The Irvin F & Alice S Etscorn Charitable Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1996 and based in Louisville, Kentucky. The foundation operates as a family foundation with a focus on supporting local community causes and nonprofit organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$13.0M
-0.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+15.9% YoY
Grant Count
51
+18.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$27K
-2.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Irvin F & Alice S Etscorn reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary giving supports:
- YMCAs
- Pediatrics and pediatric therapies
- Eye diseases and vision-related organizations
- Christian organizations
- Social and human services (44% of grants)
- Health initiatives (18% of grants)
- Education (15% of grants)
- Organizations serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$3,000 to $210,000
Review Cycle
- Contact: PO Box 32760, Louisville, KY 40232-2760
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Irvin F & Alice S Etscorn?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily serves Jefferson County, Kentucky, with 99% of grants staying in Kentucky. The foundation also funds projects in Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $12,997,172 (2024)
- Total Giving: $1,391,000 (2024)
- Total Revenue: $1,432,358 (2024)
- Total Expenses: $1,450,291 (2024)
- EIN: 61-1314419
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,997,172 | $13,015,105 | $13,180,091 |
| Revenue | $1,432,358 | $1,083,951 | $844,230 |
| Expenses | $1,450,291 | $1,248,937 | $1,165,440 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,402,447 | $1,210,730 | $1,111,778 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,379,929 | $1,040,100 | $438,456 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,430,108 | $1,184,417 | $1,417,645 |
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
190 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve ($210,000), Yew Dell Bontancial Gaqrdens ($170,000), Gilda's Club Kentuckiana ($90,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Children's Hospital Foundation Louisville, KY | poruchase cardiology outreach Van | $50,000 |
| Lincoln Heritage Council BSA Louisville, KY | Trading post redesign and renevations | $50,000 |
| Louisville Zoo Louisville, KY | Kentucky Trails Campaign | $50,000 |
| YMCA Camp Piomingo Brandenburg, KY | climbing wall repacement | $25,000 |
| Meredith-Dunn School Louisville, KY | for campus expansion | $25,000 |
| Heuser Hearing Language Academy Louisville, KY | Boiler replacement | $25,000 |
| Visually Impaired Preschool Service Louisville, KY | To purchase Vehicles for trained teachers to make home visits. | $25,000 |
| Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation Louisville, KY | help with the cost of eye surgeries for qualified applicants. | $25,000 |
| Family Children's Place Louisville, KY | Telephone system upgrades | $5,000 |
| Junior Achievement Louisville, KY | Lobby renovations | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Director: James E Wright Jr.
- Advisory Committee Members: McFerran Barr, James E. Wright Jr.
- Trustee: Baird Trust Company
All key personnel serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baird Trust Company | Trustee | — | — |
| McFERRAN BARR | ADVISORY COM | — | — |
| JAMES E WRIGHT JR | ADVISORY COM | — | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has maintained a long-standing partnership with Cedar Lake Foundation, with Mrs. Alice Etscorn beginning her support in 1985. The relationship strengthened with a $2,500 gift in 2010 and a transformational $25,000 grant in 2020 for general operating support.
The foundation has also supported educational initiatives, including the Irvin F. and Alice S. Etscorn Summer Development Awards at the University of Louisville College of Arts & Sciences.
Etscorn scholars take 'how I spent my summer vacation' to new level | UofLSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Irvin F & Alice S Etscorn fund?
The foundation's primary giving supports: • YMCAs • Pediatrics and pediatric therapies • Eye diseases and vision-related organizations • Christian organizations • Social and human services (44% of grants) • Health initiatives (18% of grants) • Education (15% of grants) • Organizations serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
How do I apply for a grant from Irvin F & Alice S Etscorn?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: $1,391,000 • Number of grants (2024): 51 grants awarded • Grant range: $3,000 to $210,000 • Median grant size: $10,000 • Giving rate: 10.7% of assets **Recent Grants Include:** • $210,000 to Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve for remodeling old library for new offices • $90,000 to Gilda's Club Kentuckiana for clubhouse and staff furniture • $80,000 to Yew Dell Botanical Gardens for benches and path improvements • $50,000 to Kids Center for Pediatric Therapies • $…
Where does Irvin F & Alice S Etscorn make grants?
The foundation primarily serves Jefferson County, Kentucky, with 99% of grants staying in Kentucky. The foundation also funds projects in Illinois.
What size grants does Irvin F & Alice S Etscorn award?
In 2024, Irvin F & Alice S Etscorn awarded 51 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $27K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Irvin F & Alice S Etscorn required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Irvin F & Alice S Etscorn reported a distributable amount of $1.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Irvin F & Alice S Etscorn's EIN?
Irvin F & Alice S Etscorn's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-1314419. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Irvin F & Alice S Etscorn's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Mildred H Dunning Memorial Fund Trust
LEXINGTON, KY
Assets
$4.3M
Grants
3
Total Given
$209K
Sam Swope Family Foundation Inc
PEWEE VALLEY, KY
Assets
$16.5M
Grants
13
Total Given
$1.2M
Julius Friedman Foundation Inc
PROSPECT, KY
Assets
$194K
Grants
1
Total Given
$10K
Pauline C Young Scholarship
LEXINGTON, KY
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Welcome House Inc
COVINGTON, KY
Assets
$15.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$405K
Tw Hl & Ns Donovan Scholarship
LEXINGTON, KY
Assets
$673K
Grants
2
Total Given
$36K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Irvin F & Alice S Etscorn on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Irvin F & Alice S Etscorn to a real strategy.