The Public Life Foundation of Owensboro makes a small number of substantial, locally-focused grants that invest in community infrastructure, leadership development, and education in Owensboro and the surrounding region. Their support combines capital investments (facility/campaign support) with programmatic capacity-building such as funding a specialist position in early childhood education and a community leadership center. The foundation appears oriented toward civic and public life strengthening rather than broad charitable giving.
Public Life Foundation of Owensboro’s recent giving is anchored by a $180,000 capital campaign grant to The Center, paired with other large investments in community infrastructure and civic capacity. In 2023, the foundation also awarded $110,000 to the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence for an early childhood education specialist position and $75,000 to the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce for a leadership center. That mix shows a funder that supports both physical spaces and the people and programs that operate within them. The foundation’s pattern is local and tightly tied to Owensboro and Daviess County, with grants that reach schools, community nonprofits, health-related initiatives, and leadership programs. Its support includes facility and administrative help, campaign funding, year-end grants, and position support. The recent record also shows smaller awards to organizations such as Owensboro Public Schools for Footsteps 2 Brilliance and Green River Asset Building Coalition for stronger-families work, suggesting a practical focus on education and community-strengthening efforts. Overall, Public Life Foundation of Owensboro appears oriented toward public life infrastructure rather than broad, dispersed philanthropy.
Education and early learning are a central thread in the foundation’s grantmaking. It gave $110,000 to the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence for an early childhood education specialist position, and $8,000 to Owensboro Public Schools for Footsteps 2 Brilliance. Daviess County Public Schools also received $3,000 for Footsteps to Brilliance and Back on Track. Family support shows up through grants tied to local capacity and basic needs. Green River Asset Building Coalition received $5,000 for support building stronger families, while Building Stronger Families received $3,000 as a gap grant. The foundation also backs community leadership and civic infrastructure. It gave $75,000 to the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce for a leadership center, and $1,000 to Leadership Kentucky for a grant. Health-related support appears in smaller, targeted awards, including $4,409 to the Green River District Health Department for gap grants and $1,197 to Scholastic Inc Fbo Owensboro Health Pediatrics for Reach Out and Read book orders.
$4.4M
$2.4M
$609K
$4.8M
Most grants fall between $1K and $4K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$4K
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Concentrated, small portfolio: few (three) relatively large grants in a single year, focused locally; mixes one-time capital support with targeted staffing/program investments rather than many small awards or broad geographic distribution.
Notable grantees: THE CENTER (capital campaign recipient), Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence (early childhood education specialist), Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce (leadership center)
Typical grants are modest to mid-sized: the 25th percentile is $1,000, the median is $2,500, and the 75th percentile is $4,409. The distribution includes a small number of larger awards alongside many grants at the $1,000 to $3,000 level. The recent record shows both one-time support and year-end grants, plus position funding and capital campaign support. The foundation’s giving appears recurring in theme but concentrated in a local portfolio of organizations and initiatives rather than a broad open-call model. Its active programs are marked on hold, and the grant program is described as not accepting unsolicited applications in current form. The foundation also does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local. In the recent grants list, 92% of grants went to recipients in Kentucky, and every listed recipient was in the United States. Most awards landed in Owensboro, including The Center, Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, Owensboro Public Schools, and Daviess County Public Schools. Outside Owensboro, the foundation gave to Lexington’s Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, Frankfort’s Leadership Kentucky, and Cincinnati-based Scholastic Inc Fbo Owensboro Health Pediatrics. The country distribution shows no international recipient grants.
Its recent grants go to schools, health-related nonprofits, family-support organizations, leadership groups, and community institutions. Examples in the record include Owensboro Public Schools, the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, and the Green River District Health Department.
The grant-size distribution is centered on smaller awards: p25 is $1,000, the median is $2,500, and p75 is $4,409. The recent record also includes larger commitments such as $180,000, $110,000, and $75,000.
No. Most grants go to Kentucky recipients, and many are in Owensboro, but the recent list also includes organizations in Lexington, Frankfort, Atlanta, and Cincinnati. The recipient distribution is still highly local, with 92% of grants going to Kentucky.
It has funded both programming and staffing. Recent examples include $110,000 to the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence for an early childhood education specialist position, $8,000 to Owensboro Public Schools for Footsteps 2 Brilliance, and $3,000 to Daviess County Public Schools for Footsteps to Brilliance and Back on Track.
