Adnan Karim

Adnan Karim is the Vice President of Community Impact at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT), where he leads grantmaking, community engagement, and impact initiatives. He oversees all grantmaking cycles, partnerships, and programs, implementing innovative approaches to address community challenges effectively.

Adnan Karim brings over 14 years of impactful experience in the social impact sector. Beginning his career in education in New York City's underserved communities, he led initiatives combating the high school dropout crisis as an AmeriCorps member and later as Program Manager for City Year. Transitioning to buildOn, Adnan held progressive roles, expanding service learning programs nationally and overseeing school construction projects in disadvantaged countries like Nepal and Malawi. At Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, he directed global human rights education initiatives, fostering civic engagement among youth. A Nashville native, Adnan holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Middle Tennessee State University and a Master's in Public Administration from New York University.

A desire to make his hometown better for Middle Tennesseans, his family and himself, drew Adnan to CFMT.

“I spent almost 15 years away from my hometown of Nashville, working specifically in the social impact and non profit sector, both domestically and all over the globe,” says Adnan. “I wanted to bring all that experience and knowledge I gained back to my hometown. Middle Tennessee shaped who I am, and now as I raise my child here, I want to be able to contribute positively to the place he calls home. CFMT has been supporting the people of Middle Tennessee for decades, and I am simply humbled to be a part of a team that wakes up everyday trying to answer the question, ‘”How can me make the lives of Middle Tennesseans better?”‘

If he's not at work Adnan enjoys soaking in as much time as possible with his wife, son and dog, who spend most weekends with their family and friends. He enjoys various fitness activities, whether it's hitting the gym, exploring hiking trails, biking, or going for a run. Traveling is something his family likes to prioritize, because for Adnan, nothing beats learning about the world we live in and getting out there and immersing himself in different cultures is the best way.