Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation
Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation is a private foundation based in Louisville, Kentucky. Its 2025 filing reports 51 charitable grants totaling $62,782, primarily to organizations in Kentucky.
Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation at a glance
In short: Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation gave $63K across 51 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in Kentucky. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $62,782
- -78.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 51
- +88.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,231
- -88.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $241,232
- +8.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (92% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2025 filing says a grant application is available on its website and must be submitted in the provided format. Applications must be submitted in their entirety, with all requirements. Foundation support is limited to nonprofit organizations classified by the IRS as 501(c)(3) tax-exempt. Individuals and private foundations are ineligible. Religious organizations are ineligible except for qualifying religious educational institutions that are 501(c)(3) tax-exempt and fully accredited primary or secondary schools.
- Contact
Application contact: Churchill Downs Incorporated Founda
Mailing address: 600 North Hurstbourne Lane Ste 400, Louisville, KY 40222
Phone: (502) 636-4492
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Have a Heart Foundation Inc ($3K). Together the top 10 received $25K.
Grant Size Distribution
98 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 94 grants of 98 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In filing year 2025, 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in Kentucky and 8% to recipients in Indiana. The filing reports 0% for New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 51 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation gives
- 20% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 76% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2021) to $346K (2020). In 2025 it made 51 grants totaling $63K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Have a Heart Foundation Inc Louisville, KY | Charitable | $2,500 |
| Kids Cancer Alliance Inc Louisville, KY | Charitable | $2,500 |
| St Vincent De Paul Louisville Louisville, KY | Charitable | $2,500 |
| Treeslouisville Inc Louisville, KY | Charitable | $2,500 |
| Day Spring Inc Louisville, KY | Charitable | $2,500 |
| Dress for Success Louisville Louisville, KY | Charitable | $2,500 |
| Feat of Louisville Louisville, KY | Charitable | $2,500 |
| Community Foundation of Southern Indiana New Albany, IN | Charitable | $2,500 |
| St Elizabeth Catholic Charities New Albany, IN | Charitable | $2,500 |
| Luce Inc Louisville, KY | Charitable | $2,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $241,232 | $175,615 | $157,530 | $62,782 | 51 | $138,427 | $12,687 |
| 2024 | $223,147 | $220,571 | $406,281 | $293,595 | 27 | $384,849 | $15,154 |
| 2023 | $409,027 | $293,265 | $296,708 | $205,000 | 10 | $280,838 | $19,223 |
| 2022 | $412,470 | $90,723 | $272,206 | $267,000 | 7 | $267,000 | $22,240 |
| 2021 | $593,953 | $31,010 | $8,731 | $5,430 | 3 | $5,430 | $28,643 |
| 2020 | $571,674 | $720,944 | $351,626 | $345,637 | 17 | — | $22,480 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation reported a distributable amount of $13K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. The 2025 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. For example, FEAT of Louisville says it works to help people with autism reach their potential through effective early intervention; Kids Cancer Alliance says it enhances quality of life for children with cancer and their families through recreational and support programs; and TreesLouisville says it works to improve Louisville’s quality of life through a robust, equitable, and diverse tree canopy. Day Spring says it provides services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 51 grants totaling $62,782. Grants ranged from $41 to $2,500, with a median grant of $500. The largest reported grants were $2,500 each. Recipients included Have a Heart Foundation, Kids Cancer Alliance, St. Vincent de Paul Louisville, TreesLouisville, Day Spring, Dress for Success Louisville, FEAT of Louisville, Community Foundation of Southern Indiana, St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities, Luce, Friends of Nicole 5050 Marketing Collaborative, and Mental Health Lou & You.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Tonya Abeln as president; Philip Forbis as vice president and treasurer; Cathy Shircliff as executive director; Jon Rauch, Neal Curtis, and Michael W. Anderson as directors; and Claire Simms as secretary.
Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation is led by Cathy Shircliff, Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cathy Shircliff
Executive Director
Secretary → Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tonya Abeln
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael W. Anderson
Director
Executive Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Neal Curtis
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jon Rauch
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Philip Forbis
Vice President & Treasurer
Treasurer → Vice President & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Claire Simms
Secretary
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Austin Miller (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Dominic Zangari (2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Nick Zangari (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: John Matter (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation
How much does Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation give each year?
Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation gave $63K across 51 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $294K across 27 grants.
What is Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation's typical grant size?
Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $1,231, across 51 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation give grants?
Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation gives mostly in Kentucky: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Indiana (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Louisville, KY (38 grants), Lexington, KY (4 grants) and New Albany, IN (2 grants).
Does Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 51 grants with a stated purpose on Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (51 grants).
Who are Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation's largest grantees?
Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Have a Heart Foundation Inc ($2,500), Kids Cancer Alliance Inc ($2,500) and St Vincent De Paul Louisville ($2,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 12% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation?
Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation reported $241K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $138K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $13K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. The 2025 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation?
The foundation’s 2025 filing says a grant application is available on its website and must be submitted in the provided format. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation's EIN?
Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-1380215. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Foundati DBA Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance
Lexington, KY
Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance funds accredited organizations that retrain, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds, with grants restricted to direct horse-care costs. Its 2025 grants ranged from $15,000 to $150,000, with a median of $38,500, and supported organizations in multiple locations, including Kentucky, New York, California, Maryland, and Florida. Only accredited organizations are eligible; applications are currently closed and are expected to reopen in 2027.
Assets
$10.1M
Grants
79
Total Given
$4.0M
W L Lyons Brown Foundation
Louisville, KY
The W L Lyons Brown Foundation’s 2025 grants supported varied charitable work, with 66% of grant dollars going to Kentucky and 33% to Tennessee; its reported grants ranged from $2,000 to $11.38 million, with a median of $12,000, though totals included large distributions during dissolution. It gave only to preselected organizations, did not accept unsolicited requests, and its final filing indicates it has wound down and stopped grantmaking.
Assets
—
Grants
21
Total Given
$34.1M
Snowy Owl Foundation Inc
Louisville, KY
The foundation supports land conservation, the arts, education, and human needs, primarily in Louisville and Kentucky, while also considering qualified regional projects. Grants are typically around $3,000 and rarely exceed $5,000, though larger awards are possible. Its 2024 filing says it funds preselected organizations only and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$5.9M
Grants
93
Total Given
$404K
Middleground Capital Charitable
Lexington, KY
Middleground Capital Charitable supports organizations in education, community events, health, and human services, primarily in Kentucky; recent grants also went to recipients in Washington, DC, New York, and Virginia. Its 2025 grants ranged from $34 to $200,000, with a median of $1,560. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$45K
Grants
25
Total Given
$342K
The Community Foundation of Louisville Corporate Depository Inc
Louisville, KY
The Community Foundation of Louisville supports 501(c)(3) organizations and charitable projects, with grants spanning human services, youth, education, health, housing, and philanthropy. In 2025, grants ranged from $5,157 to $720,515, with a median of $12,000; most funding went to Kentucky, particularly Louisville and some surrounding areas. It offers open application processes for specific programs, but the profile does not state whether it accepts general unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.3M
Grants
128
Total Given
$4.3M
The Gheens Foundation Inc
Louisville, KY
The Gheens Foundation funds primarily public urban education, human and social services, quality of place, and the arts in metropolitan Louisville and Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes in Louisiana. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,500 to $400,000, with a median of $25,000, and it accepts unsolicited requests through an online application process.
Assets
$161.4M
Grants
157
Total Given
$6.3M
More similar funders
More Funders in Kentucky
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/churchill-downs-incorporated-foundation-morg_51ebd85497384856b5cbbd0fcee1e8b0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_611380215_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/churchill-downs-incorporated-foundation-morg_51ebd85497384856b5cbbd0fcee1e8b0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation'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.
Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?