funder-graph › Recipients
Who funds Big Ears Festival
EIN 81-0862420 · Knoxville, TN · NTEE A68
Big Ears Festival of Knoxville, TN (EIN 81-0862420) was named as a grant recipient by 27 funders in 77 grants paid totaling $3,567,500 in tax years 2019–2025, as reported on the funders' Forms 990-PF and 990 Schedule I. Each edge was resolved to this EIN at the match tier shown. Dataset version 2026.09.0, built 2026-09-03.
Grants received
$3,567,500
77 grants paid
Funders
27
distinct grantmakers
Tax years
2019–2025
as reported by funders
Approved for future payment
$229,167
not included in grants received
Funders
Match tier: A Reported EIN · B Exact name and place · C Strong name match · D Probable name match · U Unresolved. Tiers C and D are inferred, not reported; see how matching works.
Grants
The 78 most recent grants naming this organization.
| Tax year | Funder | Recipient | Match | Amount | Type | Purpose | Source filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $31,550 | paid | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 202601389349301700 |
| 2025 | Arts and Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $29,000 | paid | SUPPORT ART IN THE C | 202630309349301653 |
| 2025 | Hobson-Wood Foundation Inc | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $25,000 | paid | Support Educational artist residencies and youth engagement activities in 2026 and 2027 | 202600219349100200 |
| 2025 | National Philanthropic Trust | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $14,227 | paid | CULTURE & ARTS | 202601289349302480 |
| 2025 | Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $12,500 | paid | FOR RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | 202621329349306657 |
| 2025 | Knoxville Cbid Management Corporation DBA Downtown Knoxville Alliance | Big Ears Knoxville, TN | A | $10,000 | paid | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO BENEFIT DOWNTOWN KNOXVILLE | 202533569349301308 |
| 2025 | South Arts Inc | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $7,500 | paid | FY25 SA/NEA Regional Engagement / Arts in Community | 202631359349302078 |
| 2025 | The Fan Fox and Leslie R Samuels Foundation Inc | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | C | $129 | paid | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | 202641619349101109 |
| 2024 | Haslam Family Foundation Inc | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | C | $300,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | 202543159349100219 |
| 2024 | The Boyd Foundation | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | C | $300,000 | paid | TO COLLABORATE WITH ARTISTS, AUDIENCES, AND COMMUNITIES TO CREATE JOYFUL, MEANINGFUL, AND TRANSCENDENT CULTURAL EXPERIENCES THAT DEFY BOUNDARIES, FUEL CURIOSITY, IGNITE THE SPIRIT, AND NOURISH THE SOUL | 202503219349105805 |
| 2024 | The Aslan Foundation | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | C | $229,167 | approved, future | 2025 GRANT | 202523169349102677 |
| 2024 | The Aslan Foundation | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | C | $229,167 | paid | 2024 GRANT | 202523169349102677 |
| 2024 | Johnson Wd and Sc Family Foundation | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $100,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES | 202523189349100417 |
| 2024 | Ahb Foundation Inc C/O Steiner & Ellis Pllc | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $75,000 | paid | THE MISSION OF BIG EARS IS TO COLLABORATE WITH ARTISTS, AUDIENCES, AND COMMUNITIES TO CREATE JOYFUL, MEANINGFUL, AND TRANSCENDENT CULTURAL EXPERIENCES THAT DEFY BOUNDARIES, FUEL CURIOSITY, IGNITE THE SPIRIT, AND NOURISH THE SOUL. | 202533109349101753 |
| 2024 | Arts and Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $29,000 | paid | SUPPORT ART IN THE C | 202521229349300522 |
| 2024 | Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $26,700 | paid | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 202521349349310887 |
| 2024 | The New York Community Trust | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $25,000 | paid | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT. | 202523149349305672 |
| 2024 | Hobson-Wood Foundation Inc | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $25,000 | paid | Big Ears 2025 Outreach Program | 202500349349100415 |
| 2024 | Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $23,450 | paid | ARTS, CULTURE & HUMANITIES | 202541069349300729 |
| 2024 | The Aslan Foundation | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | C | $20,832 | paid | 2025 GRANT | 202523169349102677 |
| 2024 | American Online Giving Foundation Inc | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $18,325 | paid | GENERAL SUPPORT | 202530159349302758 |
| 2024 | The Shifting Foundation | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $15,000 | paid | TO SUPPORT THE OVERALL MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION | 202423309349100202 |
| 2024 | East Tennessee Foundation | Big Ears Knoxville, TN | A | $11,500 | paid | ARTS & CULTURE | 202523019349301817 |
| 2024 | John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation | The Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $10,640 | paid | TO SUPPORT A CONVERSATION BETWEEN MACARTHUR FELLOWS, JAZZ CELLIST AND COMPOSER TOMEKA REID (2022) AND ELECTRONIC MUSIC COMPOSER AND PERFORMER IKUE MORI (2022) AS PART OF THE 2024 BIG EARS FESTIVAL | 202503169349102460 |
| 2024 | Knoxville Cbid Management Corporation DBA Downtown Knoxville Alliance | Big Ears Knoxville, TN | A | $10,000 | paid | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO BENEFIT DOWNTOWN KNOXVILLE | 202433179349302313 |
