The Reed Foundation concentrates its giving in western Kentucky, providing core operating support to a small set of local institutions. Major investments go to higher education (notably the University of Kentucky), local healthcare providers, faith-based ministries, and scholarships for Marshall County students. Many grants are unrestricted operating dollars rather than project-specific funding, indicating a preference for sustaining recipient organizations.
Reed Foundation’s recent grantmaking is marked by repeated operating support for a tight circle of western Kentucky institutions, with Marshall County Healthcare Foundation receiving $100,000 in 2025 for its operating budget. The foundation also backs University of Kentucky with three $100,000 operating grants across 2023, 2024, and 2025, showing a multi-year relationship with a major higher-education institution. Beyond those larger awards, the foundation funds local capacity in Benton, Paducah, Lexington, and nearby communities through grants for healthcare, education, faith-based ministries, and domestic abuse services. Several awards are unrestricted or operating-budget support, suggesting that Reed Foundation often funds organizations’ day-to-day work rather than only discrete projects. Recipients in the recent grants list include Christian Fellowship Ministries, Hope Clinic, Women Aware Inc (Merryman House), Marshall County Need Line, and Marshall County Board of Education-mchs Scholarships. The pattern points to a locally oriented funder that supports nonprofits, schools, and service organizations serving Marshall County and adjacent parts of Kentucky, with some additional grants reaching nearby Tennessee organizations.
Higher education appears prominently in Reed Foundation’s grantmaking. The foundation gave $100,000 to University of Kentucky in 2025 for operating budget support, and it also awarded $25,000 to Murray State University Foundation in 2024 for operating budget support. Scholarship support is another clear thread: Marshall County Board of Education-mchs Scholarships received $32,892 in 2023, $25,707 in 2024, and $18,750 in 2025. Healthcare and human services are also part of the pattern. Marshall County Healthcare Foundation received $100,000 in 2025 for its operating budget, while Hope Clinic in Benton received $35,000 in 2024 and $10,000 in both 2023 and 2025. In domestic violence services, Women Aware Inc (Merryman House) in Paducah received $25,000 in 2023 and 2025, plus $20,000 in 2024 for shelter support. Faith-based and community ministries show up as well, including Christian Fellowship Ministries in Benton and Heartland Ministries in Hardin.
Typical grants are modest to mid-sized, with a p25 of $1,000, a median of $5,000, and a p75 of $10,000. The recent record also shows a small number of larger operating grants at $100,000, including repeated awards to the same institutions across multiple years. That repeat pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time funding. The foundation is structured as a grantmaker only; it does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Recent awards are mainly operating budget support, with scholarships and a few program-specific service grants mixed in.
$304K
$2.8M
$509K
$350K
Most grants fall between $1K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Concentrated, relatively large operating grants to a small number of regional recipients with some repeat funding (multiple grants to University of Kentucky and Christian Fellowship Ministries) rather than many small, one-off awards.
Notable grantees: University of Kentucky, Marshall County Healthcare Foundation, Christian Fellowship Ministries, Marshall County Board of Education (MCHS Scholarships), Hope Clinic
Reed Foundation gives locally, and the recent grants are concentrated in Kentucky. By grant count, Kentucky is the top state, and 88% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Benton appears repeatedly through Marshall County institutions such as healthcare, education, and service groups, while Paducah, Lexington, Murray, and Hardin also appear in the grant list. Outside Kentucky, recent recipients include Nashville, Tennessee, and Memphis, Tennessee, but the grant record is overwhelmingly in-state.
The recent grants show support for universities, schools, healthcare and clinic providers, faith-based ministries, and domestic abuse services. Examples include operating budget support for University of Kentucky, Marshall County Healthcare Foundation, Christian Fellowship Ministries, and Women Aware Inc (Merryman House), plus scholarship funding through Marshall County Board of Education-mchs Scholarships.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including University of Kentucky with $100,000 grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Women Aware Inc (Merryman House) in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Marshall County Need Line and Hope Clinic across multiple years. That pattern indicates repeated support rather than isolated awards.
The typical grant size is $1,000 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $10,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards include both smaller grants in that range and several larger operating grants at $100,000.
Kentucky is the main geography in the recent grants list, and 88% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Benton, Paducah, Lexington, Murray, and Hardin are among the Kentucky cities that appear in the recipient list, with only a small number of grants going to Tennessee organizations.
