Keeneland Foundation Inc
Keeneland Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Lexington, Kentucky. Its charitable giving includes causes related to the Thoroughbred industry, arts and culture, community, diversity, equity and inclusion, education, and health and human services.
Keeneland Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Keeneland Foundation Inc gave $346K across 33 grants in 2026 (avg $10K), mostly in Kentucky. 42% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $346,170
- +77.8% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 33
- +106.3% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $10,490
- -13.8% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $358,709
- -16.3% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 42% first-time grantees (14 of 33, 2026)
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (94% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Keeneland Foundation Inc
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists quarterly deadlines of March 1, June 1, September 1, and November 1. The March 1, June 1, and September 1, 2026 deadlines have passed; November 1, 2026 is the next listed deadline.
- Deadline
- The filing lists quarterly deadlines of March 1, June 1, September 1, and November 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Keeneland Foundation
Mailing address: 4201 Versailles Road PO Box 1690, Lexington, KY 40588-1690
Phone: (859) 254-3412
Email: giving@keeneland.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Keeneland Foundation Inc
Who Keeneland Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Stable Recovery ($72K). Together the top 10 received $232K.
Grant Size Distribution
102 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 94 grants of 102 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The grant-program description identifies Kentucky-based 501(c) organizations as eligible and says the foundation prioritizes Central Kentucky. In filing year 2026, 94% of grant dollars went to Kentucky recipients, 4% to New York recipients, and 1% to North Carolina recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Keeneland Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
42%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 14 of 33 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 30% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving grew 96% from 2023 to 2026. Method
- In 2026 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2026). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $164K (2022) to $346K (2026). In 2026 it made 33 grants totaling $346K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Stable Recovery Lexington, KY | General Operating Grant | $72,064 |
| Ed Brown Society Lexington, KY | General Operating Grant | $50,000 |
| Lexington Public Library Foundation Lexington, KY | General Operating Grant | $25,000 |
| American Cancer Society Lexington, KY | General Operating Grant | $15,000 |
| Lexington Childrens Theatre Inc Lexington, KY | General Operating Grant | $15,000 |
| Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation Saratoga Springs, NY | General Operating Grant | $15,000 |
| Governor's Scholar Program Foundation Frankfort, KY | General Operating Grant | $10,000 |
| Life Adventure Center Versailles, KY | General Operating Grant | $10,000 |
| Newton's Attic Lexington, KY | General Operating Grant | $10,000 |
| Old Ladies Home DBA Ashland Terrace Lexington, KY | General Operating Grant | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $358,709 | $281,465 | $351,256 | $346,170 | 33 | $347,670 | $13,499 | $29,526 |
| 2025 | $428,500 | $243,162 | $200,224 | $194,656 | 16 | $196,556 | $6,619 | $30,534 |
| 2024 | $385,562 | $234,159 | $191,274 | $186,328 | 21 | $187,828 | $23 | $24,626 |
| 2023 | $342,677 | $305,416 | $180,851 | $176,350 | 16 | $177,850 | $460 | $18,240 |
| 2022 | $218,112 | $186,693 | $168,151 | $163,564 | 16 | $165,064 | $12,606 | $17,356 |
| 2021 | $199,680 | $290,616 | $260,415 | $256,257 | 17 | — | $3,470 | $13,975 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Keeneland Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $30K for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The grant-program description connects the foundation’s giving to a vision of contributing to the betterment of racing and the Central Kentucky community. Listed areas of charitable giving are Thoroughbred-industry causes, arts and culture, community, diversity, equity and inclusion, education, and health and human services.
The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of supported work. Lexington Public Library Foundation says it envisions a thriving public library enriched by philanthropy and advocacy. Lexington Children’s Theatre says it provides professional theatre experiences for young audiences and theatre education for young people. Newton’s Attic describes its work as supplemental science, technology, engineering, and math education for school-age children. Life Adventure Center says it uses outdoor adventure to transform lives affected by trauma. Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation describes providing a lifetime sanctuary for Thoroughbreds after their racing careers.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2026, the foundation reported 33 grants totaling $346,170. Awards ranged from $1,000 to $72,064, with a median grant of $5,000. The largest grants included $72,064 to Stable Recovery and $50,000 to Ed Brown Society, both in Lexington, for general operating grants. Other notable awards included $25,000 to Lexington Public Library Foundation; $15,000 each to Lexington Children’s Theatre, the American Cancer Society, and Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation; and $10,000 each to Governor’s Scholar Program Foundation, Life Adventure Center, Newton’s Attic, Old Ladies Home dba Ashland Terrace, and YMCA of Central KY.
The 2025 filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applicants are directed to submit the completed grant application found on keeneland.com with a cover letter in the required format, a proposed project budget and current-year operating budget, a board list with addresses and business affiliations, an IRS 501(c)(3) letter, the executive director’s résumé and salary, and the most recent audit. Descriptive literature is optional.
The filing lists requests it will not fund, including requests from individuals or political entities; annual operating support; requests from primary and secondary schools; and support for youth sports leagues. It also excludes requests from fraternal or veterans organizations unless for a recognized community project, operating funds for hospitals or other patient-care institutions (though capital expansion programs may be considered), religious organizations seeking exclusive benefit for one religious entity, and ticket purchases or sponsorships for charitable events.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists William M Lear Jr as president and director; Shannon Bishop Arvin as vice president; Kari West as secretary; Hunter Stout as treasurer; and Everett Dobson and William S Farish Jr as directors.
Keeneland Foundation Inc is led by William M. Lear Jr., President & Director since 2022 (on filings since 2021); none of the 6 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
William M. Lear Jr.
President & Director
President → President & Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Everett Dobson
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William S. Farish Jr.
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hunter Stout
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shannon Bishop Arvin
Vice President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kari West
Secretary
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Vince Gabbert (2021) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Keeneland Foundation Inc
How much does Keeneland Foundation Inc give each year?
Keeneland Foundation Inc gave $346K across 33 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $195K across 16 grants.
What is Keeneland Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Keeneland Foundation Inc's median grant in 2026 was $5,000, and its average grant was $10,490, across 33 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Keeneland Foundation Inc that year got $7K on average.
Where does Keeneland Foundation Inc give grants?
Keeneland Foundation Inc gives mostly in Kentucky: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lexington, KY (26 grants).
Does Keeneland Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 94% of Keeneland Foundation Inc's 2026 grants with a stated purpose (31 of 33) were for general or operating support, per its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Keeneland Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Keeneland Foundation Inc's largest 2026 grantees include Stable Recovery ($72,064), Ed Brown Society ($50,000) and Lexington Public Library Foundation ($25,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Keeneland Foundation Inc?
Keeneland Foundation Inc reported $359K in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $348K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $30K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Keeneland Foundation Inc fund?
The grant-program description connects the foundation’s giving to a vision of contributing to the betterment of racing and the Central Kentucky community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Keeneland Foundation Inc?
Keeneland Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Keeneland Foundation Inc's EIN?
Keeneland Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-1358165. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2026.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Keeneland Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Keeneland Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/keeneland-foundation-inc-morg_d97c86743d6847c4ada5cbcc8ddb601d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_611358165_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Keeneland Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/keeneland-foundation-inc-morg_d97c86743d6847c4ada5cbcc8ddb601d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Keeneland Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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