Foundations & Grantmakers in Kentucky
1,527 grantmakers in Kentucky reported grants on their latest 990s. The 542 that made at least 5 grants gave $776.1M. The largest by giving are Community Action Kentucky Inc, The Community Foundation of Louisville Inc and Adam R Scripps Foundation. The list below ranks grantmakers with at least 5 grants by annual giving, and each funder links to a profile with its grant history and financials.
Looking for open funding opportunities instead? Browse Kentucky grants
Foundation giving in Kentucky at a glance
Active grantmakers
1,527
reported grants on latest 990
Annual giving
$776.1M
from the 542 with 5+ grants
Typical grant
$22K
median of each funder's average grant
Median annual giving
$73K
per grantmaker
Top 10 foundations in Kentucky by annual giving
| # | Funder | City | Annual giving | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Community Action Kentucky Inc | Frankfort | $68.0M | 24 |
| 2 | The Community Foundation of Louisville Inc | Louisville | $55.0M | 678 |
| 3 | Adam R Scripps Foundation | Ft Mitchell | $35.5M | 281 |
| 4 | W L Lyons Brown Foundation | Louisville | $34.1M | 21 |
| 5 | Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust | Paducah | $22.8M | 183 |
| 6 | Catholic Charities of Louisville Inc | Louisville | $22.4M | 33 |
| 7 | Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc | Lexington | $20.7M | 514 |
| 8 | The Community Foundation of Louisville Depository Inc | Louisville | $20.5M | 421 |
| 9 | Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust | Erlanger | $17.8M | 105 |
| 10 | Kosair Charities Committee Inc | Louisville | $16.6M | 120 |
Ranked by grants reported on each funder's latest 990. Only grantmakers with at least 5 grants are ranked; 5 organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants (usually one transfer to an affiliated charity) are left out.
Most common focus areas
- Education 86 · 27%
- Human Services 42 · 13%
- Health 39 · 12%
- Community Improvement & Capacity Building 26 · 8%
- Religion Related 26 · 8%
- Arts, Culture & Humanities 21 · 7%
Share of grantmakers with a program NTEE code (41% carry any NTEE code); general grantmaking foundations (NTEE T) are not counted.
Community foundations in Kentucky
- The Community Foundation of Louisville Inc $55.0M · 678 grants
- Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc $20.7M · 514 grants
- The Community Foundation of Louisville Depository Inc $20.5M · 421 grants
- Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky $11.4M · 136 grants
- Community Foundation of West Kyinc $10.1M · 103 grants
- The Community Foundation of Louisville Corporate Depository Inc $4.3M · 128 grants
- Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky Inc $3.5M · 90 grants
- Community Foundation of South Central Kentucky Inc $1.8M · 29 grants
Showing the largest 8 of 11 with at least 10 grants.
Source: IRS Form 990 and 990-PF filings, latest available year per organization (most of the largest funders' latest filing: tax year 2025).
Most open to new grantees in Kentucky
Foundations based in Kentucky whose latest grant list had the largest share of organizations they had not funded in any earlier year on file.
| # | Funder | First-time grantees | Grantees | Avg first grant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lee Initiative Inc | 98% (44) | 45 in 2024 | $53K |
| 2 | Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation | 88% (21) | 24 in 2024 | $10K |
| 3 | Community Foundation of West Kyinc | 72% (74) | 103 in 2024 | $118K |
| 4 | Harry T Wilks Family Foundation | 65% (31) | 48 in 2025 | $22K |
| 5 | The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc | 62% (18) | 29 in 2025 | $28K |
| 6 | Morris & Dorothy Haskins Foundation | 59% (19) | 32 in 2024 | $8K |
| 7 | Judge Family Foundation Inc | 59% (17) | 29 in 2025 | $12K |
| 8 | Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky Inc | 54% (49) | 90 in 2024 | $16K |
| 9 | Bryant Foundation Inc | 50% (15) | 30 in 2024 | $2K |
| 10 | Snowy Owl Foundation Inc | 49% (46) | 93 in 2024 | $5K |
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990 and 990-PF grant lists. Only foundations with at least 20 grants in each of the last three years (and 20 distinct grantees in the latest), a filing from the last 2 years, and first grants averaging at least $1K are ranked; grants to individuals are left out, and recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed grantee can look new. How we calculate this.
