Great Meadows Foundation Inc
Great Meadows Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Louisville, Kentucky, established in 2016. The foundation was launched by contemporary art collector and philanthropist Al Shands (1928-2021) and named for the home that Al and his late wife Mary created. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and is classified as a private grantmaking foundation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.1M
-1.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$529K
+50.4% YoY
Grant Count
60
+15.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+30.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The mission of Great Meadows Foundation is to critically strengthen and support visual art in Kentucky by empowering the community's artists and other visual arts professionals to research, connect, and participate more actively in the broader contemporary art world.
The foundation's primary funding focus is visual arts and arts-related professional development for artists in the region.
Grantmaking
This program supports and forwards the careers of Kentucky visual artists by helping improve their critical skills, resources, knowledge, and connections. The grants encourage artists to engage with the broader contemporary art world and aim to strengthen the level of discourse and practice among artists in the state.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds visual artists and arts professionals in:
- All 120 counties of Kentucky
- Greater Louisville area of Clark and Floyd counties in Indiana
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending June 2024:
- Total Assets: $2,149,279
- Total Revenue: $630,639
- Total Expenses: $769,743
- Net Income: -$139,104
Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Assets: $2,149,279
- Total Revenues: $107,386
- Total Expenses: $601,768
- Total Grants, Contributions: $76,109
- Investment Income and Dividends: $46,132
The foundation has zero employees and operates with volunteer leadership.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,110,650 | $2,149,279 | $2,566,910 |
| Revenue | $630,639 | $107,386 | $271,490 |
| Expenses | $769,743 | $601,768 | $678,600 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $751,532 | $583,103 | $650,669 |
| Net Investment Income | $27,590 | $28,082 | $150,331 |
| Distributable Amount | $95,870 | $108,809 | $158,530 |
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
217 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Great Meadows Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
John Lueken serves as Secretary of the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEPHANIE BARRETT | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL BALDWIN | VICE PRESIDE | 1 | — |
| JOHN LUEKEN | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| BROOK SMITH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced the opening of the ARTFORA Open Call application. Additionally, Great Meadows Foundation announced its first Curator Travel Grants awards. A publication titled "Rounding the Circle: The Legacy of Mary and Al Shands" is now available for purchase through the foundation.
Great Meadow Foundation Celebrates 40 Years of Community and Equestrian\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Great Meadows Foundation Inc fund?
The mission of Great Meadows Foundation is to critically strengthen and support visual art in Kentucky by empowering the community's artists and other visual arts professionals to research, connect, and participate more actively in the broader contemporary art world. The foundation's primary funding focus is visual arts and arts-related professional development for artists in the region.
How do I apply for a grant from Great Meadows Foundation Inc?
**Artist Professional Development Grants** This program supports and forwards the careers of Kentucky visual artists by helping improve their critical skills, resources, knowledge, and connections. The grants encourage artists to engage with the broader contemporary art world and aim to strengthen the level of discourse and practice among artists in the state. • **Grant Amount:** $500 to $7,000 • **Eligibility Requirements:** • Must reside in the Great Meadows Foundation region, which encompass…
Where does Great Meadows Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation funds visual artists and arts professionals in: • All 120 counties of Kentucky • Greater Louisville area of Clark and Floyd counties in Indiana
What size grants does Great Meadows Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Great Meadows Foundation Inc awarded 60 grants totaling $529K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Great Meadows Foundation Inc's EIN?
Great Meadows Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-5409501. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Great Meadows Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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