| 2024 | National Philanthropic Trust | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $6,700 | paid | HUMAN SERVICES | 202511339349301311 |
| 2024 | Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $6,000 | paid | FOR RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | 202511349349313096 |
| 2024 | Bonnaroo Works Fund | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | C | $5,000 | paid | FOR LOCAL REINVESTMENT AND ASSET BUILDING FOR THE COMMUNITIES WE LIVE IN | 202511349349101331 |
| 2024 | The Amphion Foundation Inc Co Alter Kendrick & Baron Llp | The Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | C | $4,500 | paid | ENCOURAGE THE PERFORMANCE OF CONTEMPORARY CONCERT MUSIC | 202513229349100211 |
| 2024 | Texas Instruments Foundation | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | C | $1,033 | paid | DONATIONS TO COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS UNDER "MATCHING GIFTS PROGRAM." | 202502519349100620 |
| 2024 | Gary and Evelyn Trachten Family Foundation Inc | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | C | $1,000 | paid | GENERAL SUPPORT | 202502939349100710 |
| 2023 | The Roy Cockrum Foundation | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $250,000 | paid | Our Common Nature: An Appalachian Celebration | 202403129349101700 |
| 2023 | The Aslan Foundation | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | C | $250,000 | paid | 2023 GRANT | 202443199349103189 |
| 2023 | Haslam Family Foundation Inc | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | C | $225,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | 202433199349100123 |
| 2023 | The Boyd Foundation | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | C | $150,000 | paid | TO COLLABORATE WITH ARTISTS, AUDIENCES, AND COMMUNITIES TO CREATE JOYFUL, MEANINGFUL, AND TRANSCENDENT CULTURAL EXPERIENCES THAT DEFY BOUNDARIES, FUEL CURIOSITY, IGNITE THE SPIRIT, AND NOURISH THE SOUL | 202413209349104181 |
| 2023 | Arts and Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $69,000 | paid | SUPPORT ART IN THE C | 202420589349301307 |
| 2023 | The Aslan Foundation | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | C | $50,000 | paid | APPALACHIAN CELEBRATION SUPPORT | 202443199349103189 |
| 2023 | Schwab Charitable Fund | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $32,500 | paid | ARTS, CULTURE & HUMANITIES | 202411039349301716 |
| 2023 | Hobson-Wood Foundation Inc | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $25,000 | paid | Big Ears 2024 Outreach Program | 202440249349100104 |
| 2023 | East Tennessee Foundation | Big Ears Knoxville, TN | A | $20,900 | paid | GEN/OPER SUPPORT | 202423209349318367 |
| 2023 | The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc C/O Alter Kendrick & Baron Llp | The Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $15,000 | paid | ENCOURAGE KNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATION OF CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN MUSIC | 202400889349100620 |
| 2023 | Knoxville Cbid Management Corporation DBA Downtown Knoxville Alliance | Big Ears Knoxville, TN | A | $13,000 | paid | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO BENEFIT DOWNTOWN KNOXVILLE | 202323429349300317 |
| 2023 | The Shifting Foundation | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $12,500 | paid | TO SUPPORT THE OVERALL MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION | 202323149349101022 |
| 2023 | John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation (consolidated) | The Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $10,440 | paid | to support a conversation between jazz musicians Mary Halvorson and Vijay Iyer as part of the free-to-the-public series of talks at the 2023 Big Ears Festival. NPR Jazz critic Nate Chinen serves as moderator | 202423189349103932 |
| 2023 | Bonnaroo Works Fund | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | C | $10,000 | paid | FOR LOCAL REINVESTMENT AND ASSET BUILDING FOR THE COMMUNITIES WE LIVE IN | 202403049349100315 |
| 2023 | Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $9,350 | paid | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 202441369349301334 |
| 2023 | South Arts Inc | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $7,500 | paid | FY23 SA/NEA TOURING PROGRAMS | 202421369349313532 |
| 2023 | Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $7,500 | paid | FOR RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | 202441359349309439 |
| 2023 | Texas Instruments Foundation | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $6,015 | paid | DONATIONS TO COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS UNDER "MATCHING GIFTS PROGRAM." | 202412569349100701 |
| 2023 | The Amphion Foundation Inc C/O Alter Kendrick & Baron Llp | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | C | $4,500 | paid | ENCOURAGE THE PERFORMANCE OF CONTEMPORARY CONCERT MUSIC | 202443209349107304 |
| 2023 | Gary and Evelyn Trachten Family Foundation Inc | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | C | $720 | paid | TO SHARE THE JOY AND TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF EXTRAORDINARY MUSIC AND ART WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ANNUALLY | 202433209349102953 |
| 2022 | The Aslan Foundation | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $270,833 | paid | GRANT | 202433469349100318 |
| 2022 | The Aslan Foundation | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $270,833 | paid | GRANT | 202303199349100140 |
