The Lewis and Gladys Bass Family
The Lewis and Gladys Bass Family Charitable Foundation Inc. is a private charitable foundation based in Louisville, Kentucky. Established as a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation has been tax-exempt since January 2018. The foundation operates as a grantmaking organization focused on supporting charitable causes aligned with the Bass family's philanthropic interests.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$334K
-23.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$217K
-16.9% YoY
Grant Count
29
+11.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
-25.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lewis and Gladys Bass Family reported a distributable amount of $42K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grant-making priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Science and STEM Education
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Kentucky, West Virginia, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $333,604
- Total Revenue: $131,000
- Total Expenses: $233,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Total Giving: $216,500
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $333,604 | $436,034 | $530,082 |
| Revenue | $130,536 | $176,777 | $246,724 |
| Expenses | $232,966 | $270,825 | $355,932 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $216,500 | $260,500 | $338,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $114,070 | $176,777 | $246,724 |
| Distributable Amount | $41,591 | $46,034 | $58,244 |
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
139 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Uofl Athletics Association ($45,000), Kentucky to the World ($20,000), Louisville Metro Police Foundation ($16,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| APPLE PATCH COMMUNITY INC DBA PILLAR SUPPORT CRESTWOOD, KY | ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENATL DISABILITIES | $5,000 |
| APRON INC LOUISVILLE, KY | HELP PROVIDE TEMPORARY FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED RESTAURANT WORKERS IN NEED DUE TO NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN | $3,000 |
| BLUEGRASS RUNNERS LEXINGTON, KY | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO HELP PROMOTE FITNESS, FELLOWSHIP, AND FUN FOR RUNNERS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES | $1,000 |
| BOONE COUNTY DEPUTY ASSOCIATION MADISON, WV | SUPPORT FOR CHRISTMAS FUND FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES | $5,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF KENTUCKIANA LOUISVILLE, KY | PROVIDE SUPPORT TO INSPIRE AND ENABLE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE TO REALIZE AND DEVELOP THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS PRODUCTIVE, RESPONSIBLE, AND CARING CITIZENS | $10,000 |
| DELTA FOUNDATION 502 LOUISVILLE, KY | TO HELP SUPPORT AT-RISK YOUTH IN LOUISVILLE OBTAIN THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO BE SUCCESSFUL ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND ATHLETICALLY | $5,000 |
| FAIRNESS CAMPAIGN LOUISVILLE, KY | COMPREHENSIVE CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY AND TO DISMANTLE SYSTEMIC RACISM | $2,500 |
| FAMILY SCHOLAR HOUSE LOUISVILLE, KY | END CYCLE OF POVERTY BY EMPOWERING YOUTH TO SUCCEED IN EDUCATION | $5,000 |
| FRANCIS PARKER SCHOOL OF LOUISVILLE LOUISVILLE, KY | TO HELP CULTIVATE A JOYFUL, COMPASSIONATE, INTELLECTUAL COMMUNITY THAT CELEBRATES INDIVIDUALLY AND INSPIRES INDEPENDENT THINKING FOR LIFE | $5,000 |
| GILDA'S CLUB LOUISVILLE, KY | PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR CANCER VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Lewis "Sonny" Bass (June 5, 1921 – December 12, 2020) was a co-founder of the foundation. He was a University of Louisville alumnus who played football (1940-42) and basketball for the Cardinals. Bass had a distinguished business career as founder of Bass and Weisberg Realty (1952-80), a co-founder of Humana (1961), and a marketing director and partner for 40 movie theatres (1983-87). He served as a member of the UofL Board of Overseers and was inducted into the UofL Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994. He received the Hickman-Camp Award in 1995 for special service in support of Cardinal Athletics.
Gladys Bass (August 31, 1926 – February 10, 2021) was Lewis's wife of 74 years and co-founder of the foundation.
Together, Lewis and Gladys Bass contributed $500,000 for construction of the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center at the University of Louisville and funded a bronze statue of the Cardinal Bird at Cardinal Arena.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEVEN BASS | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| NED BASS | TREASURER/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MITCHELL BASS | SECRETARY/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Lewis and Gladys Bass Family fund?
The foundation's grant-making priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Science and STEM Education
How do I apply for a grant from The Lewis and Gladys Bass Family?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $60,000. **Recent Activity:** The foundation distributed $216,500 in total giving according to the most recent financial data available. **Known Grants:** The foundation awarded $2,500 to the Fairness Campaign in 2024 to support comprehensive civil rights legislation prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and to dismantle systemic racism.
Where does The Lewis and Gladys Bass Family make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Kentucky, West Virginia, and New York.
What size grants does The Lewis and Gladys Bass Family award?
In 2024, The Lewis and Gladys Bass Family awarded 29 grants totaling $217K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Lewis and Gladys Bass Family required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lewis and Gladys Bass Family reported a distributable amount of $42K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Lewis and Gladys Bass Family's EIN?
The Lewis and Gladys Bass Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-2641868. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Lewis and Gladys Bass Family's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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