Lawrence & Augusta Hager Educational
The Lawrence & Augusta Hager Educational Foundation is a private family foundation based in Owensboro, Kentucky. Established in 1990, the foundation was created by Lawrence W. Hager Jr., a longtime journalist and co-publisher of the Messenger-Inquirer newspaper, to address childhood poverty and educational challenges in the community.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.4M
-13.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.6M
+62.4% YoY
Grant Count
17
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$92K
+62.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lawrence & Augusta Hager Educational reported a distributable amount of $396K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's purpose is to provide giving for educational purposes and for children at risk in Daviess County, Kentucky. The foundation focuses on reducing barriers to student success by supporting educational initiatives and youth services that help prepare students for academic achievement.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Leadership Development
- Grants for Nonprofits Serving Disabled
- Nursing Home Grants
- Human Services
Grantmaking
Ready to take the next step with Lawrence & Augusta Hager Educational?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's giving is primarily concentrated in Kentucky, with a specific focus on Daviess County and the Owensboro area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $6,390,583 (most recent filing)
Total Annual Giving: $1,564,082 (most recent filing)
Foundation History: Lawrence W. Hager Jr. donated $1 million to establish the foundation in 1990, one year after his retirement as co-publisher of the Messenger-Inquirer. This initial gift was recognized at the time as the largest single contribution made to the Owensboro community aside from wills and bequests.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,390,583 | $7,342,200 | $7,903,248 |
| Revenue | $1,153,916 | $537,403 | $274,833 |
| Expenses | $2,101,461 | $1,100,119 | $339,112 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,034,512 | $1,060,549 | $287,209 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,115,995 | $500,698 | $234,125 |
| Distributable Amount | $395,550 | $413,852 | $438,221 |
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
67 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Greater Owensboro Leadership Institute ($1,110,482), University of Louisville Nursing Program ($100,000), Volunteers of America - Freedom House ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE LEWISPORT, KY | PROGRAM SERVICES | $5,000 |
| PRICHARD COMMITTEE LEXINGTON, KY | PROGRAM SERVICES | $10,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE NURSING PROGRAM LOUISVILLE, KY | PROGRAM SERVICES | $100,000 |
| KENTUCKY YOUTH ADVOCATES LOUISVILLE, KY | PROGRAM SERVICES | $5,000 |
| VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA - FREEDOM HOUSE LOUISVILLE, KY | PROGRAM SERVICES | $100,000 |
| RIVERPARK CENTER OWENSBORO, KY | PROGRAM SERVICES | $25,000 |
| THE CENTER OWENSBORO, KY | PROGRAM SERVICES | $75,000 |
| UNITED WAY OF THE OHIO VALLEY OWENSBORO, KY | PROGRAM SERVICES | $2,500 |
| OWENSBORO ROTARY CLUB FOUNDATION INC OWENSBORO, KY | PROGRAM SERVICES | $15,800 |
| KENTUCKY WESLEYAN COLLEGE OWENSBORO, KY | PROGRAM SERVICES | $3,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Keith Sanders serves as Executive Director of the Lawrence and Augusta Hager Educational Foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEITH SANDERS | DIRECTOR | 2 | $372,860 |
| ALLEN HOLBROOK | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| DR NICHOLAS BRAKE | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JOE BERRY | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ROSEMARY CONDER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DEBORAH ZUERNER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DANNA JOHNSON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 20 | $55,744 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to be active in supporting educational and youth services in Owensboro. In December 2025, the foundation partnered with Owensboro Rotary to provide $25,000 in support of Family Resource and Youth Services Centers within local public school districts, demonstrating ongoing commitment to reducing barriers to student success.
Augusta University awarded $2.4 million to expand youth mental health servicesFrequently Asked Questions
What does Lawrence & Augusta Hager Educational fund?
The foundation's purpose is to provide giving for educational purposes and for children at risk in Daviess County, Kentucky. The foundation focuses on reducing barriers to student success by supporting educational initiatives and youth services that help prepare students for academic achievement. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Leadership Development • Grants for Nonprofits Serving Disabled • Nursing Home Grants • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Lawrence & Augusta Hager Educational?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $800 to $1,110,482. **Recent Activity:** In December 2025, the foundation partnered with Owensboro Rotary to donate $25,000 to local public school districts in support of their Family Resource and Youth Services Centers. The donation was presented to school system representatives to help reduce out-of-classroom barriers that impede student learning.
Where does Lawrence & Augusta Hager Educational make grants?
The foundation's giving is primarily concentrated in Kentucky, with a specific focus on Daviess County and the Owensboro area.
What size grants does Lawrence & Augusta Hager Educational award?
In 2024, Lawrence & Augusta Hager Educational awarded 17 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $92K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Lawrence & Augusta Hager Educational required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Lawrence & Augusta Hager Educational reported a distributable amount of $396K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Lawrence & Augusta Hager Educational's EIN?
Lawrence & Augusta Hager Educational's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-1187348. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lawrence & Augusta Hager Educational'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 Lawrence & Augusta Hager Educational 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 Lawrence & Augusta Hager Educational to a real strategy.