Every year, the work of keeping our neighborhood looking the way it does happens quietly. Lawn crews show up at the entrances. The streetlight at Hillsboro and Bobby stays on. Mulch gets refreshed. Bills get paid.
It all works until it doesn’t.
Right now, our account is at zero. We have run out of money. And we need your help to get back on stable ground.
Where Things Stand
Last year, 33 households contributed to keeping the neighborhood running. That generosity covered the year, but it didn’t leave us any cushion. Over the past few months, ongoing expenses (mostly lawn care and the streetlight) drew the account down to zero. By April, we were briefly overdrawn.
We’re sharing this openly because it’s the truth, and because the new nonprofit structure we set up earlier this year was built on a commitment to transparency. Every neighbor deserves to know exactly where things stand.
What It Costs to Run Our Community
Here is the 2026 budget:
| Category | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Lawn care at both Hillsboro Road entrances | $3,400 |
| Mulch and seasonal entrance refresh | $700 |
| Streetlight electricity (Hillsboro and Bobby) | $190 |
| Filings, signs, and contingency | $125 |
| Annual Operating Total | $4,415 |
On top of operations, we want to rebuild a $1,000 reserve. Reserves matter. That cushion is what stands between us and another overdraft when an unexpected bill comes in or a quarter runs lighter than expected.
2026 funding goal: $5,415
What We’re Asking
If 50 households join in this year, we hit the goal. That works out to about $110 per household.
But here is the thing we are excited about. This year, we are introducing monthly giving.
A small recurring contribution, set up once and then forgotten about, solves the structural problem that landed us at zero in the first place. Instead of one big annual push that comes and goes, we have steady, predictable funding that arrives every month. The kind of funding that lets us actually run a community instead of constantly scrambling to refill the account.
You can give monthly through the give page on our website. Suggested amounts:
- $10/month covers your share of annual expenses
- $15/month covers your share plus helps build the reserve
- $25/month provides above-and-beyond support for the community
Prefer to give once a year? That works too. Suggested one-time amounts are $120, $180, and $300. Or whatever amount works for you.
By check is also fine. Make it payable to Grassland Estates Community Organization, Inc. and drop it off or mail it to Denise Gross at 507 Bobby Drive.
The Honest Math
Our neighborhood has about 130 households.
Last year, 33 of them carried the load for everyone. That’s 25% of the community covering 100% of the costs.
We’re not here to guilt anyone. People give what they can, and life is full. But if even half of the households contributed, even at the lowest tier, we would never run out of money again. We would have the reserves to take on bigger projects (like the Bobby Drive monuments, which need to be rebuilt and will require their own dedicated capital campaign).
That is the case for monthly giving. A small recurring contribution from more households is what turns this from a constantly-stressed annual scramble into a stable, well-run community organization.
A Few Things to Know
Contributions are not tax-deductible. We are a registered Tennessee nonprofit corporation, but we are not a 501(c)(3). We made the call not to pursue federal tax-exempt status because the ongoing filing burden didn’t make sense for an organization our size. Contributions go to the work, not to additional paperwork.
Every dollar is tracked. All contributions now flow through an official organizational account, not anyone’s personal checking. Any member can request a review of the financial records at any time.
Anything above the goal carries forward. If we raise more than $5,415, the extra rolls into next year’s reserve or supports the entrance monument project, depending on what makes sense at the time.
A Personal Note
Most of us moved here because of the way this neighborhood feels. The mature trees. The quiet streets. The well-kept entrances that make you feel like you’re arriving somewhere when you turn off Hillsboro Road.
That feeling doesn’t happen by itself. It happens because neighbors choose to chip in for the things we share. The grass at the entrances. The light on the corner. The signs that mark our streets.
If you’ve been giving for years, thank you. You have been carrying this neighborhood, often more than your share, and it shows.
If you haven’t, this is the year to start. Whatever amount works. Monthly or one-time. Whatever feels right.
We are grateful for every household that joins in.
Kyle Chowning, President
Denise Gross, Secretary
Grassland Estates Community Organization, Inc.
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