Louisville Bar Foundation Inc
Louisville Bar Foundation Inc is a public charity based in Louisville, Kentucky. Established in 1981 as the charitable giving arm of the Louisville Bar Association, it raises and distributes grants for legal services for people with limited means, law-related public education, and improvements to the justice system and legal profession.
Key facts about Louisville Bar Foundation Inc
In short: Louisville Bar Foundation Inc gave $160K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $15K), mostly in Kentucky. 20% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 31-1040473
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $159,536
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- Average grant
- $14,503
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (2 of 10, 2024)
- Total assets
- $4,275,278
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Submit the LBF Grant Application Form. Full details ↓
- Next open deadline
- December 3, 2026 (LBA Leadership Academy)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$4.3M
+10.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$160K
+16.0% YoY
Grant Count
11
+10.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
+5.5% YoY
Is Louisville Bar Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 10 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $10K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to raise and distribute grants to not-for-profit organizations in the Louisville area that provide legal services to poor and disadvantaged people, educate citizens about the law, and support improvements to and access to the justice system.
Its stated funding priorities include improving access to the legal system for people with limited financial means; promoting access to legal information and improved perceptions of the justice system among minorities; improving the operation of and public confidence in Jefferson County courts; and educating the public about the legal system and the legal profession.
Grantees’ own mission statements illustrate the range of organizations supported. Kentucky Refugee Ministries says it provides resettlement, support, educational, and legal services to refugees and other immigrants. Legal Aid Society says it provides free civil legal help on issues related to income, family, housing, safety, and health. CASA of the River Region says it supports court-appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children, while La Casita Center says it works to enhance the well-being of Louisville’s Latinx community through education, empowerment, advocacy, and wellness.
Grantmaking
The Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $159,536 in 2024. Individual grants ranged from $8,000 to $30,000, with a median of $10,000. Its largest 2024 grants included $30,000 to Kentucky Refugee Ministries for partial fee subsidies for immigration filings; $21,536 to Finer Pearls Foundation to help fund a statue honoring Alberta Odell Jones and related educational programming; and $20,000 to Legal Aid Society for its Food Justice Project.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Louisville Bar Foundation Inc
Justice William E. McAnulty Jr. Trailblazer Award
Louisville Bar Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
LBA Annual Awards - Multiple Categories
Louisville Bar Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
LBA Leadership Academy
Louisville Bar Foundation Inc
Amount
$2,500
Deadline
December 3, 2026
Ready to take the next step with Louisville Bar Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation describes its grantmaking as supporting local organizations in the Louisville area. Its 2024 filing shows that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in Kentucky.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $89K (2021) to $160K (2024). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $160K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Legal Aid Society ($35K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $160K.
Grant Size Distribution
40 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 40 grants of 40 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Refugee Ministries Inc Louisville, KY | Kentucky Refugee Ministries provides legal services to immigrants who have resettled in the Louisville area. Many of these immigrants need to file applications with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for permanent residence status or to petition for asylum. The LBF grant will provide partial fee subsidies for immigrants who cannot afford to pay the entire cost of preparing and filing these documents. | $30,000 |
| Finer Pearls Foundation Louisville, KY | Alberta Odell Jones was born in Louisville in 1930. In 1959, upon admission to the Kentucky bar the same year she received her law degree, Jones became Kentucky's first practicing African American woman attorney. She later became the first woman appointed as a city attorney in Jefferson County. Jones was active with Louisville Urban League, the NAACP, and she founded the Independent Voters Association of Louisville where she initiated programs to educate African Americans on how to use voting machines. Jones was killed in 1965 and her murder remains unsolved. The Eta Zeta chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority of which Jones was a member when she was a practicing attorney, is honoring Jones and her life achievements by commissioning a statue of Jones to be prominently displayed in her hometown of Louisville. The LBF grant will help fund the creation of the statue and the development of educational programming about Jones contributions to the profession of law. | $21,536 |
