The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc
The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc. is a public charity based in Frankfort, Kentucky. It funds civil legal aid, law-related education, and initiatives intended to improve access to justice and public understanding of the legal system across the Commonwealth.
The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc gave $1.3M across 29 grants in 2025 (avg $45K), mostly in Kentucky. 48% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,317,040
- -19.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 29
- +31.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $45,415
- -39.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $22,160,647
- +35.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 48% first-time grantees (13 of 27, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
Submit an application electronically during the grant cycle. The program requires an eligible tax-exempt organization and a law-related project serving Kentucky. The application form is scheduled to become available January 4, 2027.
- Review Cycle
- March 1, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
- Deadline
- March 1, 2027, at 11:59 p.m.
- Next open deadline
- March 2, 2027 (Kentucky Bar Foundation Annual Grants)
- Contact
Mailing address: 514 W Main St, Frankfort, KY 40601-1812
Phone: (502) 564-3795
Website: https://kybarfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc
Who The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky Inc (Appalred Legal Aid ($299K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($20,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
135 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 115 grants of 135 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s annual grant program is limited to programs providing services in Kentucky. In its 2025 IRS filing, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Kentucky and 1% to recipients in the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
48%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 27 grantees (48%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $34K; repeat grants $61K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $13K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $680K (2021) to $1.7M (2019). In 2025 it made 29 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky Inc (Appalred Legal Aid Prestonsburg, KY | Appalred central intake and volunteer lawyers for appalachian Kentucky | $298,700 |
| Legal Aid of the Bluegrass Covington, KY | Volunteer Lawyer Program & Iolta Fellowship Program | $261,500 |
| Legal Aid Society Inc Lousiville, KY | Kentucky Legal Aid Legal Assistance Project and Veterans | $236,800 |
| Kentucky Legal Aid Bowling Green, KY | Legal Aid Society Funding | $228,000 |
| NKU Research Foundationchase Highland Height, KY | Iolta Public Service Fellowships | $20,000 |
| Student Public Interst Law Foundation University of Kentucky College of L Lexington, KY | Iolta Public Service Fellowships | $20,000 |
| Uoflgreenebaum Public Service Program Louisville, KY | Iolta Public Service Fellowships | $20,000 |
| Family Enrichment Center Bowling Green, KY | Supervised Visitation | $15,000 |
| Holly Hill Child & Family Solutions California, KY | Supervised Visitation | $15,000 |
| La Casita Center Lousiville, KY | For Legal Aid | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The Foundation’s 2024 filing states that grant recipients are required to submit semi-annual and annual reports, and that periodic site visits are conducted. It also states that the executive director’s salary and benefits are paid by the Kentucky Bar Association, with the Foundation and IOLTA Fund reimbursing the association or the executive director.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $22,160,647 | $7,054,220 | $1,861,046 | $1,317,040 | 29 | $947,183 |
| 2024 | $16,375,038 | $6,415,476 | $2,019,594 | $1,641,972 | 22 | $400,115 |
| 2023 | $11,048,589 | $3,795,433 | $1,319,024 | $937,400 | 32 | $3,562,053 |
| 2022 | $8,361,690 | $1,475,124 | $1,258,442 | $873,500 | 26 | $373,791 |
| 2021 | $9,276,329 | $1,606,050 | $2,266,723 | $680,400 | 26 | $474,079 |
| 2020 | $9,147,873 | $1,859,217 | $2,190,786 | $852,001 | 23 | $191,730 |
| 2019 | $9,412,691 | $1,823,600 | $2,011,918 | $1,734,571 | 26 | $371,971 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is “to promote the administration of justice and to educate the public about the role of the judicial system and the legal profession in the society.” Its grants support organizations delivering civil legal aid, expanding law-related education, and helping people understand and navigate the legal system.
Examples show the range of organizations supported. Legal Aid Society Inc. says its mission is to make justice accessible regardless of financial status by providing free civil legal help on income, family, housing, safety, and health issues. La Casita Center Inc. describes its mission as enhancing the well-being of Louisville’s Latinx community through education, empowerment, advocacy, and wellness. Family Enrichment Center Inc. says it works to empower families and prevent child abuse through education, social support, crisis intervention, and a safe environment for parents and children.
Grantmaking
The Foundation makes annual grants to nonprofit organizations for law-related programs and projects serving Kentucky. Its website says applicants must be tax-exempt organizations, such as 501(c)(3) organizations, and the proposed program must have a law-related purpose and provide services in Kentucky. Applications are submitted electronically.
