Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc
Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc. is a public charity based in Lexington, Kentucky, serving Central and Appalachia Kentucky. Founded in 1967, it connects donors and nonprofit organizations with charitable causes and supports community needs through grantmaking, community engagement, and charitable funds.
Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc gave $20.7M across 514 grants in 2025 (avg $40K), mostly in Kentucky. 30% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $20,720,184
- -11.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 514
- +39.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $40,312
- -36.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $16,661
- Total assets
- $296,229,100
- +17.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (153 of 512, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (87% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc
- Review Cycle
- The listed 2026 LexGive365 and Valvoline Inc. Happy to Help Grant deadlines have passed.
- Deadline
- The listed 2026 LexGive365 and Valvoline Inc.
- Contact
Mailing address: 499 East High Street 112, Lexington, KY 40507
Phone: (859) 225-3343
Website: https://bgcf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
12 open opportunities from Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc
Accelerating Innovative + Equitable Workforce Pathways Grant
Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
BGCF365 Grants
Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Edith Schwab Memorial Scholarship Grant
Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc
Amount
US $1,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Fayette Education Foundation ($520K). Together the top 10 received $3.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,948 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,579 grants of 1,948 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it serves Central and Appalachia Kentucky. Its website lists community funds for Clark, Franklin, Harrison, Madison, Magoffin, Rowan, and Woodford counties; the Fund for Greater Lexington; and Mt. Sterling Montgomery County. In 2025, 87% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in Kentucky, with additional shares going to Tennessee (3%), Missouri (2%), New York (2%), and Ohio (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 514 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 153 of 512 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $28K; repeat grants $46K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $20K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $7.3M (2019) to $23.4M (2024). In 2025 it made 514 grants totaling $20.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Fayette Education Foundation Lexington, KY | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $520,164 |
| Robert L Brown Foundation Inc Lexington, KY | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $480,384 |
| University of Kentucky Athletics Lexington, KY | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $404,325 |
| Whetstone Boys Ranch Mountain View, MO | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $400,000 |
| Safe Passage Louisville, KY | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $396,590 |
| Fayette County Public Schools Lexington, KY | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $379,123 |
| Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky Hazard, KY | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $369,533 |
| Housing Oriented Ministries Established for Services Inc Whitesburg, KY | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $350,000 |
| Housing Development Alliance Hazard, KY | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $350,000 |
| Clark County Community Services Winchester, KY | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $294,275 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $296,229,100 | $64,287,841 | $34,010,126 | $20,720,184 | 514 | $18,224,716 |
| 2024 | $252,952,729 | $45,056,474 | $33,386,198 | $23,385,438 | 369 | $16,380,533 |
| 2023 | $223,373,063 | $57,159,622 | $27,853,076 | $18,427,071 | 367 | $8,094,633 |
| 2022 | $187,166,931 | $57,304,796 | $21,286,267 | $12,507,532 | 340 | $11,808,525 |
| 2021 | $180,680,895 | $32,891,839 | $20,482,232 | $13,317,516 | 358 | $8,729,460 |
| 2020 | $132,271,880 | $24,051,212 | $20,947,075 | $13,001,373 | 297 | $5,452,055 |
| 2019 | $137,909,823 | $25,053,536 | $14,053,245 | $7,292,850 | 456 | $5,215,173 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website states its mission is to create generous, vibrant, and engaged communities throughout Central and Appalachia Kentucky. Its 2024 filing describes grantmaking to support charitable causes important to donors and their communities, as well as community engagement on key issues and projects.
Grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. The Fayette Education Foundation says it supports the educational needs of Fayette County Public Schools through collaboration and fundraising. Housing Development Alliance says it works to establish affordable housing for low-income residents in several Kentucky counties. Clark County Community Services says it helps provide food, clothing, and utility assistance to people in need. Clark County Homeless Coalition says it provides shelter, food, support services, and pathways to self-sufficiency for homeless adults.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 514 grants totaling $20,720,184. Grants ranged from $5,025 to $520,164, with a median of $16,661. The foundation’s website says BGCF and its affiliates award more than $400,000 in competitive grantmaking dollars annually to organizations serving Central and Appalachia Kentucky. Its 2024 filing separately reports more than 3,000 grants that fiscal year, benefiting over 1,000 nonprofit organizations and more than 120 scholarship recipients.
