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.
Key facts about Great Meadows Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 47-5409501
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $529,411
- Grants made (2024)
- 60
- Average grant
- $8,824
- Median grant
- $3,418
- Total assets
- $2,110,650
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Great Meadows Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Great Meadows Foundation Inc's 60 itemized 2024 grants were Kentucky (99%). The most frequent recipient cities were Louisville, KY (28 grants), Lexington, KY (12 grants), Frankfort, KY (3 grants) and Covington, KY (2 grants). None of its 60 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Grant Award to Local Artist" (59 grants).
How Great Meadows Foundation Inc gives
- Giving grew 275% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 784% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Next steps with Great Meadows Foundation Inc
- How to evaluate Great Meadows Foundation Inc as a funder
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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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Great Meadows Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $96K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
Share of all 60 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
254 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Great Meadows Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include JB Speed Art Museum ($319,561), Josephine Sculpture Park Inc ($6,000 across 3 grants), Forest Kelley ($5,735).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| JB SPEED ART MUSEUM Louisville, KY | CONTRIBUTION | $319,561 |
| FOREST KELLEY Lexington, KY | GRANT AWARD TO LOCAL ARTIST | $5,735 |
| AZUCENA TREJO WILLIAMS Campbellsville, KY | GRANT AWARD TO LOCAL ARTIST | $5,700 |
| SUSAN HATCHER Louisville, KY | GRANT AWARD TO LOCAL ARTIST | $5,700 |
| SEAN P HILL Louisville, KY | GRANT AWARD TO LOCAL ARTIST | $5,600 |
| JONATHAN CHERRY Louisville, KY | GRANT AWARD TO LOCAL ARTIST | $5,400 |
| JAMES ROBERT SOUTHARD Lexington, KY | GRANT AWARD TO LOCAL ARTIST | $5,335 |
| SARA OLSHANSKY Louisville, KY | GRANT AWARD TO LOCAL ARTIST | $5,335 |
| REBECCA RICHARDS Goshen, KY | GRANT AWARD TO LOCAL ARTIST | $5,200 |
| ADDISON WILLIAMS Jenkins, KY | GRANT AWARD TO LOCAL ARTIST | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
John Lueken serves as Secretary of the foundation.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS 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.
How much is Great Meadows Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Great Meadows Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $96K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.