Lexington Community Foundation Grants

The Lexington Community Foundation Grants provide essential financial support for projects that enhance the quality of life in the Lexington community. Targeting various charitable fields such as education, health, and arts, these grants empower nonprofit organizations to create lasting impacts. Eligible applicants include federally tax-exempt organizations that align with the foundation's mission. The LCF prioritizes innovative and sustainable initiatives that demonstrate community involvement and effectiveness. For further details, please refer to the provided guidelines.

Lexington Community Foundation Grant Program
The Lexington Community Foundation (LCF) provides financial assistance for programs and/or projects, which will enhance the quality of life for all residents of the Lexington community.
It is the responsibility of the LCF to distribute gifts from donors to a variety of not-for profit organizations that effectively serve the residents of the Lexington community in the charitable fields of human services, education, health, arts/culture, recreation, community/civic and religion (for non-denominational programs).
The LCF is a “community foundation” meaning we collect and administer charitable funds. We channel gifts from donors to a variety of nonprofit organizations. The LCF serves the area in three ways:
Seeking and soliciting gifts and bequests from individuals, families, corporations, and other not-for-profit organizations.Managing assets for preservation of principal, optimum return, and perpetuity of the donor’s intentions.Distributing funds through grants
Fields of Interest
The LCF awards grants in the following fields of interest:

• Education
• Health
• Art/Culture
• Recreational
• Human Services
• Religion(non-denominational programs)
• Community/Civic
• Please refer to this PDF for additional guidelines.

Eligibility

Grants maybe made for such charitable purposes that will enhance the quality of life for the residents of the Lexington area, regardless of race, creed, color, sex, national origin or age and must be consistent with such specific charitable areas of interest as recognized by the LCF as are determined by the sole discretion of the LCF Board of Directors.Nonprofit, federally tax-exempt 501(c)(3) qualified organizations or organizations delivering a project or program that qualifies as charitable activityProgramscapital projects such as construction, remodeling additions to existing buildings, and equipment purchases;challenge gifts under which grant awards will be authorized, provided other donors make matching gifts; and to promote leverage for generating additional funds;programs providing an impact that is likely to make a clear difference in the quality of life for a substantial number of people; and where a moderate amount of grant money can effect a significant result; innovation programs that represent an efficient approach to serving community needs and opportunities;an ongoing program’s projection of longevity as evidenced by plans for continuation beyond the initial funding period;projects and programs that promote the involvement of the talents of those people who are expected to benefit from the grant;seed grants to initiate promising new projects or programs that will demonstrate usefulness to the community and assist those populations not presently being adequately served;programs enlisting volunteer participation and citizen involvement;

Ineligibility

Under normal circumstances, the LCF does NOT award grants from its unrestricted funds to:IndividualsReligious activities (unless nondenominational and serving a broad segment of the population)Debt servicing or debt re-financing to replenish resources used to pay for such purposesOperational expenses;Established or new endowment funds;Travel, tours or trips, including honor conference and expanded studies, whether attended by an individual or a group, school class or sports teamActivities outside the Treasury RegulationsApplicable to community foundationAgencies serving a population outside of the LCF’s service area; or to programs that do not meet the mission of the LCF.