| Legal Aid Society Louisville, KY | Legal Aid Society - Food Justice Project: Legal Aid Society has a long tradition of serving the civil legal needs of low-income individuals and families in Metro Louisville. The Food Justice Project seeks to increase access to food benefits by removing the legal and administrative barriers to accessing these benefits. The FJP boosts the economic means of low-income citizens by ensuring equal and full access to SNAP benefits. The LBF grant will support outreach efforts to educate eligible participants on their right to these benefits and to assist participants in appealing any denials. | $20,000 |
| Catholic Charities of Louisville Inc Louisville, KY | Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services helps low-income refugees and immigrants living in Kentucky obtain legal assistance. The LBF grant will allow refugees and immigrants solve immigration and/or employment status issues so to achieve or maintain financial stability and economic independence. | $15,000 |
| Legal Aid Society Louisville, KY | Legal Aid Society - Doctors & Lawyers for Kids: Doctors & Layers for Kids is a collaborative effort of the Legal Aid Society, LBA, U of L Pediatrics, and the Family Health Centers that assists children from low-income families by training healthcare providers to recognize unmet legal needs that affect patient health and by having free legal services available to families in need. LBF funds will be used to support services to the Smoketown Family Wellness Center and other pediatric settings. | $15,000 |
| CASA of the River Region Louisville, KY | CASA provides advocacy services to children with active cases in Family Court. To increase the number of volunteer advocates, CASA must continually train and provide education. The LBF grant will support CASA's "Advocacy Academy" program and increase its number of trainings to boost volunteer's advocacy skillset and the understanding of interrelated child welfare, justice and medical systems. | $10,000 |
| La Casita Center Louisville, KY | La Casita Center - Legal Outreach and Clinic Services: In addition to the numerous social, nutritional, and cultural programs La Casita Center provides in the Latino immigrant community, it specifically conducts outreach to Latina women and families in need of legal services. Through its targeted outreach and legal clinics, participants receive help on understanding the legal system, immigration issues, family law matters and other legal problems. LBF funds will support the Center's targeted outreach to the Latino community and the development of a pro bono attorney panel to assist program participants in understanding legal problems and how to resolve them. | $10,000 |
| Louisville Bar Association Louisville, KY | The Louisville Bar Association's New Lawyer Academy is a comprehensive six-month program designed for attorneys with up to three years of experience. This inaugural academy aims to equip new lawyers with the skills and knowledge necessary for a successful legal career. The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, addressing both professional and personal development needs. Career development is key component, covering personal branding, mentoring, and partnership tracks. Ethical considerations, including confidentiality and pro bono work, are integrated into the curriculum. The New Lawyer Academy seeks to bridge the gap between law school education and the realities of legal practice, setting new attorneys on a path to long-term career success. The grant for the LBF will fund scholarships for solo or small firm practitioners or other s who other wise cannot afford the full tuition. | $10,000 |
| University of Louisville Ackerson Law Clinic Louisville, KY | The Ackerson Law Clinic at the University of Louisville's Brandeis School of Law offers students who have completed initial course requirements the opportunity for practical experience by representing clients under the supervision of clinical instructors. The Mediation Program allows students to apply their mediation skills to assist low-income clients on issues which traditionally complicate and delay judicial resolution of Family Court disputes - custody, visitation, child support. LBF funds support this program designed to help the underserved population to improve the efficiency of Family Courts, and to enhance the practical skills of law students. | $10,000 |
| Kentucky Equal Justice Center Lexington, KY | Legal Clinics for Tenant's Rights: As a poverty law research and advocacy center, Kentucky Equal Justice Center (KEJC) works with the regional legal aid programs and community partners to promote equal access to justice for all Kentuckians. Low-income residents often face housing instability because they lack information on legal protections and how to access legal services. KEJC will collaborate with Louisville community partners in offering monthly clinics education tenants on issues related to maintenance of rental premises, illegal fees, unlawful rent increases, retaliation and other issues threatening tenants' housing stability. The LBF grant will support monthly clinics and related outreach materials. | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,275,278 | $268,854 | $245,969 | $159,536 |
| 2023 | $3,860,264 | $255,061 | $214,059 | $137,500 |
| 2022 | $3,419,112 | $227,591 | $203,738 | $125,315 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,275,278 | $3,860,264 | $3,419,112 |
| Revenue | $268,854 | $255,061 | $227,591 |
| Expenses | $245,969 | $214,059 | $203,738 |
| Net Investment Income | $143,597 | $113,569 | $91,885 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Foundation’s 2024 filing lists Jeffrey A. Been as Executive Director. Officers listed for that year were Charles H. Stopher, President; Sara V. Judd, President Elect; Gregory T. Dutton, Vice President & Treasurer; Joseph C. Ventura, Secretary; and Gretchen C. Avery, Past President. Directors listed were Garry R. Adams, Jennifer M. Barbour, Bruce A. Brightwell, and Nicole T. Cook.
