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Nonprofits in Tennessee

What the IRS records say about tax-exempt organizations in Tennessee.

Tax-exempt organizations
39,254
Revenue in a year
$67.3 billion
on 12,428 e-filed returns
Assets
$162.4 billion
Employees
376,098
People paid $1 million or more
176
Typical top pay
$83,000
median, best-paid person per organization

Tennessee rankings

Tax-exempt organizations
39,254
Of which 501(c)(3)
33,549
File the 990-N (receipts ≤ $50,000)
22,235
File Form 990 or 990-EZ
9,629
Filed a 990-N (latest e-Postcard on record)
25,576
Exemption automatically revoked (all years)
19,641

Largest nonprofits in Tennessee by revenue

Top 5s in Tennessee

From each organization's latest e-filed Form 990, 990-EZ or 990-PF.

Highest-paid people

Compensation from the organization and related organizations, including other pay

  1. 1Jeffrey R Balser MD PHDPresident and CEO · Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NASHVILLE, TN$16.5M
  2. 2Jeffrey a MartinTrustee · Mueller Industries Inc Benefits TR · COLLIERVILLE, TN$14.2M
  3. 3Anders W HallSee Schedule O · Vanderbilt University · NASHVILLE, TN$8.4M
  4. 4C Wright Pinson MD MBADeputy CEO & Chief Health System Officer · Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NASHVILLE, TN$6.6M
  5. 5John F Manning Jr PHD MBACOO and Corporate Chief of Staff · Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NASHVILLE, TN$5.6M
The full top 10 →

Most raised in gifts and grants

Contributions, gifts and grants received in the year

  1. 1American Lebanese Syrian Assoc Char IncMEMPHIS, TN · 990, year ended Jun 2025$2.7B
  2. 2ST Jude Childrens Research Hospital IncMEMPHIS, TN · 990, year ended Jun 2025$2B
  3. 3Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNASHVILLE, TN · 990, year ended Jun 2025$642.9M
  4. 4Vanderbilt UniversityNASHVILLE, TN · 990, year ended Jun 2025$494.7M
  5. 5Ducks Unlimited IncMEMPHIS, TN · 990, year ended Jun 2025$338.9M
The full top 10 →

Largest reserves

Net assets (fund balance) at year end

  1. 1ST Jude Childrens Research Hospital IncMEMPHIS, TN · 990, year ended Jun 2025$12.6B
  2. 2Vanderbilt UniversityNASHVILLE, TN · 990, year ended Jun 2025$11.2B
  3. 3American Lebanese Syrian Assoc Char IncMEMPHIS, TN · 990, year ended Jun 2025$10.8B
  4. 4Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNASHVILLE, TN · 990, year ended Jun 2025$3B
  5. 5Belmont UniversityNASHVILLE, TN · 990, year ended May 2025$1.5B
The full top 10 →

Biggest employers

Employees reported for the calendar year

  1. 1Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNASHVILLE, TN · 990, year ended Jun 202538,678
  2. 2Vanderbilt UniversityNASHVILLE, TN · 990, year ended Jun 202514,639
  3. 3Methodist Healthcare-MemphisMEMPHIS, TN · 990, year ended Dec 202411,899
  4. 4Erlanger HealthCHATTANOOGA, TN · 990, year ended Jun 20258,319
  5. 5ST Jude Childrens Research Hospital IncMEMPHIS, TN · 990, year ended Jun 20257,862
The full top 10 →

By city

By category

Category (NTEE)Organizations
Education3,049
Human services2,773
Religion-related2,303
Arts, culture and humanities1,709
Recreation and sports1,624
Philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking foundations1,451
Community improvement and capacity building1,192
Youth development890
Animal-related882
Health care768
Housing and shelter607
Public and societal benefit583
Mental health and crisis intervention547
Mutual and membership benefit462
Public safety, disaster preparedness and relief425
International, foreign affairs and national security349
Environment335
Food, agriculture and nutrition324
Crime and legal-related307
Voluntary health associations and medical disciplines216
Employment184
Civil rights, social action and advocacy140
Unknown98
Medical research84
Science and technology68
Social science16