The 2025 IRS filing lists 29 grants totaling $1,317,040. Individual grants ranged from $5,240 to $298,700, with a median of $10,000. The largest listed awards were $298,700 to Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky Inc. for Appalachian legal aid intake and volunteer lawyers; $261,500 to Legal Aid of the Bluegrass for its Volunteer Lawyer Program and IOLTA Fellowship Program; $236,800 to Legal Aid Society Inc. for its legal assistance project and veterans; and $228,000 to Kentucky Legal Aid for legal aid funding.
The Foundation separately reported $311,910 awarded through its 2025 annual grants program. It reported awarding $475,000 to 53 organizations in 2026.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Susan Hanley Duncan is the Foundation’s executive director. The 2025 filing lists Jack N. Lackey Jr., Natasha Camenisch Little, G. Kent Price, Lindsay H. Hinton, J. Andrew Johnson, Stephanie McGehee-Shacklette, Douglas G. Benge, Shawna M. VanHook, and Bradley A. Case as directors; J. Hadden Dean is listed as KBF vice president.
The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc is led by Emily E. Walters, Kbf President since 2025 (on filings since 2019); none of the 42 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Emily E. Walters
Kbf President
Kbf Vice President → Kbf President-Elect, 2024
Kbf President-Elect → Kbf President, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Duncan
Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
L. Miller Grumley
Director & Iolta Chair
Iolta Secretary & Treasurer → Iolta Chair, 2024
Iolta Chair → Director & Iolta Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jack N. Lackey Jr.
Director
Iolta Secretary & Treasurer → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Luther Deaton Jr.
Iolta Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2023
Trustee → Iolta Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rhonda M. Copley
Director
Director → Iolta Chair, 2023
Iolta Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Douglas G. Benge
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
G. Kent Price
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
J. Andrew Johnson
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judith Daar
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Simpson
Iolta Trustee
Iolta Chair → Trustee, 2023
Trustee → Iolta Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie McGehee-Shacklette
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eileen M. O'Brien
Iolta Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2023
Trustee → Iolta Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Miranda D. Click
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jessica L. Craven
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Natasha Camenisch Little
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bradley A. Case
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jdg Jacqueline Caldwell
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lindsay H. Hinton
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melanie B. Jacobs
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deena G. Ombres
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jdg Paul E. Craft
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Justice Kelly Thompson
Director & Iolta Trustee
Iolta Trustee → Director & Iolta Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Olivia H. Gilkison
Iolta Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rewa Medhat Zakharia
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Aaron A. Cole-Funfsinn
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Hill
Iolta Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caitlin J. Grimes
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James A. Dietz
Iolta Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jdg M. Brent Hall
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul E. Salamanca
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rhonda Jennings Blackburn
Kba President Representative & Iolta Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
S. Beth Moore
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shawna M. Vanhook
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephen G. Amato
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
J. Hadden Dean
Kbf Vice President
Director → Kbf Secretary-Treasurer, 2024
Kbf Secretary-Treasurer → Kbf Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melinda T. Sunderland
Kbf President-Elect
Kbf Secretary & Treasurer → Kbf Vice President, 2024
Kbf Vice President → Kbf President-Elect, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Wagner Kennedy
Kbf Secretary-Treasurer
Director → Kbf Secretary-Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sadhna G. True
Kbf Immediate Past President
Kbf Pres-Elect → Kbf President, 2024
Kbf President → Kbf Immediate Past President, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clay M. Stevens
Iolta Sec-Treas
Trustee → Iolta Trustee, 2024
Iolta Trustee → Iolta Sec-Treas, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
W. Fletcher Schrock
Kba Past President Representative
Director → Kba Past President Representative, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christine L. Stanley
Young Lawyers Division Representative
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (53)
- Former: Brittany N Riley (2019–2024) — Iolta Trustee
- Former: Delores Woods Baker (2019–2024) — Kbf Immediate Past President
- Former: Guion L Johnstone (2019–2024) — Executive Director
- Former: Joshua E Santana (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Kelly Kirby Ridings (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Elizabeth G Weber (2020–2024) — Iolta Sec-Treas
- Former: Mary J David (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Amy D Cubbage (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: John M Gambrel (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Jdg Susan Wesley McClure (2024) — Director
- Former: Kyle Bunnell (2024) — Director
- Former: Allison J Donovan (2019–2023) — Kbf Imm Past President
- Former: Don W F Rodgers (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Judge Earl-Ray Neal (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Judge David L Holton II (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Richard W Martin (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: JD Meyer (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Donald H Combs III (2023) — Director
- Former: Jdg Patricia Summe (2023) — Director
- Former: Kelly Thompson (2023) — Trustee
- Former: H Douglas Willen (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: John R Crockett III (2019–2022) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Judge AC McKay Chauvin (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Justice Lisabeth T Hughes (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Scott D Laufenberg (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Judge Kelly D Thompson (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Thomas N Kerrick (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Elizabeth A Combs (2022) — Director
- Former: Lars S Smith (2022) — Director
- Former: Benjamin W Carter (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Colin Crawford (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: James A Sigler (2019–2021) — Imm Past President
- Former: Julie R Gillum (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Megan P Keane (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Robert Edward Sanders (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: J Stephen Smith (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Douglas C. Ballantine (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Rebekkah Bravo Rechter (2019–2020) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Robert W. Kellerman (2019–2020) — Iolta Chair
- Former: Senator Robin L. Webb (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: William J. Baird III (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Edward L. Metzger III (2020) — Director
- Former: B. Todd Wetzel (2019) — Director
- Former: David A. Brennen (2019) — Director
- Former: John G. Wright (2019) — Director
- Former: Judge Glenn E. Acree (2019) — Director
- Former: Judge Vanessa Mullins Dickson (2019) — Director
- Former: Michael Whiteman (2019) — Director
- Former: R. Harvey Johnston III (2019) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Sarah Hay Knight (2019) — Director
- Former: Stephen D. Gray (2019) — Director
- Former: Susan C. Montalvo-Gesser (2019) — Director
- Former: William R. Garmer (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc
How much does The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc give each year?
