Nashville Fashion Forward Fund

ALL FASHION PROFESSIONALS WITH TIES TO MIDDLE TENNESSEE
ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR THE AWARD
Designers, Photographers, Stylists, Models, Hair and Makeup Artists,
Retailers, Content Creators and MORE!

Nashville Fashion Week invites you to submit your application for the 2025 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund award to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee now through May 30.

We hope you’ll also join us in spreading the word to encourage the fashion talent and community to apply for this opportunity to invest in their craft and business.

Established in 2011, the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is an endowed fund that supports the next generation of fashion industry professionals with ties to Middle Tennessee by providing a financial reward and resources for EXPERIENTIAL professional development opportunities each year from charitable donations and proceeds from Nashville Fashion Week. ALL fashion industry professionals with ties to Middle Tennessee are encouraged to apply to be our twelfth Nashville Fashion Forward Fund award winner.

Previous recipients include our most recent award winner Rhea Daniels of Papierdoll Factory – a statement accessory brand, apparel designers Haley Maddox, Van Hoang, Maria Silver, Eric Bornhop, Lauren Leonard Phelps and Julianna Bass Brea; small batch apparel manufacturer Megan Prange; fashion photographer Brett Warren; accessory designer Ceri Hoover; and content creator Elise Joseph.

Detailed instructions for application submission can be found at NashvilleFashionWeek.com.

Applications must arrive at The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s office at 3421 Belmont Boulevard by 4:00 p.m. CST on Friday, May 30, 2025. The 2025 recipient will be announced later this year.

Award recipients are selected by a committee of the Community Foundation board based on pre-established criteria inspired by the CFDA/VOGUE Fashion Fund to advance the career of select local talent with demonstrated experience in a fashion-related field. The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund ensures that Nashville Fashion Week is not just a signature high-profile event to celebrate creativity, but also an ongoing, sustainable focus for philanthropic support.

Does your business, organization or philanthropic efforts align with the mission of the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund? We’d love for you to consider the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund as the recipient of your next charitable event.

Please complete the sponsorship form at NashvilleFashionWeek.com or contact Marcia Masulla to discuss potential partnership opportunities or other ways to financially support the Nashville fashion community and ecosystem through the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. We appreciate your continued support!

How to Apply:

https://www.nashvillefashionweek.com/nashville-fashion-forward-fund-application 

THE NASHVILLE FASHION FORWARD FUND 2025
APPLICATION CRITERIA, PROCESS & FORMAT
Application Deadline Friday, May 30, 2025

The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is an endowed fund that supports the next generation of fashion industry professionals with ties to Middle Tennessee by providing an annual financial award and resources for EXPERIENTIAL professional development opportunities. The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund has been established to generate income each year. This endowment is designed to fund financial awards that support a professional development opportunity for one or more individuals working in fashion-related industries for many years to come. ALL experienced fashion industry professionals, including designers, photographers, stylists, models, hair and makeup artists, retailers, content creators, etc., are encouraged to apply for this award to pursue an EXPERIENCE that will further their career in our local fashion industry.

The award recipient is selected by a committee of the Board of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, based on demonstrated talent, experience, achievement and commitment, and capacity for future distinction in the fashion industry. The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Selection Committee will have sole authority over award decisions and administration. Selection will not discriminate on the grounds of race, color or national origin, sexual orientation, disability, age or gender. Founders of Nashville Fashion Week will have no role in the vetting or selection of recipients. Recipients can only receive a Nashville Fashion Forward Fund award once.

Applications must be received at The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee office by 4:30 p.m. on May 30, 2025 to be considered. The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Selection Committee will review all material submitted by eligible applicants. The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund award recipient(s) will be notified early next year.

Please read the following criteria and instructions carefully. Should you have additional questions, please contact Amy Fair, Director of Philanthropic Partnerships, (615) 321-4939, ext. 102 or [email protected].

• SUMMARY OF THE NASHVILLE FASHION FORWARD FUND APPLICATION CRITERIA AND PROCESS
  Complete and submit the application no later than 4:30 p.m. by May 30, 2025 (applications received after this time/date will not be considered);
• Be at least 21 years of age;
• Have ties to Middle Tennessee (i.e., live, work, educated or grew up in Middle Tennessee);
• Have at least two years of professional related experience before date of application submission with demonstrated commitment to a specific career
• Submit a 350-word biographical statement that provides specific and detailed information about your past experience as well as a summary of career goals and objectives;
• Provide a detailed description of how the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund’s financial award would impact and support your professional development and career goals (with specifics as outlined on the application form below) through an EXPERIENTIAL opportuntiy;
• Submit relevant material, appropriate to your fashion-related field of work (e.g. sketches, photographs, video, business plan);
• Provide 3-5 references from people familiar with your work and experience.
• As noted, your application form and related material must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on May 30, 2025. Applications received after this time/date will not be considered. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please note that The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s office hours are 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday. If you intend to mail your application, we recommend a mailing method that provides tracking and insurance of receipt.

The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Selection Committee will review all material submitted by eligible applicants. The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund award recipient(s) will be notified within 90 days of the application deadline

By Mail or In-Person:

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
Attn: Nashville Fashion Forward Fund
3421 Belmont Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37215

By Email: [email protected]

About the Organization

The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is an endowed fund that supports the next generation of fashion industry professionals with ties to Middle Tennessee by providing an annual financial award and resources for experiential professional development opportunities. ALL experienced fashion industry professionals, including designers, photographers, stylists, models, hair and makeup artists, retailers, content creators, etc., are encouraged to apply for this award to further their career in our local fashion industry.

Established in 2011 by the co-founders of Nashville Fashion Week, the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Award recipients are selected by a committee of the Community Foundation board based on pre-established criteria inspired by the Council of Fashion Designers (CFDA)/VOGUE Fashion Fund to advance the career of select local talent with demonstrated experience in a fashion-related field. Applications are accepted each spring.

The Community Foundation exists to promote and facilitate giving in the 40 counties of Middle Tennessee and beyond. It does this by accepting gifts of any size from anyone at any time and by empowering individuals, families, companies, nonprofits, and communities to respond to needs and opportunities that matter. The Community Foundation works with people who have great hearts, whether or not they have great wealth, to craft solutions that reflect their intentions and goals. For more information, call 615-321-4939 or visit www.cfmt.org.

Read about our Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Recipients.