Snowy Owl Foundation Inc
Snowy Owl Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Louisville, Kentucky. Founded on September 15, 2010, it supports Louisville- and Kentucky-area organizations working in land conservation, the arts, education, and human need.
Snowy Owl Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Snowy Owl Foundation Inc gave $404K across 93 grants in 2024 (avg $4K), mostly in Kentucky. 46% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $404,362
- +20.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 93
- -3.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $4,348
- +24.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $5,926,110
- +21.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 46% first-time grantees (43 of 93, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (96% 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 Snowy Owl Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website also describes an online application process, with applicants downloading an application, completing the requested information, and uploading required documents. The website says applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations and that requests for religious purposes and requests from individuals or political entities are not considered.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 each year.
- Deadline
- The website lists March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 each year.
- Contact
Mailing address: 471 West Main Street Ste 500, Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: (502) 585-5347
Website: https://snowyowlfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Snowy Owl Foundation Inc
Who Snowy Owl Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was ACLU of KY ($25K). Together the top 10 received $125K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($1,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
416 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 416 grants of 416 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says it supports Louisville- and Kentucky-area organizations, primarily in the local community, while also considering qualified regional projects. In 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Kentucky and 3% went to recipients in Indiana; the filing also reports a 0% share for New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 93 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Snowy Owl Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
46%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 43 of 93 grantees (46%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 35% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+13%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 103% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2024). 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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $230K (2019) to $404K (2024). In 2024 it made 93 grants totaling $404K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACLU of KY Louisville, KY | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| KY Dance Council Louisville, KY | General Support | $25,000 |
| Flight Club 502 Louisville, KY | General Support | $12,500 |
| Paws with Purpose Louisville, KY | General Support | $10,000 |
| Payne Hollow on the Ohio Inc Prospect, KY | General Support | $10,000 |
| River Heritage Conservancy Jeffersonville, IN | General Support | $10,000 |
| Louisville Orchestra Louisville, KY | General Support | $10,000 |
| The Morton Center Louisville, KY | Family-Focused Model | $8,000 |
| St Joseph Childrens Home Louisville, KY | General Support | $7,500 |
| Franklin Co Agency for Substance Ab Frankfort, KY | General Support | $7,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,926,110 | $1,511,565 | $449,827 | $404,362 | 93 | $410,528 | $363,816 | $398,208 |
| 2023 | $4,864,167 | $287,729 | $376,395 | $336,290 | 96 | $341,519 | $252,284 | $332,428 |
| 2022 | $4,971,553 | $955,421 | $395,969 | $343,450 | 84 | $352,981 | $387,230 | $325,680 |
| 2021 | $4,412,564 | $924,614 | $396,791 | $357,700 | 86 | $361,556 | $668,620 | $311,215 |
| 2020 | $3,884,741 | $361,020 | $284,966 | $253,842 | 57 | — | $219,417 | $246,665 |
| 2019 | $3,808,687 | $348,993 | $262,690 | $229,700 | 52 | — | $122,068 | $210,563 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Snowy Owl Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $398K for 2024 — 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 foundation’s website identifies its grantmaking categories as Land, Art, Education, and Human Need. Its grantees illustrate a range of work within those areas. For example, Payne Hollow on the Ohio says it works to preserve a historic Kentucky homestead, while River Heritage Conservancy says it creates and sustains parks and landscapes with natural and historic resources. Waterfront Botanical Gardens says it is developing an urban botanical garden with education and community activities. In human need, Paws with Purpose says it provides service dogs and ongoing support to people with disabilities other than blindness, and The Morton Center says it provides outpatient substance-use and mental-health services.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 93 grants totaling $404,362. Individual grants ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median of $3,000. Its FAQ says grants are typically determined by project scope and rarely exceed $5,000.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $25,000 to ACLU of Kentucky and $25,000 to Kentucky Dance Council, both for general support; $12,500 to Flight Club 502 for general support; and $10,000 each to Payne Hollow on the Ohio, River Heritage Conservancy, and Paws with Purpose. Flight Club 502 describes its work as youth empowerment through STEM and practical-life lessons, including aviation programs. The other organizations describe their work as historic preservation, conservation of parks and landscapes, and service-dog support, respectively.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s website lists Robert W. Griffith as chairman, Nana Lampton as executive director, Mo McKnight Howe as secretary, and Jerry Gerichs as treasurer. It also lists Kathleen LaJoie, Caroline Lussky, and Aaron Yarmuth as directors.
The 2024 filing lists Robert W. Griffith as chairman, Jean Smith as assistant secretary, Gerald W. Gerichs as treasurer, Nancy Lampton as executive director, and Aaron Yarmuth, Caroline Lussky, Kathleen Lajoie, and Mo Howe as directors.
Snowy Owl Foundation Inc is led by Robert W. Griffith, Chairman of since 2024 (on filings since 2019); none of the 8 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robert W. Griffith
Chairman of
Chairman of Board → Chairman of, 2024
On filings since 2019
1.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Aaron Yarmuth
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caroline Lussky
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen Lajoie
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mo Howe
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gerald W. Gerichs
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jean Smith
Assistant Se
Assistant Secretary → Assistant Se, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Lampton
Executive Di
Executive Director → Executive Di, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 Snowy Owl Foundation Inc
How much does Snowy Owl Foundation Inc give each year?
Snowy Owl Foundation Inc gave $404K across 93 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $336K across 96 grants.
What is Snowy Owl Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Snowy Owl Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $3,000, and its average grant was $4,348, across 93 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Snowy Owl Foundation Inc that year got $5K on average.
Where does Snowy Owl Foundation Inc give grants?
Snowy Owl Foundation Inc gives mostly in Kentucky: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Louisville, KY (68 grants), Frankfort, KY (3 grants), Berea, KY (3 grants) and Lexington, KY (3 grants).
Does Snowy Owl Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 67% of Snowy Owl Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (62 of 93) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Snowy Owl Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Snowy Owl Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include ACLU of KY ($25,000), KY Dance Council ($25,000) and Flight Club 502 ($12,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($1,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 15% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Snowy Owl Foundation Inc?
Snowy Owl Foundation Inc reported $5.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $411K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $398K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Snowy Owl Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s website identifies its grantmaking categories as Land, Art, Education, and Human Need. Its grantees illustrate a range of work within those areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Snowy Owl Foundation Inc?
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Snowy Owl Foundation Inc's EIN?
Snowy Owl Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-3594673. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Does Snowy Owl Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 27, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Snowy Owl Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Snowy Owl Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/snowy-owl-foundation-inc-morg_f9e3bb4fc2774b1c8fb24ca3c7325afc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_273594673_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Snowy Owl Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/snowy-owl-foundation-inc-morg_f9e3bb4fc2774b1c8fb24ca3c7325afc},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Snowy Owl 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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