Louisville Bar Foundation Inc is led by Charles H Stopher, President since 2024 (on filings since 2021); none of the 26 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Charles H Stopher
President
Vice President & Treasurer → President Elect, 2023
President Elect → President, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey A Been
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Angela Johnson
Director
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia B Doll
Director
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ingrid V Geiser
Director
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jessica R C Malloy
Director
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Loren T Prizant
Director
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicole T Cook
Director
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Samuel E T Jones
Director
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bruce A Brightwell
Director
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Beth H McMasters
Director
On filings since 2023
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dean Melanie Jacobs
Director
On filings since 2023
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jameson L Gay
Director
On filings since 2023
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle D Wyrick
Director
On filings since 2023
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Garry R Adams
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey S Moad
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer M Barbour
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sherry L Hurley
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gregory T Dutton
Vice President & Treasurer
Director → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Vice President & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gretchen C Avery
Past President
President-Elect → President, 2023
President → Past President, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph C Ventura
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sara V Judd
President Elect
Secretary → Vice President & Treasurer, 2023
Vice President & Treasurer → President Elect, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kate Lacy Crosby
Lba Representative
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Samuel G Graber
Tax Counsel
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bryan R Armstrong
Lba Representative
On filings since 2023
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maria A Fernandez
Lba Representative
New on the 2024 filing
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: J Christopher Coffman (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Kelly White Bryant (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Philip C Eschels (2021–2023) — Past President
- Former: Seth Gladstein (2021–2023) — Lba Representative
- Former: Janet P Jakubowicz (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Deena G Ombres (2021–2022) — Lba Representative
- Former: John E Selent (2021–2022) — Past President
- Former: Kevin C Burke (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Virginia H Snell (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Lars Smith (2022) — Director
- Former: Angela McCorkle Buckler (2021) — Past President
- Former: Benjamin J Lewis (2021) — Director
- Former: Colin Crawford (2021) — Director
- Former: John O Sheller (2021) — Director
- Former: Peter H Wayne (2021) — Lba Representative
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 600 West Main Street Ste 110, Louisville, KY 40202-4917
Phone: (502) 583-5314
Website: https://loubar.org
Frequently asked questions about Louisville Bar Foundation Inc
How much does Louisville Bar Foundation Inc give each year?
Louisville Bar Foundation Inc gave $160K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $138K across 10 grants.
What is Louisville Bar Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Louisville Bar Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $14,503, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Louisville Bar Foundation Inc that year got $15K on average.
Where does Louisville Bar Foundation Inc give grants?
Louisville Bar Foundation Inc gives mostly in Kentucky: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Louisville, KY (10 grants).
Does Louisville Bar Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Louisville Bar Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Louisville Bar Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Louisville Bar Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Legal Aid Society ($35,000 across 2 grants), Kentucky Refugee Ministries Inc ($30,000) and Finer Pearls Foundation ($21,536), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Louisville Bar Foundation Inc?
Louisville Bar Foundation Inc reported $4.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $269K.
What does Louisville Bar Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to raise and distribute grants to not-for-profit organizations in the Louisville area that provide legal services to poor and disadvantaged people, educate citizens about the law, and support improvements to and access to the justice system. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Louisville Bar Foundation Inc?
Submit the LBF Grant Application Form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Louisville Bar Foundation Inc's EIN?
Louisville Bar Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1040473. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Louisville Bar Foundation Inc by hand.
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