Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation
The Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation (KSWF) is an independent charitable foundation based in Union, Kentucky, that makes grants to established nonprofit organizations serving Kentucky residents. Established in 1948, it aims to improve quality of life and opportunity for Kentuckians facing diminished economic opportunities.
Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation at a glance
In short: Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation gave $280K across 24 grants in 2024 (avg $12K), mostly in Kentucky. 88% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $279,689
- +11.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 24
- -17.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $11,654
- +34.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,234
- Total assets
- $2,412,017
- +1.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 88% first-time grantees (21 of 24, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The application process begins with a qualifying questionnaire. The foundation’s materials direct applicants to use the application forms and process provided by KSWF. Its application guidance asks for both agency and project budgets and a plan for sustaining a program expansion or new programming after KSWF funding ends.
- Review Cycle
- KSWF describes two grant cycles per calendar year, in spring and fall, with board review deadlines posted through its application process. Its filing states that the grant cycle is open all year and that board review deadlines are available through KSWF.
- Deadline
- KSWF describes two grant cycles per calendar year, in spring and fall, with board review deadlines posted through its…
- Contact
Application contact: Karisa Moore
Mailing address: PO Box 1288, Union, KY 41091
Phone: (859) 938-2634
Website: https://kswf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Gateway Children's Services ($26K). Together the top 10 received $173K.
Grant Size Distribution
100 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 99 grants of 100 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
KSWF says it targets rural areas, small towns, and geographic areas of special need, and its website says it funds applications from agencies located in Kentucky. In 2024, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Kentucky and 5% to recipients in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation open to new grantees?
88%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 21 of 24 grantees (88%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 4% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 75% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 286% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $160K (2021) to $304K (2022). In 2024 it made 24 grants totaling $280K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Gateway Children's Services Mt Sterling, KY | Support positive relationships for children, their incarcerated parents, and their caregivers | $26,080 |
| Hotel Inc Bowling Green, KY | The Wholistic Partnership | $25,000 |
| The Prisoners Hope Louisville, KY | Housing | $20,000 |
| Garrard County Homeless Coalition Lancaster, KY | Garrard County Homeless Shelter | $15,000 |
| Hope Collaborative Louisville, KY | Hopeplace Preschool | $15,000 |
| Hospice Care Plus Richmond, KY | Supporting access to hospice home visits in rural ky | $15,000 |
| Refuge for Women Lewisville, TX | Human Trafficking Survivor Relief Fund | $15,000 |
| Girl Scouts of Kentucky's Wilderness Road Council Lexington, KY | Growing Resilience with Middle-School Girls | $14,655 |
| Open Door of Hope Inc DBA (Awake Ministries) Shelbyville, KY | Transitional Housing | $14,289 |
| Refuge Bowling Green Bowling Green, KY | Driving Academy Scholarship Program | $12,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,412,017 | $847,136 | $379,731 | $279,689 | 24 | $361,938 | $714,914 | $126,531 |
| 2023 | $2,376,872 | $336,397 | $336,978 | $251,155 | 29 | $323,438 | $188,298 | $110,999 |
| 2022 | $2,158,602 | $202,670 | $344,811 | $303,760 | 20 | $327,240 | $65,588 | $122,003 |
| 2021 | $2,912,037 | $375,564 | $200,643 | $159,533 | 14 | $170,752 | $241,214 | $131,610 |
| 2020 | $2,601,540 | $180,075 | $187,667 | $168,516 | 13 | — | $89,357 | $115,154 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation reported a distributable amount of $127K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
KSWF’s stated purpose is to improve quality of life and opportunity among Kentuckians experiencing diminished economic opportunities because of poverty, poor health, disability, or inequality. It seeks to promote effective social welfare organizations and approaches to “self-help and training.” Its grant purpose includes expanding established nonprofits’ work and developing new projects. It does not fund capital campaigns, periodic funds appeals, or ongoing operational expenses.
