There are hundreds of nonprofits in the Nashville area in need of donations, volunteers or connections with agencies to provide year-round assistance. Here’s a list of nonprofit agencies that help others.
Alive Hospice
Provides compassionate, loving care to people with life-threatening illnesses while supporting their families and loved ones, and providing service to the community in a spirit of enriching lives. www.alivehospice.org
American Cancer Society
Dedicated to helping persons who face cancer. Supports research, patient services, early detection, treatment and education in Nashville. www.cancer.org
American Red Cross – Tennessee Red Cross
Serves all 95 counties in Tennessee, they seek volunteers to lead the Red Cross mission in preparedness, prevention, and response to emergencies. No matter the interests, skills or schedule, volunteers can make a significant contribution to the community and help people in their moments of greatest need. www.redcross.org/local/tennessee
Angel Tree – Salvation Army of Nashville
Angel Tree gives individuals and partnering corporations an opportunity to adopt less fortunate children and seniors who would otherwise receive very little or nothing during the holiday season. Donors can be confident that their gifts go directly, and without excessive overhead, to those who are truly needy as all Salvation Army Angels are not served by other holiday assistance programs. www.salvationarmytennessee.org/nashville/donate-empty-page/events-2/angel-treeabout
Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville
Leverages and unites the unique resources of the arts and business communities to create a thriving, sustainable creative culture in Nashville with mutually beneficial partnerships between arts and business and providing direct services, key opportunities and education to the creative community to help them master the business of art. www.abcnashville.org
Bellevue Edible Learning Lab
Provides practical learning opportunities for residents of the community in a setting that promotes physical activity, healthy eating, environmental stewardship, and multi-cultural connections for all generations. www.bellgardennashville.org
Begin Anew
Empowers individuals in Middle Tennessee to overcome obstacles caused by poverty by providing education, mentoring and resources. www.beginanew.org
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee
Provides children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better. www.mentorakid.org/site/c.flKYIcOSIiJ6H/b.9192325/k.BDF6/Home.htm
Book’em
Works to create a more literate Nashville by helping economically disadvantaged children, from birth through high school, discover the joy and value of reading through book ownership and enthusiastic volunteers. www.bookem-kids.org
Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee
Works to enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. www.bgcmt.org
CASA Nashville
CASA volunteers are advocates for abused and neglected children, making sure they are heard in an over-burdened child welfare system. www.casanashville.org
Catholic Charities of Tennessee
The social service arm of the Diocese of Nashville, they assist more than 60,000 people each year in 38 counties across Middle Tennessee through more than 50 different programs. www.cctenn.org
Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art
Volunteers play an important role at Cheekwood, from leading tours and greeting visitors to caring for the gardens, assisting with events and programs. They offer a variety of short and long-term assignments, flexible scheduling, weekend opportunities, and opportunities suitable for families and groups. www.cheekwood.org
Christian Community Services, Inc.
CCSI provides the resources, tools and encouragement to move from government dependency to self-sufficiency through its financial literacy programs. Volunteers needed to mentor, tutor, lead classes and handle weekly meals. www.ccsinashville.org
Conexión Américas
Promotes the integration of immigrant families into their new community by providing comprehensive services, from information and referrals, to assistance in buying a home, and opportunities for developing leadership skills. www.conexionamericas.org
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Seeks to collect, preserve, and interpret the evolving history and traditions of country music. Through exhibits, publications, and educational programs, the museum teaches its diverse audiences about the enduring beauty and cultural importance of country music. www.countrymusichalloffame.org
Dismas House
With the support of funders, volunteers and partner businesses Dismas is the first critical step for former offenders in healing, learning and re-entering society after incarceration. In addition to a loving and supportive home, Dismas provides holistic, client-specific services that empower self-sufficiency. www.dismas.org
Family and Children’s Services
Serves all people in crisis and transition by meeting them where they are, understanding their needs, and connecting them to the resources they need. FCS fills in the gaps in social services, creating a safety net for children and families to be safe and healthy. Each year they provide services to more than 30,000 Tennesseans. www.fcsnashville.org
Fannie Battle Day Home for Children
Created in 1891 by Miss Fannie Battle, the Fannie Battle Day Home for Children is the oldest child care center in Middle Tennessee, providing affordable, high-quality child care for at-risk children in a nurturing environment, while empowering families to reach their potential. www.fanniebattle.org
FiftyForward
Enriches the lives of adults 50+ by providing pathways to health, well-being and lifelong learning. www.fiftyforward.org
Fisher House
Provides military families housing close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness, disease, or injury. www.fisherhouse.org
Girls on the Run – Middle Tennessee
Inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. www.gotrmiddletn.org
Friends Life Community