The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc gave $1.3M across 29 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 22 grants.
What is The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $45,415, across 29 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc that year got $34K on average.
Where does The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc give grants?
The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc gives mostly in Kentucky: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Bowling Green, KY (4 grants), Lexington, KY (4 grants), Covington, KY (3 grants) and Louisville, KY (3 grants).
Does The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 29 grants with a stated purpose on The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Immigration" (4 grants), "Iolta Public Service Fellowships" (3 grants) and "Domestic Abuse" (3 grants).
Who are The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky Inc (Appalred Legal Aid ($298,700), Legal Aid of the Bluegrass ($261,500) and Legal Aid Society Inc ($236,800), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($20,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc?
The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc reported $22.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.1M.
What does The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is “to promote the administration of justice and to educate the public about the role of the judicial system and the legal profession in the society.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc?
Submit an application electronically during the grant cycle. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-0968842. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 13, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 22, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 2, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 9, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 23, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Other open foundation grants in Kentucky
Kentucky Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Louisville Bar Foundation Inc
Louisville, KY
The foundation funds Louisville-area nonprofits providing legal services to people with limited means, public legal education, and projects that improve access to or confidence in the justice system. Recent grants ranged from $8,000 to $30,000, with a median of $10,000; applicants must be IRS-recognized organizations with a sponsoring attorney. It accepts applications through its grant application process.
Assets
$4.3M
Grants
11
Total Given
$160K
Kentucky Council on Child Abuse D/B/a Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky
Lexington, KY
The Kentucky Council on Child Abuse funds prevention of child abuse and neglect, especially parent education, Parent Cafés, and family support services delivered by organizations across Kentucky. In 2025, grants ranged from $6,528 to $52,992, with a median of $11,747. It solicits proposals through its FY 2027–2028 request for proposals; the available information does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.8M
Grants
15
Total Given
$342K
Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels Inc
Louisville, KY
The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels funds Kentucky 501(c)(3) organizations serving Kentuckians, supporting projects in areas such as education, health, community services, arts, and disaster relief. Its 2024 grants ranged from $370 to $500,000, with a median of about $6,000; Good Works applications require a letter of intent, and the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$23.5M
Grants
358
Total Given
$4.5M
The Community Foundation of Louisville Corporate Depository Inc
Louisville, KY
The Community Foundation of Louisville supports 501(c)(3) organizations and charitable projects, with grants spanning human services, youth, education, health, housing, and philanthropy. In 2025, grants ranged from $5,157 to $720,515, with a median of $12,000; most funding went to Kentucky, particularly Louisville and some surrounding areas. It offers open application processes for specific programs, but the profile does not state whether it accepts general unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.3M
Grants
128
Total Given
$4.3M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Cralle Foundation Inc
Simpsonville, KY
The Cralle Foundation supports a broad range of charitable organizations, including those focused on human services, family support, recovery, disability services, parks, and animal welfare. In 2024, grants ranged from $400 to $10,500, with a median of $5,000, and went primarily to Kentucky organizations. It accepts requests by application; applicants are instructed to request one from the foundation.
Assets
$9.4M
Grants
99
Total Given
$665K
More similar funders
More Funders in Kentucky
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-kentucky-bar-foundation-inc-morg_e17a7e5ed178416ea9fc3892d9443d13
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_310968842_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-kentucky-bar-foundation-inc-morg_e17a7e5ed178416ea9fc3892d9443d13},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 The Kentucky Bar 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.
The Kentucky Bar Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?