The Frances N Alden Charitable Trust makes large, targeted grants primarily to Louisville-area nonprofits that deliver direct human services, cultural institutions, and public-facing civic amenities. Recent awards show a preference for organizations that serve vulnerable populations (children and hospice care) and strengthen community assets like museums, gardens, and the public library. Gifts are sizable and catalytic, intended to support program enrichment, facility capacity, and preservation of public benefit services.
Frances N Alden Charitable Tr’s largest recent gift was a $1.5 million award to Home of the Innocents in Louisville for work to “empower and enrich lives of” children and other vulnerable people. That single grant captures the trust’s pattern: large, targeted support for Louisville institutions that deliver direct services, cultural access, and civic amenities. Across the recent grants list, the trust backs child welfare, hospice care, public library programming, visual arts, historic preservation, and urban nature spaces. The trust’s giving is not broad and diffuse. It repeatedly supports the same local organizations with substantial awards over multiple years, including Speed Art Museum, Hosparus, Louisville Free Public Library Fdn, Historic Locust Grove Inc, and Olmsted Parks Conservancy. It also makes meaningful grants to community-serving intermediaries such as the Community Foundation of Louisville and to institutions that combine public benefit with preservation or education. Most recipients are in Louisville, and the pattern suggests a funder that favors direct program support and capacity for organizations with a clear public role.
In human services, the trust gave $204,000 to Cabbage Patch Settlement House to “equip and empower at-risk” participants, and it also supported Kids Center for Pediatric Therapies with $150,000. Those awards fit a broader pattern of direct support for organizations serving vulnerable children and families. For health-related care, Hosparus received $500,000 for “grief-counseling services,” followed by a $50,000 grant in 2024 for the same purpose. The trust also gave $150,000 to Hildegard House, indicating attention to care settings tied to serious illness or end-of-life support. The arts and civic heritage side includes $250,000 to Fund for the Arts Inc and $400,000 to Historic Locust Grove Inc for “preserving a national” resource. Library and nature grants are also prominent: Louisville Free Public Library Fdn received $500,000 and $100,000 for program enhancement, while Waterfront Botanical Gardens received $500,000 for work “to preserve healthy nature.”
Typical grant size is substantial: the distribution sits at $72,500 at the 25th percentile, $175,000 at the median, and $312,500 at the 75th percentile. The trust makes both one-time awards and repeated gifts to the same organizations across years, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than a purely transactional pattern. Its recent grant list also includes multiple grants to the same recipients in different years, including several local institutions in Louisville. The foundation is a charitable trust, and it funds individuals as well as organizations.
$4.9M
$45.5M
$5.8M
$5.1M
Most grants fall between $73K and $313K, with a median of $175K.
25th Percentile
$73K
Median
$175K
75th Percentile
$313K
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Concentrated, high-dollar local grants (five gifts totaling $4M) across a small number of organizations; typically one-time large awards for program/enrichment, capital, or capacity rather than many small grants. Funding is local and diversified across civic institutions rather than repeated micro‑giving.
Notable grantees: Home of the Innocents, Speed Art Museum, Hosparus Inc, Waterfront Botanical Gardens, Louisville Free Public Library Foundation
The trust’s giving is overwhelmingly local. Kentucky is the top state by grant count, and 94% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Louisville is the dominant recipient city, appearing across the recent grants list with organizations in arts, health, education, parks, and human services. A small number of grants land outside Kentucky, including Childrens Hospital Foundation in Richmond, Virginia, and Dogs Helping Heroes Inc in Clarksville, Indiana. All recorded grants in the provided data are in the United States.
Recent grant sizes cluster around a median of $175,000, with the 25th percentile at $72,500 and the 75th percentile at $312,500. The list also includes larger awards such as $1.5 million and $1 million, showing that the trust can make major multi-hundred-thousand-dollar grants.
The trust funds child welfare and residential services, hospice and grief counseling, library program enhancement, arts and museum capacity, historic preservation, botanical gardens, and parks. Recent grantees include Home of the Innocents, Hosparus, Louisville Free Public Library Fdn, Speed Art Museum, Historic Locust Grove Inc, and Olmsted Parks Conservancy.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Home of the Innocents, Hosparus, Speed Art Museum, Louisville Free Public Library Fdn, Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Cabbage Patch Settlement House, Historic Locust Grove Inc, Waterfront Botanical Gardens, Louisville Collegiate School, and the Community Foundation of Louisville.
Most grants go to Kentucky, and 94% of the grants in the dataset are to recipients in the HQ state. Louisville is the main recipient city, with a smaller number of grants going to Richmond, Virginia, and Clarksville, Indiana.
