Support for Individuals
The Martin Foundation provides grants to individuals.
Support that helps life regain momentum
Charlie’s Fund exists for working people and families in Davidson County when pressure is building and stability is at risk. It’s not a prize and it’s not a rescue. It’s practical support designed to create traction—so one setback doesn’t become a cascade, and a household has a clearer path forward.
What is Charlie’s Fund
Charlie’s Fund provides financial support paired with financial learning in community, because money alone is rarely the whole story. We offer a clear process, shared expectations, and a respect-forward approach that protects dignity while keeping purpose and follow-through real.
To qualify for a grant, one must:
– Be 18 years of age or older
– Be employed full-time (pay stubs, employment verification letter)
– Provide a most recent tax return
– Live and/or work in Davidson County
– Be willing to participate in financial literacy education
– Be willing to save
For more information, please fill out the form below. We’ll review your note with care and follow up as we’re able. We look forward to hearing from you—and to learning whether Charlie’s Fund may be a good fit for this next step.
Stronger Together
Belonging fuels growth
Charlie’s Fund is built on a simple belief: people heal and grow faster in community. Money can relieve pressure, but lasting change comes when someone is seen, supported, and invited into new skills—without shame. That’s why this program is designed around learning together, not going it alone.
In this space, participants are treated like whole people—not problems to be fixed. We make room for real stories, real pressure, and real life. When someone is surrounded by peers who understand the weight they’re carrying, isolation starts to loosen its grip. Belonging doesn’t erase hardship, but it changes what’s possible: it restores courage, strengthens follow-through, and helps a person believe again that stability is within reach.
Tools for real life
Weekly sessions follow the FDIC Money Smart curriculum, but the environment is what makes it stick: shared accountability, real-life examples, and a group that becomes a steady touchpoint. Over time, participants don’t just gain information—they gain traction. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s a household that has more options, more clarity, and more stability when the next hard season shows up.
Traction that lasts
Over time, something shifts. Individuals begin to make clearer decisions under pressure. Families gain breathing room and better options. And the group becomes a small, steady community—people who encourage each other, share strategies, and remind one another that setbacks don’t get the final word. We don’t just want participants to get through a hard season; we want them to leave stronger, connected, and equipped for what comes next.
“Always give without remembering and always receive without forgetting.”
— Brian Tracy