East Tennessee Foundation serves a defined East Tennessee region that spans 25 counties in Tennessee, including Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Loudon, McMinn, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, Union, and Washington counties. Its work includes scholarship support tied to higher education access for residents of that service area.
A clear example is the Gail Clay Scholarship, an East Tennessee Foundation award for the spouse or children of a full-time, non-exempt employee of the University of Tennessee or another public higher education institution located within the foundation’s 25-county service area. The scholarship supports students who are high school seniors or undergraduates seeking a full-time associate or bachelor’s degree in Tennessee and who demonstrate financial need. The award can provide up to $8,800, does not require an essay, and is identified as need-based rather than merit-based.