Yes. The foundation’s profile indicates that it funds individuals, in addition to organizations. The recent grants list primarily shows institutional awards, but the funder-level data confirms individual support as part of its activity.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME OF THE INNOCENTS | Louisville, KY | $1,500,000 | 2026 | EMPOWER AND ENRICH LIVES OF |
| LOUISVILLE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY FDN | LOUISVILLE, KY | $500,000 | 2026 | ENHANCE LIBRARY'S PROGRAMS |
| HISTORIC LOCUST GROVE INC | Louisville, KY | $435,900 | 2026 | PRESERVING A NATIONAL |
| SPEED ART MUSEUM | Louisville, KY | $300,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE FOUNDATION | Louisville, KY | $300,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| NEUROPLASTICITY ALLIANCE | Sandy Springs, GA | $250,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| Hosparus inc | Louisville, KY | $250,000 | 2026 | GRIEF- COUNSELING SERVICES |
| OLMSTED PARKS CONSERVANCY | Louisville, KY | $200,000 | 2026 | RESTORING AND PROTECTING |
| Kids Center for Pediatric Therapies | Louisville, KY | $200,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| FAMILY SCHOLAR HOUSE | Louisville, KY | $150,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| Fund for the Arts Inc | Louisville, KY | $150,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| CABBAGE PATCH SETTLEMENT HOUSE | Louisville, KY | $120,000 | 2026 | EQUIP AND EMPOWER AT-RISK |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF LOUISVILLE | Louisville, KY | $100,000 | 2026 | EMPOWER AND MAKING |
| LOUISVILLE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL | Louisville, KY | $100,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| WATERFRONT BOTANICAL GARDENS | Louisville, KY | $100,000 | 2026 | TO PRESERVE HEALTHY NATURE |
| Dare to Care Inc | Louisville, KY | $100,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| HILDEGARD HOUSE | LOUISVILLE, KY | $50,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| HORSESENING | Shelbyville, KY | $35,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| DOGS HELPING HEROES INC | Clarksville, IN | $25,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| VISUALLY IMPAIRED PRESCHOOL SVC | Louisville, KY | $25,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| LOUISVILLE PUBLIC MEDIA | Louisville, KY | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| PETERSON-DUMESNIL HOUSE FOUNDATION | Louisville, KY | $4,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| LOUISVILLE CHORUS | Louisville, KY | $1,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| HOME OF THE INNOCENTS | Louisville, KY | $1,500,000 | 2025 | EMPOWER AND ENRICH LIVES OF |
| LOUISVILLE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY FDN | LOUISVILLE, KY | $500,000 | 2025 | ENHANCE LIBRARY'S PROGRAMS |
| Hosparus inc | Louisville, KY | $500,000 | 2025 | GRIEF- COUNSELING SERVICES |
| HISTORIC LOCUST GROVE INC | Louisville, KY | $400,000 | 2025 | PRESERVING A NATIONAL |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF LOUISVILLE | Louisville, KY | $400,000 | 2025 | EMPOWER AND MAKING |
| SPEED ART MUSEUM | Louisville, KY | $300,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| Fund for the Arts Inc | Louisville, KY | $250,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| LOUISVILLE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL | Louisville, KY | $210,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| CABBAGE PATCH SETTLEMENT HOUSE | Louisville, KY | $204,000 | 2025 | EQUIP AND EMPOWER AT-RISK |
| Kids Center for Pediatric Therapies | Louisville, KY | $150,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| HILDEGARD HOUSE | LOUISVILLE, KY | $150,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| WATERFRONT BOTANICAL GARDENS | Louisville, KY | $100,000 | 2025 | TO PRESERVE HEALTHY NATURE |
| Childrens Hospital Foundation | Richmond, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| OLMSTED PARKS CONSERVANCY | Louisville, KY | $100,000 | 2025 | RESTORING AND PROTECTING |