Creates an opportunity for teenagers and adults with disabilities to develop socially, grow personally, and enjoy community as they experience life together as they age out of high school and other traditional support programs. www.friendslife.org
Friends of Warner Parks
Dedicated to the preservation, protection, and stewardship of Percy and Edwin Warner Parks, the organization works to protect the natural and historical integrity of the area by supporting appropriate recreational activities, maintaining and enhancing its features, and promoting programs that inspire appreciation and conservation of the Parks. www.warnerparks.org
Frist Center for the Visual Arts
Presents and originates high-quality exhibitions with related educational programs and community outreach activities. www.fristcenter.org
Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee
Aims to empower girls and to help teach values such as honesty, fairness, courage, compassion, character, sisterhood, confidence and citizenship through activities including camping, community service, learning first aid, and earning badges by acquiring other practical skills. www.gsmidtn.org
Hands on Nashville
Recruits, educates, and coordinates a network of volunteers for diverse community service projects in Nashville. www.hon.org
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville
Since it was established in 1985, Habitat of Greater Nashville has built or recycled more than 1,060 homes, more than 770 locally, and served more than 2,600 family members including 1,700 children. www.habitatnashville.org
Hope Clinic for Women
A faith-based, safe, and confidential place for anyone dealing with unplanned pregnancies, prevention, pregnancy loss and postpartum depression. Hope Clinic provides medical care, professional counseling, education, mentorship and material support regardless of age, race, religion or ability to pay. www.hopeclinicforwomen.org
Hospital Hospitality House of Nashville
Provides housing for families and patients receiving medical treatment in Nashville hospitals. www.hhhnashville.org
Interfaith Dental Clinic
Nonprofit organization that provides affordable dental care to low-income, working families. www.interfaithdentalclinic
Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee
Dedicated to educating young people about business, economics, and free enterprise through programs spanning grades K-12. www.janash.com
Junior League of Nashville
Works on community projects including the Junior League Home at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, Our Kids and the Nashville chapter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, among others. www.jlnashville.org
KORE Foundation
Kore provides sustainable solutions to extreme poverty for the people of Haiti utilizing a “business as ministry” model. KORE’s approach is to create business opportunities in agricultural development to promote food security, educational opportunity, economic development and community health in Haiti. www.korefoundation.org
Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee
Grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. www.middletennessee.wish.org
Martha O’Bryan Center
On a foundation of Christian faith, Martha O’Bryan Center empowers children, youth, and adults in poverty to transform their lives through work, education, employment and fellowship. www.marthaobryan.org
Nashville Adult Literacy Council
Teaches adult Americans to read and teaches adult immigrants the English language. Also provides classes to adults that improve writing skills and prepares learners for their high school equivalency or citizenship tests. www.nashvilleliteracy.org/about
Nashville CARES
Community-based AIDS service organization providing education, advocacy, and supportive services to anyone affected by HIV and AIDS. www.nashvillecares.org
Nashville Conflict Resolution Center
Empowers individuals and families to resolve and move beyond conflict through mediation. With the support of volunteers and donors are able to provide an alternative to litigation, steering clients away from conflict and toward collaborative resolution. www.nashvilleconflict.org
Nashville Humane Association
Protects the well-being of animals in Davidson County as one of the oldest service organizations in Nashville. The roots of NHA can be traced back to a society founded in 1887 to protect children from inhumane working conditions and draft horses from mistreatment. www.nashvillehumane.org
Nashville International Center for Empowerment
Aims to increase clients’ abilities to effectively read, write, and speak English, facilitating long-term independence and stability by leading to sustainable employment and self-sufficiency for adults and ongoing academic achievement for children. Programs are offered to legal permanent residents with refugee or immigrant statuses. www.empowernashville.org
Nashville Public Library
Inspires reading, advanced learning and connections in the community. www.library.nashville.org
Nashville Sports Council
The mission of the Nashville Sports Council is to positively impact the economy and quality of life of the Greater Nashville Area by attracting and promoting professional and amateur sporting events. www.nashvillesports.com
Nashville Wine Auction
Annual benefit for the American Cancer Society, consisting of an auction, tastings, and dinners. www.nashvillewineauction.com
Noah’s Ark Society
No kill animal adoption center. www.noahsarksociety.org
Operation Stand Down Tennessee
Organization assisting all honorably discharged veterans with reintegration, with a particular focus on homeless veterans. www.osdtn.org
Park Center
Empowers people who have mental illness and substance use disorders to live and work in their communities. www.parkcenternashville.org
PENCIL Foundation
Nonprofit organization promoting community involvement in public education. www.pencilfoundation.org
Project C.U.R.E
The largest provider of donated medical supplies and equipment to developing countries around the world. www.projectcure.org
Project Reflect Inc.
