Bonnaroo Names More Than 30 Recipients of 2017 Grants; 26 in Tennessee

Bonnaroo Works Fund (BWF), the charitable arm of Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, has announced its annual grant distributions of more than $225,000 to over 30 philanthropic organizations with an emphasis on Tennessee-based nonprofits.

“This year’s Bonnaroo Works Fund recipients are vital organizations, projects, programs and events that make communities stronger and healthier,” said Nina Miller, BWF executive director. “It’s extremely gratifying to help these amazing organizations continue their invaluable contributions.”

The Bonnaroo Works Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that supports organizations that advance the arts, education and environmental sustainability, with a focus on local reinvestment and asset building in the communities where “we work, live and play.” Since the inception of the festival, Bonnaroo and the BWF have awarded more than $7 million in funding to deserving organizations. (The full list of 2017 recipients is included below.)

The impact of the BWF can be seen through a number of ongoing programs and projects. This year marks the fifth year of Arts at the Airport, a joint public arts effort with the Nashville International Airport. Five proposals were selected from dozens of applicants, and the resulting installations, revealed in March, have been enjoyed by millions of travelers and will continue to be on display until early 2018. The Bonnaroo Works Fund Arts at the Airport exhibit continues to receive recognition for its creativity and impact, as indicated by this recent story from Nashville Public Television.

In addition, the BWF is providing support for three programs that will install refillable water stations for the Coffee County Board of Education, Tullahoma City Schools and the Grundy County School District. BWF is also partnering with the Manchester Coffee County Conference Center in support of its greening efforts with conversion to solar panels.

“The Bonnaroo Works Fund remains an integral component of the overall Bonnaroo experience,” said Ashley Capps, co-founder of Bonnaroo and president of BWF. “With the help of our patrons and sponsors, we are able to expand the festival’s impact throughout the year by supporting dynamic and enriching causes.”

The BWF is a joint effort between Bonnaroo organizers and attendees, with a portion of ticket sales allocated to the BWF. In addition, proceeds from festival activities, such as the Silent Auction, Root for Roo, the Bonnaroo 5K Run, and the Les Paul Spirit Awards along with a pre-Bonnaroo benefit at Peter Nappi in Nashville, all benefit the Bonnaroo Works Fund and, in turn, its grant recipients.

Bonnaroo Works Fund is administered by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Grants are selected based on a variety of criteria and approved by the board of directors. Previous recipients are welcome to reapply each year, but the BWF is always seeking new applicants with innovative approaches to supporting the core missions of the BWF. The next grant cycle will begin in the first quarter of 2018.