The 2024 grants show support for a range of nonprofit projects. For example, Gateway Children’s Services received funding to support positive relationships for children, their incarcerated parents, and caregivers; Garrard County Homeless Coalition received support for its homeless shelter; and Hospice Care Plus received support for access to rural hospice home visits. These are the grantees’ stated project purposes, not additional KSWF mission areas.
Grantmaking
In 2024, KSWF awarded 24 grants totaling $279,689. Individual grants ranged from $2,249 to $26,080, with a median of $10,234. The foundation reports that over the last five years, awards ranged from $1,000 to $34,121 and the average award was $10,833.35.
Among its largest 2024 grants, KSWF awarded $26,080 to Gateway Children’s Services, $25,000 to HOTEL INC for “The Wholistic Partnership,” and $20,000 to The Prisoners Hope for housing. Other grants included $15,000 to Garrard County Homeless Coalition for its shelter, $15,000 to Hope Collaborative for HopePlace Preschool, and $15,000 to Hospice Care Plus for rural hospice home visits.
KSWF’s application materials call for a defined project, an agency budget and a detailed project budget. The foundation says it does not fund agency or project salaries, ongoing operational expenses, or major capital projects. Applicants must be IRS-approved tax-exempt charitable organizations and provide their 501(c)(3) determination letter. The FAQ also says applicants must wait at least two grant cycles after receiving a grant before applying again.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Melissa A. Slone as chairperson, Emily McKenzie as vice-chairperson, Monica Hines as secretary, and Grace Akers as treasurer. Trustees listed are Anne W. Eason, Craig Beavers, Shira Birdwhistell, Dr. Chad Jackson, Jenny Lynne Stewart, and Dr. Susan Wesley.
Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation is led by Melissa A. Slone, Chairperson since 2024 (on filings since 2022); 2 of 16 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Melissa A. Slone
Chairperson
Vice Chairperson → Chairperson, 2024
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
PNC Bank
Trustee
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
$19K (2022) → $6K (2024)
Stock Yards Bank
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
$14K (2024)
Anne W. Eason
Trustee
Chairperson → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chad Jackson
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Wesley
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Craig Beavers
Trustee
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jenny Lynne Stewart
Trustee
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shira Birdwhistell
Trustee
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brittany Sparks-Weber
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deirdra Robinson
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jean Russell
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sandy Holbrook
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emily McKenzie
Vice Chairperson
Trustee → Vice Chairperson, 2024
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Grace Akers
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Monica Hines
Secretary
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Don Garton (2022–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Linda Gayheart (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Lisa Balboa (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Marian M. Taylor (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Michael T. Powers (2020–2021) — Vice Chairperson
- Former: Richard Carnes (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Steven Jones (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Vicki Lawson (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Charles Mercer (2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $14K, to Stock Yards Bank (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation
How much does Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation give each year?
Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation gave $280K across 24 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $251K across 29 grants.
What is Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation's typical grant size?
Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,234, and its average grant was $11,654, across 24 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation give grants?
Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation gives mostly in Kentucky: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Texas (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Louisville, KY (7 grants), Bowling Green, KY (4 grants), Lexington, KY (3 grants) and Mt Sterling, KY (2 grants).
Does Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation's largest grantees?
Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Gateway Children's Services ($26,080), Hotel Inc ($25,000) and The Prisoners Hope ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation?
Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation reported $2.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $362K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $127K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation fund?
KSWF’s stated purpose is to improve quality of life and opportunity among Kentuckians experiencing diminished economic opportunities because of poverty, poor health, disability, or inequality. It seeks to promote effective social welfare organizations and approaches to “self-help and training.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation?
The application process begins with a qualifying questionnaire. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation's EIN?
Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-6034264. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/kentucky-social-welfare-foundation-morg_a9bca82c43ab441fb1448f97da28104b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_616034264_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/kentucky-social-welfare-foundation-morg_a9bca82c43ab441fb1448f97da28104b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation'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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