Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation logo

Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation

Public charity · Grantmaker Frankfort, KY EIN: 80-0533467 Website

The Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts (KACD) is a public charity based in Frankfort, Kentucky. It represents and assists Kentucky’s local conservation districts and watershed conservancy districts, and supports district capacity for conservation work, education programs, and student scholarships.

Key facts about Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation

In short: Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation gave $816K across 29 grants in 2025 (avg $28K), mostly in Kentucky. 3% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
80-0533467
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$815,582
Grants made (2025)
29
Average grant
$28,124
Median grant
$28,616
New grantees (estimate)
3% first-time grantees (1 of 29, 2025)
Total assets
$275,628
Primary geography
Kentucky (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$276K

-13.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$816K

-26.7% YoY

Grant Count

29

-23.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$28K

-4.0% YoY

Is Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation open to new grantees?

3%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 1 of 29 grantees (3%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $26K; repeat grants $28K. How we count

Medians: $26K first-time, $29K repeat.

  • 97% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 130% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

KACD’s mission is to exchange information about the administration and operation of conservation and watershed conservancy districts; foster cooperation among districts, agencies, and organizations working on soil and water conservation; promote the welfare of districts and the people they serve; and maintain active membership in state and national conservation district associations.

Its programs include financial assistance for local districts hiring soil conservation technicians, a state Envirothon contest, student writing and art contests, and college scholarships for students studying agriculture or natural resources. In its description of the technician program, KACD says the technicians assist local landowners with implementing soil and water conservation practices. The grantees listed in its 2024 filing are county conservation districts.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, KACD reported 38 grants totaling $1,112,835. Grant amounts ranged from $6,480 to $107,742, with a median of $29,120. The largest reported awards included:

Review Cycle

of May 1, 2026.

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

KACD’s work and district grants are centered on Kentucky. Its website describes conservation districts as covering the state, and its 2024 grants went to county conservation districts.

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.

States

Cities

BrandenburgColumbiaCynthianaElizabethtownFlemingsburgFrenchburgHardinsburgHartfordKevilMurrayVersaillesBowling GreenBurlingtonDixonElktonFrankfortLibertyMarionMaysvilleMt Vernon

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M21 grants2021 26 grants2022 33 grants2023 38 grants2024 29 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $278K (2021) to $1.1M (2024). In 2025 it made 29 grants totaling $816K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Webster County Conservation District: $52KWebster County ConservationDistrict$52KCrittenden County Conservation District: $39KCrittenden County ConservationDistrict$39KFleming County Conservation District: $36KFleming County ConservationDistrict$36KAdair County Conservation District: $35KAdair County ConservationDistrict$35KWoodford County Conservation District: $35KWoodford County ConservationDistrict$35KBoone County Conservation District: $34KBoone County ConservationDistrict$34KHarrison County Conservation District: $33KHarrison County ConservationDistrict$33KCasey County Conservation District: $32KCasey County ConservationDistrict$32KWarren County Conservation District: $32KWarren County ConservationDistrict$32KCarroll County Conservation District: $31KCarroll County ConservationDistrict$31K

The largest 2025 recipient was Webster County Conservation District ($52K). Together the top 10 received $360K.

Grant Size Distribution

147 grants across all recorded years

145<$50K1$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 145 grants of 147 (99%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Webster County Conservation District Dixon, KYPassthrough grant to hire soil technicians$52,109
Crittenden County Conservation District Marion, KYPassthrough grant to hire soil technicians$38,902
Fleming County Conservation District Flemingsburg, KYPassthrough grant to hire soil technicians$36,420
Adair County Conservation District Columbia, KYPassthrough grant to hire soil technicians$35,438
Woodford County Conservation District Versailles, KYPassthrough grant to hire soil technicians$35,322
Boone County Conservation District Burlington, KYPassthrough grant to hire soil technicians$33,563
Harrison County Conservation District Cynthiana, KYPassthrough grant to hire soil technicians$33,044
Casey County Conservation District Liberty, KYPassthrough grant to hire soil technicians$32,432
Warren County Conservation District Bowling Green, KYPassthrough grant to hire soil technicians$31,560
Carroll County Conservation District Carrollton, KYPassthrough grant to hire soil technicians$31,398

