Don Jacobs Sr Charitable Foundation Inc
The Don Jacobs Sr Charitable Foundation Inc is a private non-operating foundation based in Lexington, Kentucky. Established in June 2010, the foundation carries forward the philanthropic legacy of Don Jacobs, a Lexington businessman and philanthropist, and his wife Cathy.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.2M
+4.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$668K
-0.4% YoY
Grant Count
16
+33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$42K
-25.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Don Jacobs Sr Charitable Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grant-making priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation demonstrates particular commitment to undergraduate science education and has supported academic institutions, health care initiatives, and cancer research.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $2,500 to $210,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Kentucky, with documented giving to institutions in the state. However, the foundation has also made grants outside Kentucky, as evidenced by support to Drake State Community & Technical College in Alabama.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $14,201,176 (most recent filing)
- Total Annual Giving: $667,500
- Tax-Exempt Status: Unconditional exemption; contributions are tax-deductible
- EIN: 35-2373932
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,201,176 | $13,656,856 | $14,348,035 |
| Revenue | $1,400,613 | $129,980 | $238,287 |
| Expenses | $856,293 | $821,159 | $695,160 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $670,757 | $673,257 | $548,257 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,218,981 | $226,170 | $175,073 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,261,836 | $1,019,908 | $982,049 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
57 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Kentucky ($200,000), The Hope Center ($170,000), Uk Markey Cancer Foundation ($160,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER OF THE BLUEGRASS LEXINGTON, KY | SUBSIDY | $10,000 |
| CHRYSALIS HOUSE LEXINGTON, KY | SUBSIDY | $20,000 |
| DV8 KITCHEN VOCATIONAL TRUST LEXINGTON, KY | SUBSIDY | $2,500 |
| GRIN GRANT INC LEXINGTON, KY | SUBSIDY | $2,500 |
| JUBILEE JOBS OF LEXINGTON LEXINGTON, KY | SUBSIDY | $10,000 |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF THE BLUEGRASS INC LEXINGTON, KY | SUBSIDY | $10,000 |
| KENTUCKY CENTER FOR THE ARTS FOUNDATION INC GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS LOUISVILLE, KY | SUBSIDY | $2,500 |
| ONE PARENT SCHOLAR HOUSE LEXINGTON, KY | SUBSIDY | $25,000 |
| OPERALEX ENCORE LEXINGTON, KY | SUBSIDY | $10,000 |
| THE HOPE CENTER LEXINGTON, KY | SUBSIDY | $170,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Doug Dean is listed as a contact for the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CATHY JACOBS | PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DOUG DEAN | VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| KAREN L WEST | TREASURER, DIRECTOR | 1 | $4,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced a $10 million gift to the University of Kentucky in September 2016 to advance undergraduate science education. This gift represented a continuation of the Jacobs' substantial philanthropic relationship with the university, bringing their total giving to the institution to more than $20 million.
UK Board Accepts $10 Million Gift From Don Jacobs Sr. Charitable FoundationThe foundation's support extends across multiple areas at the University of Kentucky, including the Don and Cathy Jacobs Executive Education Center at the Gatton College of Business and Economics, the Health Education Center at the UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital, the Markey Cancer Center, and the College of Medicine.
Jacobs donates $200K to support Drake State\u2019s Frontiers Research Program\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Don Jacobs Sr Charitable Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's grant-making priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The foundation demonstrates particular commitment to undergraduate science education and has supported academic institutions, health care initiatives, and cancer research.
How do I apply for a grant from Don Jacobs Sr Charitable Foundation Inc?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $2,500 to $210,000. **Recent Major Gifts:** • $10 million to the University of Kentucky (2016) to support undergraduate science education, including $8 million toward the Don & Cathy Jacobs Science Building and $2 million for future academic and research investments • $200,000 to Drake State Community & Technical College to support the Frontiers Research Program and industry diversity initiatives **Annual Giving:** Total giving of $667,500 (based on mo…
Where does Don Jacobs Sr Charitable Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Kentucky, with documented giving to institutions in the state. However, the foundation has also made grants outside Kentucky, as evidenced by support to Drake State Community & Technical College in Alabama.
What size grants does Don Jacobs Sr Charitable Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Don Jacobs Sr Charitable Foundation Inc awarded 16 grants totaling $668K — an average of about $42K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Don Jacobs Sr Charitable Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Don Jacobs Sr Charitable Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Don Jacobs Sr Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN?
Don Jacobs Sr Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-2373932. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Don Jacobs Sr Charitable Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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