| DOGS HELPING HEROES INC | Clarksville, IN | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| HORSESENING | Shelbyville, KY | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| SPEED ART MUSEUM | Louisville, KY | $1,000,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| WATERFRONT BOTANICAL GARDENS | Louisville, KY | $500,000 | 2024 | TO PRESERVE HEALTHY NATURE |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF LOUISVILLE | Louisville, KY | $300,000 | 2024 | EMPOWER AND MAKING |
| OLMSTED PARKS CONSERVANCY | Louisville, KY | $150,000 | 2024 | RESTORING AND PROTECTING |
| LOUISVILLE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY FDN | LOUISVILLE, KY | $100,000 | 2024 | ENHANCE LIBRARY'S PROGRAMS |
| Hosparus inc | Louisville, KY | $50,000 | 2024 | GRIEF- COUNSELING SERVICES |
| HOME OF THE INNOCENTS | Louisville, KY | $50,000 | 2024 | EMPOWER AND ENRICH LIVES OF |
| CABBAGE PATCH SETTLEMENT HOUSE | Louisville, KY | $25,000 | 2024 | EQUIP AND EMPOWER AT-RISK |
| OLMSTED PARKS CONSERVANCY | Louisville, KY | $350,000 | 2023 | RESTORING AND PROTECTING |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF LOUISVILLE | Louisville, KY | $300,000 | 2023 | EMPOWER AND MAKING |
| LOUISVILLE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY FDN | LOUISVILLE, KY | $250,000 | 2023 | ENHANCE LIBRARY'S PROGRAMS |
HOME OF THE INNOCENTS
$1,500,000EMPOWER AND ENRICH LIVES OF
LOUISVILLE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY FDN
$500,000ENHANCE LIBRARY'S PROGRAMS
HISTORIC LOCUST GROVE INC
$435,900PRESERVING A NATIONAL
SPEED ART MUSEUM
$300,000CHARITABLE
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE FOUNDATION
$300,000CHARITABLE
NEUROPLASTICITY ALLIANCE
$250,000CHARITABLE
Hosparus inc
$250,000GRIEF- COUNSELING SERVICES
OLMSTED PARKS CONSERVANCY
$200,000RESTORING AND PROTECTING
Kids Center for Pediatric Therapies
$200,000CHARITABLE
FAMILY SCHOLAR HOUSE
$150,000CHARITABLE
Fund for the Arts Inc
$150,000CHARITABLE
CABBAGE PATCH SETTLEMENT HOUSE
$120,000EQUIP AND EMPOWER AT-RISK
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF LOUISVILLE
$100,000EMPOWER AND MAKING
LOUISVILLE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL
$100,000SCHOLARSHIP
WATERFRONT BOTANICAL GARDENS
$100,000TO PRESERVE HEALTHY NATURE
Dare to Care Inc
$100,000CHARITABLE
HILDEGARD HOUSE
$50,000CHARITABLE
HORSESENING
$35,000CHARITABLE
DOGS HELPING HEROES INC
$25,000CHARITABLE
VISUALLY IMPAIRED PRESCHOOL SVC
$25,000CHARITABLE
LOUISVILLE PUBLIC MEDIA
$5,000CHARITABLE
PETERSON-DUMESNIL HOUSE FOUNDATION
$4,000CHARITABLE
LOUISVILLE CHORUS
$1,000CHARITABLE
HOME OF THE INNOCENTS
$1,500,000EMPOWER AND ENRICH LIVES OF
LOUISVILLE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY FDN
$500,000ENHANCE LIBRARY'S PROGRAMS
Hosparus inc
$500,000GRIEF- COUNSELING SERVICES
HISTORIC LOCUST GROVE INC
$400,000PRESERVING A NATIONAL
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF LOUISVILLE
$400,000EMPOWER AND MAKING
SPEED ART MUSEUM
$300,000CHARITABLE
Fund for the Arts Inc
$250,000CHARITABLE
LOUISVILLE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL
$210,000SCHOLARSHIP
CABBAGE PATCH SETTLEMENT HOUSE
$204,000EQUIP AND EMPOWER AT-RISK
Kids Center for Pediatric Therapies
$150,000CHARITABLE
HILDEGARD HOUSE
$150,000CHARITABLE
WATERFRONT BOTANICAL GARDENS
$100,000TO PRESERVE HEALTHY NATURE
Childrens Hospital Foundation
$100,000CHARITABLE
OLMSTED PARKS CONSERVANCY
$100,000RESTORING AND PROTECTING
DOGS HELPING HEROES INC
$25,000CHARITABLE
HORSESENING
$25,000CHARITABLE
SPEED ART MUSEUM
$1,000,000CHARITABLE
WATERFRONT BOTANICAL GARDENS
$500,000TO PRESERVE HEALTHY NATURE
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF LOUISVILLE
$300,000EMPOWER AND MAKING
OLMSTED PARKS CONSERVANCY
$150,000RESTORING AND PROTECTING
LOUISVILLE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY FDN
$100,000ENHANCE LIBRARY'S PROGRAMS
Hosparus inc
$50,000GRIEF- COUNSELING SERVICES
HOME OF THE INNOCENTS
$50,000EMPOWER AND ENRICH LIVES OF
CABBAGE PATCH SETTLEMENT HOUSE
$25,000EQUIP AND EMPOWER AT-RISK
OLMSTED PARKS CONSERVANCY
$350,000RESTORING AND PROTECTING
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF LOUISVILLE
$300,000EMPOWER AND MAKING
LOUISVILLE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY FDN
$250,000ENHANCE LIBRARY'S PROGRAMS