Showing 542 grantmakers in Kentucky with 5+ grants on their latest 990, most giving first
Community Action Kentucky Inc
Frankfort, KY
Assets
$7.4M
Grants
24
Total Given
$68.0M
The Community Foundation of Louisville Inc
Louisville, KY
Assets
$766.9M
Grants
678
Total Given
$55.0M
Adam R Scripps Foundation
Ft Mitchell, KY
Assets
$754.6M
Grants
281
Total Given
$35.5M
W L Lyons Brown Foundation
Louisville, KY
Assets
—
Grants
21
Total Given
$34.1M
Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust
Paducah, KY
Assets
$457.4M
Grants
183
Total Given
$22.8M
Catholic Charities of Louisville Inc
Louisville, KY
Assets
$18.7M
Grants
33
Total Given
$22.4M
Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc
Lexington, KY
Assets
$296.2M
Grants
514
Total Given
$20.7M
The Community Foundation of Louisville Depository Inc
Louisville, KY
Assets
$24.0M
Grants
421
Total Given
$20.5M
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust
Erlanger, KY
Assets
$91.1M
Grants
105
Total Given
$17.8M
Kosair Charities Committee Inc
Louisville, KY
Assets
$382.5M
Grants
120
Total Given
$16.6M
James Graham Brown Foundation Inc
Louisville, KY
Assets
$391.0M
Grants
50
Total Given
$14.9M
William Lawrence and Blanche Hughes
Lexington, KY
Assets
$184.1M
Grants
5
Total Given
$14.9M
The Fischer Family Foundation 2008
Fort Mitchell, KY
Assets
$201.2M
Grants
166
Total Given
$13.9M
The Claude and Betty Harris Foundation Inc
Louisville, KY
Assets
—
Grants
11
Total Given
$13.1M
Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky
Covington, KY
Assets
$51.2M
Grants
136
Total Given
$11.4M
Yum Brands Foundation Inc
Louisville, KY
Assets
$20.5M
Grants
41
Total Given
$10.3M
Community Foundation of West Kyinc
Paducah, KY
Assets
$48.5M
Grants
103
Total Given
$10.1M
Brown-Forman Foundation
Louisville, KY
Assets
$111.1M
Grants
56
Total Given
$9.8M
Kentucky Assn of Sexual Assault Programs Inc
Frankfort, KY
Assets
$2.8M
Grants
13
Total Given
$8.9M
Carson-Myre Charitable Foundation
Paducah, KY
Assets
$55.9M
Grants
152
Total Given
$8.9M
Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence Inc
Louisville, KY
Assets
$305.5M
Grants
36
Total Given
$8.4M
Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises Inc
Berea, KY
Assets
$159.1M
Grants
88
Total Given
$7.8M
The Gheens Foundation Inc
Louisville, KY
Assets
$161.4M
Grants
157
Total Given
$6.3M
The Yung Family Foundation
Crestview Hills, KY
Assets
$10.7M
Grants
14
Total Given
$6.2M
Here's the math on clicking through this list.
You, clicking into all 24 funders
~2.8 hrs
at ~7 min per funder profile
Your agents, the same 24
~1 min
every profile evaluated and scored, with reasoning
Questions about foundations in Kentucky
What are the largest foundations in Kentucky?
By grants reported on their latest 990s, the largest are Community Action Kentucky Inc ($68.0M across 24 grants), The Community Foundation of Louisville Inc ($55.0M) and Adam R Scripps Foundation ($35.5M). Together the top 10 account for 40% of the $776.1M given by the 542 grantmakers in Kentucky that made at least 5 grants. Organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants, usually a single transfer to an affiliated charity, are left out of the ranking.
How big is a typical foundation grant in Kentucky?
The typical grant is about $22K (the median of each grantmaker's average grant). Half of these grantmakers gave less than $73K in total in their latest filing year, so many are small foundations that give to a few organizations they already know. The largest funders make many more grants, but also get the most requests.
Are there community foundations in Kentucky?
Yes. We found 11 community foundations in Kentucky with grant activity. The largest by giving are The Community Foundation of Louisville Inc, Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc and The Community Foundation of Louisville Depository Inc. Community foundations pool gifts from many local donors and usually run open grant rounds for nonprofits in their area, which makes them a good first stop for local funding.
How do I find Kentucky foundations that accept unsolicited proposals?
Most private foundations don't run an open application. Their 990-PF says whether they only give to preselected charities, and their past grants show who they actually fund. Start with the funders above whose grant counts and typical grant size fit your budget, then check each profile's grant history for organizations like yours before you reach out. Read the grant prospecting guide.
Related guides
- Grant prospecting: how to find funders that fit
How to shortlist foundations in Kentucky from their 990s and giving history.
- AI grant writing: draft proposals in your voice
Turn a shortlist into LOIs and proposals drafted from your own materials.