Appalachian Kentucky Grant Program

Appalachian Kentucky Grant Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Steele-Reese Foundation
Amount: US $5,000 - US $50,000
Last Updated: February 15, 2026

Summary

The Steele-Reese Foundation's Kentucky Grant Program prioritizes enhancing educational outcomes for children in Appalachian Kentucky. Focused on ensuring third-graders can read and write at grade level, the program supports initiatives like improving school libraries and providing supplemental learning materials. With a commitment to rural education, proposals must detail execution plans and measurable outcomes. The Foundation emphasizes projects that empower communities, demonstrating a strong leadership capacity and community support, while also defining clear eligibility and ineligibility criteria for applicants.

Overview

Steele-Reese Foundation The Steele-Reese Foundation is a charitable trust committed to supporting rural communities and the nonprofit organizations that serve them in Idaho, Montana, and Appalachian Kentucky. Since its inception, the Foundation has maintained a focus on the unique challenges of rural living and on helping people build healthy, successful, and sustainable communities. For Kentucky Applicants We support Rural Education, Rural Human/Social Services, Rural Conservation and Preservation, Rural Health, and Rural Arts and Humanities. The highest priority of the Appalachian Kentucky Grant Program is ensuring that children leave the third-grade able to read and write on grade level; and that children leaving middle school can perform mathematics on grade level. Additional priorities include improving school libraries, providing supplemental materials to aid learning; elementary, middle, and high school programs that improve outcomes for students; support of literacy programs and out-of-school services. All proposals must be specific in identifying a rationale for funding, set out clear steps for execution of the work, and articulate measurable outcomes. Criteria The criteria that follow relate to each of the program areas listed above and offer guidance to prospective applicants. Proposed projects should: Serve rural areasHelp people to help themselvesBe modest and direct in aimBe narrow in functionBe based on experienceDemonstrate community financial, in-kind, or other supportBe essential, rather than merely desirableYield a direct and measurable, rather than a remote, benefit to peopleBe conducted by competent, practical organizations and managers and demonstrate strong leadership capacity at both the organizational and program level Capital Improvements and Campaigns In all program areas, the Foundation makes a limited number of grants for capital improvements, fixtures, and remodeling, retrofitting, and building new structures. In projects involving the building of a new facility or other large-scale capital endeavors, we typically make these grants only during the closing phases when a substantial portion of the required funds are already in hand. Program Areas Rural Education In both the Appalachian Kentucky and Idaho and Montana Grant Programs, the Foundation focuses on early childhood to Grade 12 education programming. Examples include funding for supplemental programs in early childhood education settings; elementary, middle, and high school programs that improve outcomes for students; support of literacy programs and out-of-school-time services; and charter schools and other model school programs that provide quality educational options for students and families. We also provide assistance to small public libraries. The Foundation does not accept applications to directly fund higher education, though we will consider early childhood to Grade 12 programs operated by colleges or universities or state or local education districts. The Foundation considers education projects that demonstrate a comprehensive level of engagement with participants that result in clear and measurable outcomes.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The Foundation considers requests from 501(c) 3 organizations and from governmental entities or agencies such as schools, fire departments, and libraries.All entities are required to submit proof of 501(c)3 tax-exempt status as part of their applications.The service area for the Appalachian Kentucky Grant Program is confined to the Appalachian counties designated by the federal Appalachian Regional Commission.

Ineligibility

At this time, we are not funding higher education or adult education programs.The Foundation will not consider proposals for support of projects to assist with any of the following:Endowment fundsEmergenciesCommunity funds and charity drivesConferences and workshops or their related travelDocumentariesEfforts to influence elections directly or indirectlyPlanning, research, or experimental projectsAthletic or academic competitions, or related travelSummer campsEfforts to promulgate religious or political beliefs or agendasNo grants are made to individuals or to entities that have not been recognized as federally tax-exempt by the Internal Revenue Service.