Serves children living in poverty to transform urban America through education and education reform. Project Reflect began with a summer tutoring program called PREP which quickly grew to a year-round effort. www.projectreflect.org
Project Return
Works with people who have been convicted of felonies or serious misdemeanors and were released from incarceration within the preceding 12 months. www.projectreturninc.org
Room In The Inn
Provides programs that emphasize human development and recovery through education, self-help and work, centered in community and long term support for those who call the streets of Nashville home. www.roomintheinn.org
Safe Haven Family Shelter
The only shelter-to-housing program of its kind in Middle Tennessee that accepts the entire homeless family, they keep the family together and provide comprehensive services that empower them to achieve lasting self-sufficiency. www.safehaven.org
Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee
Provides programs for feeding hungry people and reducing food waste through collection and distribution. www.secondharvestmidtn.org
Sexual Assault Center
Dedicated to providing counseling to child and adult sexual assault victims. www.sacenter.org
Siloam Family Health Center
Non-profit health care clinic serving patients who lack insurance or who have difficulty accessing health services. www.siloamhealth.org
St. Luke’s Community House
Helps low-income families, seniors and individuals in West Nashville achieve their potential and prevent problems that threaten the stability of families and community. www.stlch.org
Susan G. Komen Central Tennessee
Local source for funding programs that provide breast health services, breast cancer education and outreach in our 25 county service area. Provides residents in the service area with information about the importance of early detection and breast health. www.komencentraltennessee.org
Tennessee Voices for Children
Speaking out as active advocates for the emotional and behavioral well-being of children and their families. www.tnvoices.org
The Jason Foundation
Works to educate communities about the “Silent Epidemic” of youth suicide through a grass roots effort. www.jasonfoundation.givecorps.com
Thistle Farms
Thistle Farms is a community of women survivors who are healing from prostitution, trafficking and addiction. www.thistlefarms.org
The Nashville Food Project
Bringing people together to grow, cook and share nourishing food, with the goals of cultivating the community and alleviating hunger in our Nashville. www.thenashvillefoodproject.org
The Next Door
Provides a continuum of evidence based services for women and their families impacted by addiction, mental illness, trauma and/or incarceration with Christ-centered compassionate care in the Nashville and Chattanooga areas. www.thenextdoor.org
The Salvation Army – Nashville
Extends a resourceful hand of assistance to families in greatest need, so that they may lift themselves from crisis to stability and independence. www.salvationarmytennessee.org/nashville
Toys for Tots - Nashville
The U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program collects new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distributes those toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community. www.nashville-tn.toysfortots.org
W.O. Smith Music School
Since 1984, the School has introduced thousands of interested and deserving children to the world of music. The School is supported by gifts and grants from foundations, arts councils, individuals, and corporations. www.wosmith.com
Your Heart On Art
Offers unique art classes and workshops that help all people regardless of age, race, gender or religion process their feelings visually through painting. www.yourheartonart.org
Youth Encouragement Services
Supports inner-city families in Nashville by providing daily care for children, tutoring services, drug prevention classes and more. www.youthencouragement.org
Youth Villages
Private nonprofit dedicated to helping thousands of emotionally and behaviorally troubled children and their families live successfully. www.youthvillages.org
YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee
Helps people transform their lives through safety, counseling and education services. www.ywcanashville.com