About Marilyn & William Young Charitable Foundation Inc C/O Sara Hemingway Ex Di
The Marilyn & William Young Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving locally in Owensboro/Western Kentucky, prioritizing cultural institutions that preserve regional heritage and enhance community life. Major support goes repeatedly to the Bluegrass Music Museum & Hall of Fame and the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden, with occasional funding for local family services such as the YMCA. Their grants indicate a focus on sustaining civic cultural landmarks and community well‑being rather than broad national causes.
Focus Areas
Bluegrass music heritage preservation and museums in Owensboro/Western KentuckyPublic botanical garden development and community green space (Western Kentucky Botanical Garden)Local family and community services (Owensboro Family YMCA / family support systems)
Who They Fund
families (including caregivers and children)community-based organizations and local nonprofitsemerging and established community leaderssector associations and coalitions
About Marilyn & William Young Charitable Foundation Inc C/O Sara Hemingway Ex Di
Marilyn & William Young Charitable Foundation Inc C/o Sara Hemingway Ex Di has built a grantmaking pattern around Owensboro institutions that shape daily civic life, with large repeated awards to cultural anchors and family-serving nonprofits. The largest recent grants include $100,000 to Western Kentucky Botanical Garden in both 2024 and 2025, plus multi-year support to Bluegrass Music Museum and Hall of Fame and Riverpark Center. That mix shows a foundation comfortable backing both heritage preservation and community amenities over several years.
Its recent record also shows flexibility beyond the arts. The foundation has funded family support organizations such as Family Y, Wendell Foster Center, and the International Center of Owensboro, alongside local schools and community groups. Several grants are framed around arts support, family support systems, or community needs, suggesting a local funder that uses a small set of recurring institutions to carry out a broad civic agenda.
The foundation’s grants are concentrated in Owensboro and Daviess County, with most awards staying in Kentucky. The pattern is local, relationship-based, and centered on organizations that serve residents directly.
What Marilyn & William Young Charitable Foundation Inc C/O Sara Hemingway Ex Di Funds
Arts and culture are a major part of the foundation’s giving. It awarded $65,927 to Riverpark Center in 2026 for arts and hail damage support, $38,200 in 2025 for the same institution, and $20,000 to Owensboro Dance Theatre in 2025.
Heritage preservation also appears through long-running support for music and botanical institutions. Bluegrass Music Museum and Hall of Fame received $62,000 in 2026, following prior awards of $60,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Western Kentucky Botanical Garden received $100,000 in 2025.
Family support systems are another clear thread. Family Y received $75,000 in 2023, while Wendell Foster Center received $52,500 in 2024 and $50,000 in 2025. The foundation also funded the International Center of Owensboro for family support systems in 2023 and 2024.
How Marilyn & William Young Charitable Foundation Inc C/O Sara Hemingway Ex Di Gives
Typical awards are modest to mid-sized: the p25 grant is $2,500, the median is $3,500, and the p75 is $13,750. The recent grant list shows a small number of larger recurring awards alongside many smaller local grants, which is consistent with a community-oriented funder. Grants are overwhelmingly one-state and one-city focused, with 93% of grants going to recipients in Kentucky. The foundation also uses a mix of general support and purpose-specific awards, and its active programs accept unsolicited applications.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$450K
Total Assets
$11.3M
Total Revenue
$1M
Total Expenses
$702K
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $3K and $14K, with a median of $4K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$4K
75th Percentile
$14K
Geographic Reach
Local6 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Deep Analysis
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Concentrated, local-focused giving: a small number of relatively large grants, multiple repeat awards to the same regional cultural institutions, with occasional support for community service organizations.
Funding Style
general operating supportcommunity grants (local CBO funding)capacity building (leadership development)sector/association support
Notable grantees: Bluegrass Music Museum and Hall of Fame, Western Kentucky Botanical Garden, Family Y (Owensboro YMCA / Family Support Systems)
Topics
family support systems (family-strengthening services and programs)leadership development for community leaderscommunity-level grantmaking and neighborhood initiativesassociation/coalition strengthening and infrastructure
Where Marilyn & William Young Charitable Foundation Inc C/O Sara Hemingway Ex Di Makes Grants
Grantmaking is centered in Owensboro, with recent recipients there including Riverpark Center, Kentucky Wesleyan College, and Owensboro Dance Theatre. The foundation gives most often in New York by grant count, but its recipient distribution shows 191 grants, or 100.0%, in the United States. The data also shows that 93% of grants go to recipients in Kentucky, confirming a strongly local pattern. Named recipients in the grant list are concentrated in Owensboro and the surrounding Daviess County area.
