Knoxville Leadership Foundation Receives a Multiyear Grant & Leadership Training to Expand Critical Services Locally
Bank of America has named the Knoxville Leadership Foundation (KLF) as its 2025 Neighborhood Builder® for its work building permanent supportive housing and addressing chronic homelessness in Knoxville by pairing affordable housing with integrated, trauma-informed supportive services.
Bank of America’s signature Neighborhood Builders program continues to be one of the nation’s largest philanthropic investments into nonprofit leadership development, while providing unique multiyear flexible grant funding annually to high-impact nonprofits in communities nationwide.
As a Neighborhood Builder, Knoxville Leadership Foundation is awarded a $50,000 grant over two years, leadership training for the executive director and an emerging leader and the opportunity to connect with nonprofits in a peer network. Since the program’s inception, seven nonprofits have been selected as Neighborhood Builders in Knoxville.
“These local nonprofits are crucial to addressing a variety of challenges we face in Knoxville,” said Terry Cline, president, Bank of America Knoxville. “Through flexible funding and comprehensive leadership training, the Neighborhood Builders program helps nonprofits address critical needs and promote economic opportunity for the individuals and families in our communities.”
The Knoxville Leadership Foundation is dedicated to engaging networks of organizations and individuals to serve those living in poverty or those who are most vulnerable due to lack of education, employment or resources. Through its housing, workforce development, mentoring and community care initiatives, KLF addresses the root cause of instability while building pathways to long-term self-sufficiency.
KLF recently launched Callahan Flats, its second Permanent Supportive Housing community, which will provide stable housing and wraparound services for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. The grant will support the launch of case management and supportive services in the community, ensuring residents have immediate access to trauma-informed care, benefits navigation, behavioral health services and life skills support.
Combined with leadership training, the investment will strengthen KLF’s capacity to scale sustainable housing models, strengthen cross-sector partnerships and plan strategically for long-term impact in addressing homelessness in Knoxville.
“This investment from Bank of America comes at a critical moment as we expand our permanent supportive housing efforts to meet a growing need in our community,” said Chris Martin, KLF president. “The Neighborhood Builders program not only provides essential funding to support residents at Callahan Flats, but also equips our leadership team with the tools needed to grow responsibly, strengthen partnerships, and ensure long-term sustainability. We are deeply grateful for Bank of America’s commitment to strengthening nonprofit leadership and creating pathways to stability for our neighbors.”
Neighborhood Builders is part of the bank’s longstanding efforts to build thriving communities by addressing issues fundamental to economic opportunity. Since 2004, Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders program has invested more than $346 million in communities across the U.S. and trained more than 4,000 leaders at nearly 2,000 U.S. nonprofits.
