The Whippoorwill Family Foundation
The Whippoorwill Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Prospect, Kentucky, established in 2013. The foundation operates with no staff and is supported by James and Marianne Welch.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$887K
-6.5% YoY
Grant Count
42
+13.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
-17.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include:
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
- Human services
- Renewable energy and environmental conservation
- Historic preservation
- Creative writing
Grantmaking
The foundation made 38 grants in 2024, with total giving of $886,776. Typical grant awards range from $100 to $172,696.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking extends across multiple states, with primary focus areas in Kentucky, Maine, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $6,163,638
- Total revenues: $275,580
- Total expenses: $984,578
- Number of employees: 0
Tax Status
- EIN: 45-5631503
- IRS classification: 501(c)(3) private foundation
- Tax-exempt since: July 2013
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
133 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include New Jersey Audubon Society ($125,000), Louisville Orchestra ($118,600), Waterfront Botanical Gardens ($105,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACTORS THEATRE OF LOUISVILLE LOUISVILLE, KY | FOR GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| ALLIANCE FRANCAISE DE LOUISVILLE LOUISVILLE, KY | FOR GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $500 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF CANADIAN NATURE INC BUFFALO, NY | FOR GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $70,000 |
| BERNHEIM FOREST AND ARBORETUM CLERMONT, KY | FOR GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $17,500 |
| CANOPY CERTIFIED INC LOUISVILLE, KY | FOR GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| CENTRE ECOLOGIQUE DE PORT-AU-SAUMON | FOR GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $8,543 |
| COMMONWEALTH FUND FOR KET LEXINGTON, KY | FOR GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $2,500 |
| DERBY CITY CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL PROSPECT, KY | FOR GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| EARTH AND SPIRIT CENTER LOUISVILLE, KY | FOR GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| EVOLVE502 SCHOLARS FOUNDATION LOUISVILLE, KY | FOR GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARIANNE WELCH | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| J STIRLING WELCH III | VICE PRESIDENT | 0.1 | — |
| MAUD WELCH | VICE PRESIDENT | 0.1 | — |
| JAMES WELCH JR | TREASURER | 0.1 | — |
| ERIN SHINKLE | SECRETARY | 0.1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Whippoorwill Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include: • Arts and culture • Education • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking • Human services • Renewable energy and environmental conservation • Historic preservation • Creative writing
How do I apply for a grant from The Whippoorwill Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Amounts** The foundation made 38 grants in 2024, with total giving of $886,776. Typical grant awards range from $100 to $172,696. **Recent Grants (2024)** Notable grants include: • New Jersey Audubon Society: $125,000 • The Louisville Orchestra: $118,600 • Waterfront Botanical Gardens: $105,000 • Friends of Mammoth Cave National Park: $5,000 The foundation also supports organizations such as Louisville Ballet.
Where does The Whippoorwill Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking extends across multiple states, with primary focus areas in Kentucky, Maine, and New York.
What size grants does The Whippoorwill Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Whippoorwill Family Foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $887K — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Whippoorwill Family Foundation's EIN?
The Whippoorwill Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-5631503. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Whippoorwill Family Foundation'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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