We support worthy nonprofits by actively engaging Colonels, fostering strong relationships, maintaining high grant vetting standards, and being good stewards of member contributions to strengthen the lives of Kentuckians.
Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels Inc. centers much of its recent grantmaking on disaster recovery in Kentucky, especially the aftermath of the 2021 western Kentucky tornadoes and the 2022 eastern Kentucky flooding. A single 2025 grant of $500,000 to The Hope Initiative for WKY Tornado Relief shows the scale at which the foundation can respond when communities need rebuilding support. Other large relief awards went to Disaster Services Corporation SVDP-USA, including $201,620 for WKY Tornado Relief and $175,000 for EKY Flood Relief, alongside a $159,326 flood-relief grant in the same year. The foundation also supports Kentucky nonprofits beyond catastrophe response. Its active programs include the Good Works Program, Emergency Grants, and grant guidelines for general applicants, and the recent grant list includes operating, scholarship, and facility-related awards. A 2025 grant of $100,000 to Kctcs for Better Life Scholarship; Standing Grant, and a $100,000 general-support grant to Kctcs in 2023, show that education and recurring institutional support sit alongside emergency aid. The organization’s stated approach emphasizes active engagement with Colonels, strong grant vetting, and stewardship of member contributions to strengthen the lives of Kentuckians.
Disaster recovery is the clearest thread in the foundation’s giving. In 2024, it awarded $360,000 to Camp GRAVES for Western Kentucky Tornado Relief, and the same theme appears across other recovery grants to Mayfield Graves LTRG Inc., Caldwell County LTRG, and Related local groups working in tornado-affected areas. Flood response is another major area. The foundation gave $132,500 to Housing Oriented Ministries Established for Service Inc. for EKY Flood Relief in 2025, and $100,000 to Housing Development Alliance for Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief in 2024. Those grants point to rebuilding and housing stabilization after the eastern Kentucky flooding. Its broader community support also includes education and human services. Kctcs received $100,000 for General Support in 2023 and another $100,000 in 2024 for Better Life Scholarship, while emergency and facility-related grants appear in the active programs, including support for sudden service disruptions and nonprofit infrastructure repairs.
$4.5M
$23.5M
$5.3M
$6.2M
Most grants fall between $8K and $16K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$16K
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Typical grant size clusters around a modest operating and project-support range, with a p25 of $7,791, median of $10,000, and p75 of $15,523. That distribution sits alongside occasional much larger disaster-response awards. The grant record also shows repeated support to the same recovery organizations over multiple years, especially in western and eastern Kentucky. The foundation offers multiple pathways for funding, including Active grant programs, a Donor-Advised Funds option, and a general Grant Applications / Grant Guidelines page. Its site says the Good Works Program has awarded funds since 1951.
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly Kentucky-focused: 98% of grants go to recipients in KY, and the top state by count is also KY. Recipient cities in the recent list include Louisville, Mayfield, Paducah, Central City, Dawson Springs, Hazard, Whitesburg, Booneville, Water Valley, and Versailles. The geographic pattern is local rather than national, with the grant list showing only US recipients.
Yes. The active program list includes a Grant Applications / Grant Guidelines page, a Good Works Program for Kentucky nonprofits, and an Emergency Grants program, and each is marked as accepting unsolicited requests.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations must be Kentucky nonprofits. Organizations with outstanding grant commitments from the Kentucky Colonels are not eligible until their previous grant file has been closed.
Deadline: Available year-round; limited emergency funds are available each year.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Hope Initiative | — | $500,000 | 2025 | WKY Tornado Relief |
| Disaster Services Corporation SVDP-USA | — | $201,620 | 2025 | WKY Tornado Relief |
| Disaster Services Corporation SVDP-USA | — | $175,000 | 2025 | EKY Flood Relief |
| Disaster Services Corporation SVDP-USA | — | $159,326 | 2025 | EKY Flood Relief |
| Housing Oriented Ministries Established for Service Inc | — | $132,500 | 2025 | EKY Flood Relief |
| The Hope Initiative | — | $125,000 | 2025 | WKY Tornado Relief |
| KCTCS | — | $100,000 | 2025 | Better Life Scholarship; Standing Grant |
| New Lease on Life Inc | — | $100,000 | 2025 | WKY Tornado Relief |
| Mayfield Graves LTRG Inc | — | $100,000 | 2025 | WKY Tornado Relief |
| Housing Development Alliance | — | $97,932 | 2025 | EKY Flood Relief |
