Chrystal Armstrong Brown, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Knoxville, invited UWGK’s 105 funded partners to join her on the Market Square stage as she announced that $3.91 million had been awarded through the latest Community Investment Grants cycle.
It was a hot, humid afternoon, but the temperatures did little to slow the crowd to celebrate being grant recipients. They came forward one at a time, in pairs, in threes. It took moments to fill the stage around Chrystal and the City of Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon.
Standing together were representatives from organizations working across Claiborne, Grainger, Jefferson, Knox, and Union counties. Whether they are supporting a single child, expanding job opportunities, or improving local healthcare, each of these groups is an essential piece of a stronger East Tennessee.
As partners stood side by side, Chrystal reflected on what the investment represents: “This moment is so special for so many of us. It represents the generosity and the commitment of so many individual and corporate donors, the leadership of our board of directors, and over 100 volunteers from this community. More than 429,000 lives across this region are better because of the service, the love, the care, and the commitment of our nonprofit partners.”
The $3.91 million in Community Investment Grants will provide two years of operational support to 105 nonprofits working across the impact areas of early care & education, economic mobility, and healthy communities. Read the full announcement about United Way of Greater Knoxville’s 2026 Community Investment Grants.
But funding is only half of the United Way of Greater Knoxville story. Beyond grant funding, UWGK also brings community leaders and organizations together, connects partners with resources and opportunities, and helps strengthen the nonprofit network across the region.
For the organizations receiving funding, that support can help create room to focus on the work they know their communities need.
Sarah Wharton, Founder and Executive Director of Little Chef’s Big Change, shared, “Because of United Way’s support, we’ve been able to offer more consistent programming, improve the quality of our classes, and invest in staff capacity to meet rising demand.”
The energy across Market Square was contagious, but the momentum doesn’t stop here. A gift to United Way of Greater Knoxville helps support local organizations and the work they are doing across our five-county region.
United is the way we build stronger communities.
Help us reach our $9 million goal. Give today: https://uwgk.org/?form=2026BlockParty
We are grateful to Visit Knoxville for making the Block Party possible, as well as the Knoxville Smokies, WDVX Blue Plate Special, and everyone who came out to celebrate and support the 2026 campaign.
Click here to see more photos from the day.