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants reported
2024 $318,944 $1,212,327 $1,122,517 $1,112,835 across 38 grants
2023 $210,673 $964,144 $923,565 $853,154 across 33 grants
2022 $209,926 $402,422 $384,151 $354,294 across 26 grants
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$275,628$318,944$210,673
Revenue$924,208$1,212,327$964,144
Expenses$967,523$1,122,517$923,565
Net Investment Income$908$926$649

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 10, 2023)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
  5. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 27, 2026)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Allen Bryant as President and the following area directors: Rod Murphy (Area 1), Matt Rogers (Area 2), Vince Thompson (Area 3), Joe Bernard Luckett (Area 4), Jennifer Burgan (Area 5), Doug McLean (Area 6), Rodney Dick (Area 7), Doug Derossett (Area 8), and Doug Hensely (Area 9). KACD identifies Crystal Renfro as Executive Director.

Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation is led by Crystal Renfro, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; none of the 14 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Crystal Renfro

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2021

    20 hrs/week

    $40K (2021) → $0 (2025)

  • Allen Bryant

    President

    President → Presidnet, 2024

    Presidnet → President, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Doug Derossett

    Area Director

    Area Diretor → Area Director, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Doug Hensely

    Area Director

    On filings since 2021

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jennifer Burgan

    Area Director

    On filings since 2021

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Joe Bernard Luckett

    Area Director

    On filings since 2021

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rod Murphy

    Area Director

    On filings since 2021

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rodney Dick

    Area Director

    On filings since 2023

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Doug McLean

    Area Director

    On filings since 2024

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Matt Rogers

    Area Director

    On filings since 2024

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Vince Thompson

    Area Director

    On filings since 2024

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Shane Wells

    Past President

    President → Past President, 2023

    On filings since 2021

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ted Jessup

    Vice President

    Secretary & Treasurer → Vice President, 2023

    On filings since 2021

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Steve Coleman

    Secretary & Treasurer

    On filings since 2024

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (7)
  • Former: Ernie Ezell (2021–2023) — Area Director
  • Former: Stephen Coleman (2021–2023) — Secretary & Treasurer
  • Former: Doug McLaren (2023) — Area Director
  • Former: Vincent Thompson (2023) — Area Director
  • Former: David Rowlett (2021–2022) — Past President
  • Former: Rhodes Hester (2021–2022) — Area Director
  • Former: Roy Reynolds (2021–2022) — Area Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2023 IRS filing

Crystal Renfro — Executive Director: $45KCrystal RenfroExecutive Director$45K

The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $45K, to Crystal Renfro (Executive Director).

Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 4027, Frankfort, KY 40604
Phone: (502) 223-4196
Website: https://kyconservation.com

Frequently asked questions about Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation

How much does Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation give each year?

Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation gave $816K across 29 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 38 grants.

What is Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation's typical grant size?

Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $28,616, and its average grant was $28,124, across 29 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation that year got $26K on average.

Where does Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation give grants?

Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation gives mostly in Kentucky: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.

Does Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 29 grants with a stated purpose on Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Passthrough grant to hire soil technicians" (29 grants).

Who are Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation's largest grantees?

Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Webster County Conservation District ($52,109), Crittenden County Conservation District ($38,902) and Fleming County Conservation District ($36,420), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 16% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation?

Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation reported $276K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $924K.

What does Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation fund?

KACD’s mission is to exchange information about the administration and operation of conservation and watershed conservancy districts; foster cooperation among districts, agencies, and organizations working on soil and water conservation; promote the welfare of districts and the people they serve; and maintain active membership in state and national conservation district associations. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation?

Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check kyconservation.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation's EIN?

Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 80-0533467. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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