Launched as a Nashville-based giving circle in July 2017, the 260 Change Fund envisions a thriving community that possesses a sustainable culture of giving through collective philanthropy made possible by unifying resources and empowering agents of change. The name “260” was derived from the February 1960 Nashville lunch counter sit-ins that transformed the segregation of businesses during the Jim Crow era. To honor the efforts of the 1960 change-agents, the name “260” was chosen to serve as a new synonym for change as a 260 degree turn represents movement in a new direction.
The mission of the 260 Change Fund is to enhance and improve the lives of underrepresented people and families that live and work in the Middle Tennessee area. The 260 Change Fund will accomplish this mission through the support of individuals and community partners that are willing to invest time, talent, treasure and testimony for the benefit of communities of color. The Fund’s areas of focus include: 1. Community & Economic Development, 2. Healthcare, and 3. Education.
Organized for the purposes of collective philanthropy, the 260 Change Fund currently consists of 21 individuals that seek to transform communities of color in Nashville. Each member commits an annual contribution of $260 to the fund, which supports the ability to award grants to local organizations. Members also agree to invest their time, talent, treasure and testimony, thus providing additional support to grant-receiving organizations. The 260 Change Fund is an official member of the Community Investment Network and is housed within the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Visit the Fund’s website (https://www.260nashville.org) to learn more.