Among the largest reported 2025 grants were $520,164 to The Fayette Education Foundation, $480,384 to Robert L Brown Foundation Inc., $404,325 to University of Kentucky Athletics, $400,000 to Whetstone Boys Ranch, and $396,590 to Safe Passage. Other large grants included $379,123 to Fayette County Public Schools, $369,533 to Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, and $350,000 each to Housing Oriented Ministries Established for Services Inc. and Housing Development Alliance.
The foundation’s website says applicants for its grant opportunities must register through its online application portal. Its filing says competitive-grant recipients must submit a report at the end of the grant period, typically one year; agencies that do not submit reports are ineligible for future competitive-grant funding. The website lists the 2026 LexGive365 Community Champions Grant, for grassroots organizations serving Fayette County, and the Valvoline Inc. Happy to Help Grant, for projects supporting youth wellbeing in Fayette County. Their listed application deadlines—February 23, 2026, and April 1, 2026, respectively—have passed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists the following directors: Anthony B Thompson, Art Salomon, B Blanton Coates Jr, Daryl Love, Dr Tiffany Daniels DC, Gentry Collins, John Backer, Kristen Larue Bond, Lesme Romero, and Lisa Higgins-Hord.
Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc is led by Lisa Adkins, President & CEO on every filing since 2019; 3 of 24 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lisa Adkins
President & CEO
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$189K (2019) → $268K (2025)
Michelle Hollingshead
Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
B. Blanton Coates Jr.
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Higgins-Hord
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anthony B. Thompson
Director
Director → Scholarships Chair, 2024
Scholarships Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Art Salomon
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daryl Love
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne Shaffar
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Noa Gimelli
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Walter Morris
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gentry Collins
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lesme Romero
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Kretz
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tiffany Daniels Dc
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Backer
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristen Larue Bond
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Louie Kessinger
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Rawlings
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Dineen
Vice President of Finance & Administrator
Vice President of Finance & Administrator → Vice President of Finance & Administration, 2021
Vice President of Finance & Administration → Vice President of Finance & Administrator, 2022
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$103K (2019) → $163K (2025)
Scott Fitzpatrick
Employee
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$122K (2024) → $130K (2025)
Andy Reynolds
Past Board Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
Chair → Past Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bill Alverson
Vice Chair
Director → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marsha Moors-Charles
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Krauss
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (20)
- Former: Fran Taylor (2019–2024) — Past Board Chair
- Former: Drew Rodriguez (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Carolyn F. Purcell (2019–2023) — Scholarships Chair
- Former: Salvador Sanchez (2019–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Vanessa Grossl (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Tiffany Daniels (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Jenna Mitchell (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Dan Prater (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Lori Garkovich (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Joseph Coleman (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Richard Wehrle (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Ricki Rosenberg (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Travis Musgrave (2019–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Arthur Salomon (2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Timothy W. Dunn (2021) — Director
- Former: Madonna Turner (2019–2020) — Past Chair
- Former: Tim Dunn (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Griffin Vanmeter (2019) — Scholarship Chair
- Former: Jim Clouse (2019) — Director
- Former: Jonathan Barker (2019) — Vice Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $268K, to Lisa Adkins (President/CEO). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc
How much does Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc give each year?
Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc gave $20.7M across 514 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $23.4M across 369 grants.
What is Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $16,661, and its average grant was $40,312, across 514 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc that year got $28K on average.
Where does Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc give grants?
Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc gives mostly in Kentucky: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lexington, KY (209 grants), Winchester, KY (41 grants), Frankfort, KY (26 grants) and Louisville, KY (13 grants).
Who are Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include The Fayette Education Foundation ($520,164), Robert L Brown Foundation Inc ($480,384) and University of Kentucky Athletics ($404,325), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 7% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc?
Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc reported $296.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $64.3M.
What does Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s website states its mission is to create generous, vibrant, and engaged communities throughout Central and Appalachia Kentucky. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc?
Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check bgcf.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc's EIN?
Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-6053466. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 23, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 6, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 3, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/blue-grass-community-foundation-inc-morg_b9749ac4031e4475893af05791eb168f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_616053466_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/blue-grass-community-foundation-inc-morg_b9749ac4031e4475893af05791eb168f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-06. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?