| 2022 | Johnson Wd and Sc Family Foundation | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $50,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES | 202301329349103655 |
| 2022 | Schwab Charitable Fund | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $30,000 | paid | ARTS, CULTURE & HUMANITIES | 202330939349300403 |
| 2022 | Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville Inc | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $25,000 | paid | TO SUPPORT ARTS IN THE COMMUNITY | 202320519349301067 |
| 2022 | Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | St John the Evangelist Homeless Shelter Inc Green Bay, WI | A | $23,650 | paid | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 202321309349304807 |
| 2022 | Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $23,650 | paid | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 202430459349302913 |
| 2022 | East Tennessee Foundation | Big Ears Knoxville, TN | A | $15,000 | paid | PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 202343199349310809 |
| 2022 | National Philanthropic Trust | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $10,000 | paid | CULTURE & ARTS | 202311359349313966 |
| 2022 | South Arts Inc | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $6,506 | paid | FY22 SA/NEA TOURING PROGRAMS | 202311329349308961 |
| 2022 | Bonnaroo Works Fund | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | C | $5,000 | paid | FOR LOCAL REINVESTMENT AND ASSET BUILDING FOR THE COMMUNITIES WE LIVE IN | 202321319349102542 |
| 2022 | Texas Instruments Foundation | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $5,000 | paid | DONATIONS TO COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS UNDER "MATCHING GIFTS PROGRAM." | 202322579349100702 |
| 2022 | Gary and Evelyn Trachten Family Foundation Inc | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | C | $100 | paid | TO SHARE THE JOY AND TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF EXTRAORDINARY MUSIC AND ART WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ANNUALLY | 202333199349104153 |
| 2021 | Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville Inc | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $25,000 | paid | TO SUPPORT ARTS IN THE COMMUNITY | 202230139349300718 |
| 2021 | Schwab Charitable Fund | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $20,000 | paid | ARTS, CULTURE & HUMANITIES | 202230499349301028 |
| 2021 | Johnson Wd and Sc Family Foundation | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $15,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES | 202211949349100606 |
| 2021 | The Shifting Foundation | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $10,000 | paid | To support the overall mission of the organization organization | 202123439349100617 |
| 2021 | New Music USA Inc | Big Ears Festival Knoxsville, TN | A | $7,000 | paid | ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND | 202201339349301810 |
| 2021 | South Arts Inc | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $5,000 | paid | FY21 SA/NEA TOURING PROGRAMS | 202201369349313695 |
| 2021 | Texas Instruments Foundation | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $1,250 | paid | DONATIONS TO COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS UNDER "MATCHING GIFTS PROGRAM." | 202242559349100709 |
| 2020 | The Aslan Foundation | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $125,000 | paid | RESTRICTED GRT - BIG EARS MUSIC FEST | 202103199349103885 |
| 2020 | Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville Inc | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | A | $25,000 | paid | TO SUPPORT ARTS IN THE COMMUNITY | 202130749349300428 |
| 2020 | Hobson-Wood Foundation Inc | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $10,000 | paid | Big Ears 2020 Youth Programming Fund | 202120959349100117 |
| 2020 | Johnson Wd and Sc Family Foundation | Big Ears Festivival Knoxville, TN | C | $10,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES | 202141309349101129 |
| 2019 | Hobson-Wood Foundation Inc | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $25,000 | paid | Big Ears 2020 Youth Programming Fund | 202001969349100615 |
| 2019 | Bonnaroo Works Fund | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $10,000 | paid | FOR LOCAL REINVESTMENT AND ASSET BUILDING FOR THE COMMUNITIES WE LIVE IN | 202041309349100704 |
| 2019 | The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc | Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN | B | $1,000 | paid | PROGRAM/OPERATING SUPPORT | 202001499349100200 |
Match tier: A Reported EIN · B Exact name and place · C Strong name match · D Probable name match · U Unresolved. Tiers C and D are inferred, not reported; see how matching works.
Recipient matching for this dataset version has not yet completed its independent precision check. Tier A rows carry the EIN the filer reported; tiers B–D are inferred and should be read as leads until the check is published on the methodology page.
Derived from IRS Form 990-PF and Form 990 Schedule I e-file XML filed by the funders shown; this organization's identity from the IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File. Dataset version 2026.09.0, built 2026-09-03. The rows as Parquet: manifest.
The same organization elsewhere in the program: exempt status and filing health · federal awards · grant guidance · open opportunities.
This is informational only, derived from public data on the dates shown. It is not an eligibility determination, and not legal, tax, or accounting advice. Verify against the official source before relying on it.