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Nashville Catalyst Fund

EIN 99-2815884 · Nashville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceFair58 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 49% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE NASHVILLE CATALYST FUND (THE "FUND") IS A TENNESSEE NON-PROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION THAT OFFERS FLEXIBLE FINANCING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHIN NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY. THE FUND ENABLES MISSION-MOTIVATED DEVELOPERS TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE IN THE RACE TO PRESERVE EXISTING REGULATED AND UNREGULATED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ACCELERATES THE CREATION OF HIGH-IMPACT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.THE FUND IS A SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE ("CFMT"), A TENNESSEE NON-PROFIT CORPORATION.

Income
$20.0 million
Spending
$497,722
Spent on programs
49%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
0
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$271,697, chief executive officer

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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 98% of income.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    49% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $245,598 spent. BY BLENDING CAPITAL FROM A RANGE OF SOURCES, THE FUND PROVIDES EARLY-STAGE CAPITAL TO MISSION-DRIVEN DEVELOPERS TO SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION AND CREATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPLY IN NASHVILLE.THE CATALYST FUND IS A NEW TOOL THAT RESPONDS TO THE SPECIFIC CONDITIONS FACED BY AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS TRYING TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION IN NASHVILLE. LOAN PRODUCTS ARE TAILORED TO THE NASHVILLE MARKET AND ARE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.MISSION-DRIVEN DEVELOPERS THAT ARE BEING OUTCOMPETED IN THE RACE TO PRESERVE OLDER AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUILDINGS AND ACQUIRE LAND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT WILL BE ABLE TO EXECUTE A QUICK ACQUISITION AT TERMS THAT MAKES THE PROJECT FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE VIA THE FUND'S ACQUISITION LOAN PRODUCT.THE FUND PROVIDES LOAN PRODUCTS THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE ELSEWHERE IN THE MARKET THAT CAN PRESERVE THE AFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING IN AN INCREASINGLY COMPETITIVE MARKET. FIRST LOSS CAPITAL FROM METRO ENABLES THE CATALYST FUND TO TAKE EARLY-STAGE RISKS THAT OTHER LENDERS CANNOT, ACCELERATING THE TIMELINE FOR PRESERVATION AND CREATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IN ADDITION, THE FUND'S BRIDGE LOAN PRODUCT ALLOWS MISSION-MOTIVATED DEVELOPERS TO JUMPSTART THEIR PROJECTS WITHOUT WAITING TO RECEIVE PUBLIC SUBSIDY OR GRANT PROCEEDS.LOAN PRODUCTS ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO INCLUDE AND SUPPORT NON-PROFIT AND EMERGING BIPOC DEVELOPERS WITHIN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SECTOR. THE FUND IS A NEW SOURCE FOR PREDEVELOPMENT LOANS THAT TARGET HIGH-IMPACT PROJECTS LED BY EMERGING DEVELOPERS.

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 May 2024.

    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.