The W Bruce Lunsford Foundation Inc
The W Bruce Lunsford Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Louisville, Kentucky, established in 1990. The foundation reflects the philanthropic interests of W. Bruce Lunsford, an entrepreneur and businessman with a longstanding commitment to education and public service.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$271K
-59.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$740K
+6.3% YoY
Grant Count
25
-26.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$30K
+44.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The W Bruce Lunsford Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $56K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include:
- Education — with particular emphasis on scholarships and educational programs
- Science and STEM Education — including support for science teachers
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation demonstrates a particular commitment to supporting educational opportunities that emphasize citizenship, democracy, public service, and government affairs.
Grantmaking
The Lunsford Scholars Program at the University of Kentucky awards scholarships on a competitive basis to students from the College of Arts and Sciences with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and at least 60 earned credit hours. Demonstrated financial need is a selection criterion. The program funds high-impact learning opportunities including internships, education abroad, undergraduate research, and service-based learning, as well as an annual symposium and speaker series.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on:
- Kentucky
- New York
- Connecticut
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $271,223 |
| Total Giving (2024) | $740,150 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $271,223 | $660,829 | $1,325,082 |
| Revenue | $384,783 | $85,498 | $115,542 |
| Expenses | $774,554 | $749,751 | $527,032 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $740,150 | $696,200 | $482,730 |
| Net Investment Income | $165,264 | $452,255 | $1,442,667 |
| Distributable Amount | $55,998 | $77,619 | $86,245 |
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
173 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Northern Ky University Foundation ($300,000), University of Kentucky ($100,000), The Lexington Theatre Company ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BELLARMINE UNIVERSITY LOUISVILLE, KY | GENERAL | $25,000 |
| BELLARMINE UNIVERSITY LOUISVILLE, NY | GENERAL | $33,400 |
| CATHOLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION LOUISVILLE, KY | GENERAL | $7,500 |
| CATHOLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION LOUISVILLE, KY | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| CATHOLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION LOUISVILLE, KY | GENERAL | $25,000 |
| COMMONWEALTH FUND FOR KET INC LEXINGTON, KY | GENERAL | $2,000 |
| FUND FOR THE ARTS LOUISVILLE, KY | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| GRAYSON-JOCKEY CLUB RESEARCH LEXINGTON, KY | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| IMAGINATION LIBRARY OF LOUISVILLE LOUISVILLE, KY | GENERAL | $250 |
| NATIONAL MUSEUM OF RACING SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY | GENERAL | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
W. Bruce Lunsford — Founder and driving force behind the foundation's philanthropic activities. Lunsford is an attorney, businessman, and entrepreneur who served as Kentucky's Secretary of Commerce from 1981 to 1983 and has founded and led numerous companies in Louisville over nearly 40 years.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| W BRUCE LUNSFORD | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARY B EWING | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 5 | $30,000 |
| JUSTIN VETTER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation's most prominent recent initiative is the W. Bruce Lunsford Scholars Program in Citizenship and Public Service at the University of Kentucky, established through a $1 million pledge. This program supports undergraduate students interested in citizenship, democracy, and public service through scholarships, internships, education abroad opportunities, undergraduate research, and service-based learning experiences.
Michael Lunsford Named 2025 Recipient of The Community Foundation's David\Frequently Asked Questions
What does The W Bruce Lunsford Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include: • **Education** — with particular emphasis on scholarships and educational programs • **Science and STEM Education** — including support for science teachers • **Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking** • **Human Services** The foundation demonstrates a particular commitment to supporting educational opportunities that emphasize citizenship, democracy, public service, and government affairs.
How do I apply for a grant from The W Bruce Lunsford Foundation Inc?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $100,000 to $300,000. **Total Giving:** The foundation distributed $740,150 in grants according to its most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2024). **Notable Grants:** • $1 million pledge to establish the W. Bruce Lunsford Scholars Program in Citizenship and Public Service at the University of Kentucky • $3 million to Salmon P. Chase College of Law The Lunsford Scholars Program at the University of Kentucky awards scholarships on a competitive basis to st…
Where does The W Bruce Lunsford Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on: • Kentucky • New York • Connecticut
What size grants does The W Bruce Lunsford Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The W Bruce Lunsford Foundation Inc awarded 25 grants totaling $740K — an average of about $30K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The W Bruce Lunsford Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The W Bruce Lunsford Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $56K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The W Bruce Lunsford Foundation Inc's EIN?
The W Bruce Lunsford Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-1189700. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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