Frequently Asked Questions About Marilyn & William Young Charitable Foundation Inc C/O Sara Hemingway Ex Di
What kinds of organizations does this foundation fund?
The active programs focus on 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving Owensboro and Daviess County. Program areas include leadership development, accessible arts experiences, family support systems, and community grants for one-time immediate needs. Recent grants show repeat support for arts institutions, family service organizations, schools, and local community nonprofits.
What is the foundation’s typical grant size?
The typical grant profile is small to mid-sized: p25 is $2,500, median is $3,500, and p75 is $13,750. Recent grantmaking includes both smaller awards and larger recurring gifts, but the core distribution sits well below $15,000.
Does the foundation accept unsolicited applications?
Yes. The active program descriptions state that the General Grant Program, Accessible Arts Experiences Grants, Family Support Systems Grants, Community Grants, General Grants, Student Leadership Grants, 25th Anniversary Community Grants, and Leadership Development Grants all accept unsolicited applications.
What are the foundation’s main focus areas?
The named program areas are leadership development, accessible arts experiences, family support systems, and community grants for immediate needs. Recent grants also show support for arts and cultural institutions, local family services, and community-based organizations in Owensboro.
Are grants mostly local?
Yes. The geographic scope of giving is local, and 93% of grants go to recipients in Kentucky. The recent grants list is dominated by Owensboro recipients, with the United States accounting for 191 grants, or 100.0%, in the recipient country distribution.
Latest 990 Filing
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Marilyn & William Young Charitable Foundation Inc C/O Sara Hemingway Ex Di that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowRolling / open intakeAward: Up to $10K
Marilyn & William Young Foundation Grantmaking Program
Leadership DevelopmentAccessible Arts ExperiencesFamily Support Systems+1 more
Who can apply: Applicants must be recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. Projects and programs must affect citizens of Owensboro/Daviess County. The Foundation generally does not fund endowments, annual fund appeals, religious organizations, event sponsorships, individuals, or operating costs, and does not support organizations that discriminate based on protected classifications.
Deadline: Letters of Intent are accepted anytime during the year. Full application deadlines are March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31.
Open nowCloses in 8 days (Sep 30, 2026)Award: Up to $10K
General Grants (Foundation grant application / guidelines)
Leadership DevelopmentAccessible Arts ExperiencesFamily Support Systems+1 more
Who can apply: Applicants must be recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Grants generally must affect citizens of Owensboro/Daviess County. The foundation does not fund endowments, annual fund appeals, religious organizations, event sponsorships, individuals, programs/projects that do not affect Owensboro/Daviess County, or operating costs. It also does not support organizations that discriminate on protected classifications.
Deadline: Letters of Intent are accepted throughout the year. Full grant applications are due quarterly: March 31 (reviewed in May), June 30 (reviewed in August), September 30 (reviewed in November), and December 31 (reviewed in February).
Who can apply: Applicants must be recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Projects must affect the citizens of Owensboro/Daviess County. The Foundation does not fund operating costs, endowments, annual fund appeals, religious organizations, event sponsorships, individuals, or discriminatory organizations.
Deadline: Letters of Intent accepted anytime during the year; full application deadlines March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31.
Family support systemsEducationWorkforce and economic mobility
Who can apply: Applicants must be recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Projects must affect the citizens of Owensboro/Daviess County. The Foundation does not fund operating costs, endowments, annual fund appeals, religious organizations, event sponsorships, individuals, or discriminatory organizations.
Deadline: Letters of Intent accepted anytime during the year; full application deadlines March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31.
Who can apply: Applicants must be recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Projects must affect the citizens of Owensboro/Daviess County. The Foundation does not fund operating costs, endowments, annual fund appeals, religious organizations, event sponsorships, individuals, or discriminatory organizations.
Deadline: Letters of Intent accepted anytime during the year; full application deadlines March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
