, MEMPHIS, KNOXVILLE, AND TRI-CITIES. THERE ARE 47 FIRST TEE LOCATIONS IN TN. OVER 1,700 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED AT THE TGF'S FIRST TEE TENNESSEE GOLF AND LIFE SKILLS PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE.
  4. $1.3 million spent. THE JUNIOR TOUR MISSION IS TO FOSTER THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF JUNIOR GOLFERS OF VARYING AGES AND ABILITY LEVELS TO BE THE BEST PLAYERS, STUDENTS, AND CITIZENS ON AND OFF THE COURSE. IN 2024 THE JUNIOR TOUR HAD 1,980 MEMBERS. THERE WERE 206 EVENTS IN 100+ DAYS. THE 2024 JUNIOR GOLF ACADEMY WAS ATTENDED BY 256 JUNIOR GOLFERS, WITH 59 GIVEN FULL SCHOLARSHIPS BY THE TGF TOTALING 25,075. THE LITTLE COURSE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE JUNIOR AND FAMILY GOLF WITH OVER 28,000 ROUNDS PLAYED IN 2024. IN ADDITION OVER 2,000 YOUNG GOLFERS PARTICIPATED IN PROGRAMS TAUGHT AT THE LITTLE COURSE.
  5. THE JUNIOR TOUR MISSION IS TO FOSTER THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF JUNIOR GOLFERS OF VARYING AGES AND ABILITY LEVELS TO BE THE BEST PLAYERS, STUDENTS, AND CITIZENS ON AND OFF THE COURSE. IN 2024 THE JUNIOR TOUR HAD 1,980 MEMBERS. THERE WERE 206 EVENTS IN 100+ DAYS. THE 2024 JUNIOR GOLF ACADEMY WAS ATTENDED BY 256 JUNIOR GOLFERS, WITH 59 GIVEN FULL SCHOLARSHIPS BY THE TGF TOTALING 25,075. THE LITTLE COURSE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE JUNIOR AND FAMILY GOLF WITH OVER 28,000 ROUNDS PLAYED IN 2024. IN ADDITION OVER 2,000 YOUNG GOLFERS PARTICIPATED IN PROGRAMS TAUGHT AT THE LITTLE COURSE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1990.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.