The active grant program is described as on hold and not accepting unsolicited applications in its current form. The foundation’s historical youth-and-education grant programs were competitive and tied to Owensboro–Daviess County priorities.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAF GIVING 360 - THE JOHN AND MARJORIE HAGER FUND | OMAHA, NE | $3,518,819 | 2026 | GRANT |
| GOODFELLOWS CLUB OF OWENSBORO | OWENSBORO, KY | $500,300 | 2026 | TENNIS TOURNAMENT SPONSORSHIP; ENDOWMENT |
| OWENSBORO FAMILY YMCA | OWENSBORO, KY | $149,194 | 2026 | GRANT |
| PRICHARD COMMITTEE FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE | LEXINGTON, KY | $100,000 | 2026 | EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SPECIALIST POSITION |
| THE CENTER OF OWENSBORO | OWENSBORO, KY | $70,000 | 2026 | GRANT |
| GREATER OWENSBORO LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE | OWENSBORO, KY | $50,000 | 2026 | GRANT |
| DAVIESS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY | OWENSBORO, KY | $6,650 | 2026 | GRANT |
| DAVIESS COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS | OWENSBORO, KY | $6,268 | 2026 | GRANT; GAP GRANT |
| MIRACLE OF KY AND TN FBO H L NEBLETT CENTER | LEITCHFIELD, KY | $5,000 | 2026 | PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT |
| SCHOLASTIC INC FBO OWENSBORO HEALTH PEDIATRICS | CINCINNATI, OH | $4,649 | 2026 | REACH OUT AND READ BOOK ORDERS |
| IMAGINATION LIBRARY OF DAVIESS CO | OWENSBORO, KY | $3,000 | 2026 | GAP GRANT |
| CATHEDRAL PRESCHOOL | OWENSBORO, KY | $3,000 | 2026 | GAP GRANT |
| GREEN RIVER DISTRICT HEALTH DEPARTMENT | OWENSBORO, KY | $3,000 | 2026 | GAP GRANTS; HANDS AND FIRST STEPS |
| H L NEBLETT COMMUNITY CENTER | OWENSBORO, KY | $3,000 | 2026 | GRANT |
| UNITED WAY OF OHIO VALLEY | OWENSBORO, KY | $3,000 | 2026 | GRANT |
| OWENSBORO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | OWENSBORO, KY | $2,900 | 2026 | GAP GRANT; HAGER PRESCHOOL |
| RIVERPARK CENTER | OWENSBORO, KY | $1,283 | 2026 | GRANT |
| CLIFF HAGAN BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB | OWENSBORO, KY | $1,000 | 2026 | GRANT |
| GIRLS INC OWENSBORO DAV CO | OWENSBORO, KY | $1,000 | 2026 | GRANT |
| DANIEL PITINO SHELTER | OWENSBORO, KY | $1,000 | 2026 | GRANT |
| LEADERSHIP KENTUCKY | FRANKFORT, KY | $1,000 | 2026 | GRANT |
| WENDELL H FORD GOVERNMENT EDUCATION CENTER | OWENSBORO, KY | $627 | 2026 | BOOKS FOR STUDENTS |
| THE CENTER | OWENSBORO, KY | $320,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| OWENSBORO FAMILY YMCA | OWENSBORO, KY | $149,444 | 2025 | GAP GRANT |
| PRICHARD COMMITTEE FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE | LEXINGTON, KY | $100,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SPECIALIST POSITION |
| GREATER OWENSBORO LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE | OWENSBORO, KY | $56,000 | 2025 | GRANT |
| GOODFELLOWS CLUB OF OWENSBORO | OWENSBORO, KY | $40,300 | 2025 | TENNIS TOURNAMENT SPONSORSHIP; YEAR END GRANT |
| GREEN RIVER ASSET BUILDING COALITION | OWENSBORO, KY | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT BUILDING STRONGER FAMILIES |
| WYLDE CENTER | DECATUR, GA | $10,000 | 2025 | GRANT |
| CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVERKEEPER | SMYRNA, GA | $10,000 | 2025 | GRANT |
| SAVAGE HART WILDLIFE | FORSTON, GA | $10,000 | 2025 | GRANT |
| OWENSBORO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | OWENSBORO, KY | $6,000 | 2025 | FOOTSTEPS 2 BRILLIANCE |
| DANIEL PITINO SHELTER | OWENSBORO, KY | $5,000 | 2025 | GRANT |
| DAVIESS COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS | OWENSBORO, KY | $3,834 | 2025 | GAP GRANT |
| SETTLE MEMORIAL PRESCHOOL | OWENSBORO, KY | $3,000 | 2025 | GAP GRANT |
| CATHEDRAL PRESCHOOL | OWENSBORO, KY | $3,000 | 2025 | GAP GRANT |
| UNITED WAY OF OHIO VALLEY | OWENSBORO, KY | $3,000 | 2025 | YEAR END GRANT |