| National Trust for Historic Preservation - St James AME Church | — | $71,000 | 2025 | WKY Tornado Relief |
| Camp GRAVES | — | $69,000 | 2025 | WKY Tornado Relief |
| Housing Oriented Ministries Established for Service Inc | — | $52,000 | 2025 | EKY Flood Relief |
| Audubon Area Community Services | — | $50,000 | 2025 | WKY Tornado Relief |
| United Helping Hand of Pikeville DBA Pike County Relief Services | — | $50,000 | 2025 | EKY Flood Relief |
| Bluegrass Center for Autism | — | $50,000 | 2025 | security for the new Fern Creek location |
| Housing Development Alliance | — | $48,880 | 2025 | EKY Flood Relief |
| Kaden's Cause | — | $40,000 | 2025 | To help with funeral costs from tornados in WKY |
| Kentucky Equine Humane Center | — | $30,000 | 2025 | horse veterinary care |
| Honor Flight Kentucky Inc | — | $30,000 | 2025 | toward American Airlines costs for Veterans participating in the Honor Flight Kentucky program |
| Floyd County Long Term Recovery Group | — | $26,250 | 2025 | EKY Flood Relief |
| Water Into Wine Food Pantry | — | $25,352 | 2025 | Roof & Ceiling Replacement - $12,451.68 Roof & Ceiling Labor - $12,900.00 |
| Blessings in a Backpack | — | $25,000 | 2025 | food for weekend backpack program |
| New Day Ranch Inc | — | $22,600 | 2025 | a manure spreader |
| SOS International Inc | — | $21,480 | 2025 | garage door, flooring, and four tables |
| Down Syndrome of Louisville | — | $20,000 | 2025 | a used bus |
| Lighthouse Ministries | — | $20,000 | 2025 | a walk-in Cooler |
| Camp Horsin' Around | — | $20,000 | 2025 | materials to construct the pavilion |
| Lords Legacy Life Ministries | — | $20,000 | 2025 | van |
| Hospice Care Plus | — | $20,000 | 2025 | toward HVAC system |
| DCCH Center for Children and Families | — | $20,000 | 2025 | toward security system requested |
| Hope Academy For Kids | — | $20,000 | 2025 | a passenger van |
| Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity | — | $19,508 | 2025 | Hurricane Relief |
| Exodus Family Ministries | — | $18,500 | 2025 | a passenger van |
| White House Clinics | — | $17,881 | 2025 | a Patient Simulator System |
| Pillar | — | $17,636 | 2025 | flooring materials and labor for home #2 |
| Opportunity Center of Owensboro | — | $17,628 | 2025 | items requested to create a safe space |
| Send Relief | — | $17,508 | 2025 | Hurricane Relief |
| Feeding the Carolinas | — | $17,508 | 2025 | Hurricane Relief |
| Mountain Ways | — | $17,508 | 2025 | Hurricane Relief |
| Second Harvest of Big Bend | — | $17,508 | 2025 | Hurricane Relief |
| New Pathways for Children | — | $17,195 | 2025 | four washers, four dryers, two ovens, and one refrigerator |
| A New Beginning for Women and Children | — | $17,100 | 2025 | WKY Tornado Relief |
| Holly Hill Child & Family Solutions | — | $16,972 | 2025 | windows for the lower cabin |
| Kentucky Dance Council dba Louisville Ballet | — | $16,413 | 2025 | the main studio sound system |
| Simon House Inc | — | $16,000 | 2025 | replacement of fire escape |
| Natalie's Sisters | — | $16,000 | 2025 | a mid-size SUV |
| UP for Women and Children | — | $15,000 | 2025 | greatest need of items included baby strollers, tents, and sleeping bags |
| Wesley House Community Services | — | $15,000 | 2025 | parking lot resurfacing |
| The Gathering Wing | — | $14,900 | 2025 | HVAC System |
The Hope Initiative
$500,000WKY Tornado Relief
The Hope Initiative
$125,000WKY Tornado Relief
New Lease on Life Inc
$100,000WKY Tornado Relief
Camp GRAVES
$69,000WKY Tornado Relief
Audubon Area Community Services
$50,000WKY Tornado Relief
United Helping Hand of Pikeville DBA Pike County Relief Services
$50,000EKY Flood Relief
Kaden's Cause
$40,000To help with funeral costs from tornados in WKY
Kentucky Equine Humane Center
$30,000horse veterinary care
Honor Flight Kentucky Inc
$30,000toward American Airlines costs for Veterans participating in the Honor Flight Kentucky program
Water Into Wine Food Pantry
$25,352Roof & Ceiling Replacement - $12,451.68 Roof & Ceiling Labor - $12,900.00
New Day Ranch Inc
$22,600a manure spreader
Camp Horsin' Around
$20,000materials to construct the pavilion
Lords Legacy Life Ministries
$20,000van
Hospice Care Plus
$20,000toward HVAC system
Hope Academy For Kids
$20,000a passenger van
Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity
$19,508Hurricane Relief
Exodus Family Ministries
$18,500a passenger van
White House Clinics
$17,881a Patient Simulator System
Pillar
$17,636flooring materials and labor for home #2
Opportunity Center of Owensboro
$17,628items requested to create a safe space
Send Relief
$17,508Hurricane Relief
Mountain Ways
$17,508Hurricane Relief
A New Beginning for Women and Children
$17,100WKY Tornado Relief
Holly Hill Child & Family Solutions
$16,972windows for the lower cabin
Simon House Inc
$16,000replacement of fire escape
Natalie's Sisters
$16,000a mid-size SUV
UP for Women and Children
$15,000greatest need of items included baby strollers, tents, and sleeping bags
Wesley House Community Services
$15,000parking lot resurfacing
The Gathering Wing
$14,900HVAC System