| GREEN RIVER DISTRICT HEALTH DEPARTMENT | OWENSBORO, KY | $3,000 | 2025 | GAP GRANTS; HANDS AND FIRST STEPS |
| IMAGINATION LIBRARY OF DAVIESS CO | OWENSBORO, KY | $3,000 | 2025 | GAP GRANT |
| SEVEN HILLS HEAD START | OWENSBORO, KY | $2,678 | 2025 | GAP GRANT |
| AUDUBON AREA HEAD START AREA 1 | OWENSBORO, KY | $2,659 | 2025 | GAP GRANT |
| THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE OWENSBORO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | OWENSBORO, KY | $2,500 | 2025 | GRANT |
| SCHOLASTIC INC FBO OWENSBORO HEALTH PEDIATRICS | CINCINNATI, OH | $1,836 | 2025 | REACH OUT AND READ BOOK ORDERS |
| RIVERPARK CENTER | OWENSBORO, KY | $1,710 | 2025 | GRANT |
| GIRLS INC OWENSBORO DAV CO | OWENSBORO, KY | $1,000 | 2025 | GRANT |
| GREATER OWENSBORO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | OWENSBORO, KY | $1,000 | 2025 | LEADERSHIP CENTER |
| KENTUCKY WESLEYAN COLLEGE | OWENSBORO, KY | $1,000 | 2025 | YEAR-END GRANT |
| CLIFF HAGAN BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB | OWENSBORO, KY | $1,000 | 2025 | GRANT |
| OWENSBORO COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE | OWENSBORO, KY | $1,000 | 2025 | YEAR END GRANT |
| BRESCIA UNIVERSITY | OWENSBORO, KY | $1,000 | 2025 | YEAR-END GRANT |
DAF GIVING 360 - THE JOHN AND MARJORIE HAGER FUND
$3,518,819GRANT
GOODFELLOWS CLUB OF OWENSBORO
$500,300TENNIS TOURNAMENT SPONSORSHIP; ENDOWMENT
OWENSBORO FAMILY YMCA
$149,194GRANT
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SPECIALIST POSITION
THE CENTER OF OWENSBORO
$70,000GRANT
GREATER OWENSBORO LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
$50,000GRANT
DAVIESS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
$6,650GRANT
DAVIESS COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$6,268GRANT; GAP GRANT
MIRACLE OF KY AND TN FBO H L NEBLETT CENTER
$5,000PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT
SCHOLASTIC INC FBO OWENSBORO HEALTH PEDIATRICS
$4,649REACH OUT AND READ BOOK ORDERS
IMAGINATION LIBRARY OF DAVIESS CO
$3,000GAP GRANT
CATHEDRAL PRESCHOOL
$3,000GAP GRANT
GREEN RIVER DISTRICT HEALTH DEPARTMENT
$3,000GAP GRANTS; HANDS AND FIRST STEPS
UNITED WAY OF OHIO VALLEY
$3,000GRANT
OWENSBORO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$2,900GAP GRANT; HAGER PRESCHOOL
RIVERPARK CENTER
$1,283GRANT
GIRLS INC OWENSBORO DAV CO
$1,000GRANT
LEADERSHIP KENTUCKY
$1,000GRANT
WENDELL H FORD GOVERNMENT EDUCATION CENTER
$627BOOKS FOR STUDENTS
THE CENTER
$320,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
OWENSBORO FAMILY YMCA
$149,444GAP GRANT
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SPECIALIST POSITION
GREATER OWENSBORO LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
$56,000GRANT
GOODFELLOWS CLUB OF OWENSBORO
$40,300TENNIS TOURNAMENT SPONSORSHIP; YEAR END GRANT
GREEN RIVER ASSET BUILDING COALITION
$10,000SUPPORT BUILDING STRONGER FAMILIES
WYLDE CENTER
$10,000GRANT
SAVAGE HART WILDLIFE
$10,000GRANT
OWENSBORO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$6,000FOOTSTEPS 2 BRILLIANCE
DAVIESS COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$3,834GAP GRANT
SETTLE MEMORIAL PRESCHOOL
$3,000GAP GRANT
CATHEDRAL PRESCHOOL
$3,000GAP GRANT
UNITED WAY OF OHIO VALLEY
$3,000YEAR END GRANT
GREEN RIVER DISTRICT HEALTH DEPARTMENT
$3,000GAP GRANTS; HANDS AND FIRST STEPS
IMAGINATION LIBRARY OF DAVIESS CO
$3,000GAP GRANT
SEVEN HILLS HEAD START
$2,678GAP GRANT
AUDUBON AREA HEAD START AREA 1
$2,659GAP GRANT
THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE OWENSBORO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$2,500GRANT
SCHOLASTIC INC FBO OWENSBORO HEALTH PEDIATRICS
$1,836REACH OUT AND READ BOOK ORDERS
RIVERPARK CENTER
$1,710GRANT
GIRLS INC OWENSBORO DAV CO
$1,000GRANT
GREATER OWENSBORO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
$1,000LEADERSHIP CENTER
OWENSBORO COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE
$1,000YEAR END GRANT
BRESCIA UNIVERSITY
$1,000YEAR-END GRANT