No. The foundation funds organizations rather than individuals, and it does not make program-related investments. The recent grants are directed to nonprofits, educational institutions, and service organizations.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIFELINE RECOVERY CENTER | PADUCAH, KY | $100,000 | 2026 | SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY |
| UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY | LEXINGTON, KY | $100,000 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| MARSHALL COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION-MCHS SCHOLARSHIPS | BENTON, KY | $21,250 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| HOPE CLINIC | BENTON, KY | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| MARSHALL COUNTY NEED LINE | BENTON, KY | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| JUSTICE & MERCY INTERNATIONAL | NASHVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| THE FAMILY FOUNDATION | LEXINGTON, KY | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| KENTUCKY EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION | LEXINGTON, KY | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| KENTUCKY TECHNOLOGY STUDENT ASSOCIATION | FRANKFORT, KY | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| LIONS CLUB TELETHON | PADUCAH, KY | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| MARSHALL COUNTY RESCUE SQUAD | BENTON, KY | $4,000 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| GILBERTSVILLE FIRE PROTECTION DIST | GILBERTSVILLE, KY | $2,500 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| YOUTH SERVICES FUND OF MARSHALL COUNTY ROTARY CLUB | BENTON, KY | $2,500 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $2,000 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| RIVER CITY MISSIONS INC | PADUCAH, KY | $1,000 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| LIVINGSTON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL | SMITHLAND, KY | $1,000 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| MARSHALL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL | BENTON, KY | $1,000 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS OF LAKELAND AREA | BENTON, KY | $1,000 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| KENTUCKY SHERIFFS' BOYS & GIRLS RANCH TRUST | GILBERTSVILLE, KY | $1,000 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| CHILDREN HOSPITAL OF VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY | NASHVILLE, TN | $1,000 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| LUTHER F CARSON FOUR RIVERS CENTER | PADUCAH, KY | $1,000 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| MARSHALL COUNTY HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION | BENTON, KY | $100,000 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY | LEXINGTON, KY | $100,000 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES | BENTON, KY | $40,000 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| JUSTICE & MERCY INTERNATIONAL | NASHVILLE, TN | $30,000 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| WOMEN AWARE INC(MERRYMAN HOUSE) | PADUCAH, KY | $25,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT DOMESTIC ABUSE SHELTER |
| MARSHALL COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION-MCHS SCHOLARSHIPS | BENTON, KY | $18,750 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| MARSHALL COUNTY NEED LINE | BENTON, KY | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| HOPE CLINIC | BENTON, KY | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| THE FAMILY FOUNDATION | LEXINGTON, KY | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| KENTUCKY EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION | LEXINGTON, KY | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| LIONS CLUB TELETHON | PADUCAH, KY | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| KENTUCKY TECHNOLOGY STUDENT ASSOCIATION | FRANKFORT, KY | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| GILBERTSVILLE FIRE PROTECTION DIST | GILBERTSVILLE, KY | $2,500 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| YOUTH SERVICES FUND OF MARSHALL COUNTY ROTARY CLUB | BENTON, KY | $2,500 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $2,000 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| LUTHER F CARSON FOUR RIVERS CENTER | PADUCAH, KY | $1,000 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| LIVINGSTON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL | SMITHLAND, KY | $1,000 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| CHILDREN HOSPITAL OF VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY | NASHVILLE, TN | $1,000 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| KENTUCKY SHERIFFS' BOYS & GIRLS RANCH TRUST | GILBERTSVILLE, KY | $1,000 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS OF LAKELAND AREA | BENTON, KY | $1,000 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| RIVER CITY MISSIONS INC | PADUCAH, KY | $1,000 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| MARSHALL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL | BENTON, KY | $1,000 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY | LEXINGTON, KY | $100,000 | 2024 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES | BENTON, KY | $35,000 | 2024 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| HOPE CLINIC | BENTON, KY | $35,000 | 2024 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| MARSHALL COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION-MCHS SCHOLARSHIPS | BENTON, KY | $25,707 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | MURRAY, KY | $25,000 | 2024 | OPERATING BUDGET |
LIFELINE RECOVERY CENTER
$100,000SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
$100,000OPERATING BUDGET
MARSHALL COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION-MCHS SCHOLARSHIPS
$21,250SCHOLARSHIPS
HOPE CLINIC
$10,000OPERATING BUDGET
MARSHALL COUNTY NEED LINE
$10,000OPERATING BUDGET
JUSTICE & MERCY INTERNATIONAL
$10,000OPERATING BUDGET
THE FAMILY FOUNDATION
$10,000OPERATING BUDGET
KENTUCKY EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION
$5,000OPERATING BUDGET
KENTUCKY TECHNOLOGY STUDENT ASSOCIATION
$5,000OPERATING BUDGET
LIONS CLUB TELETHON
$5,000OPERATING BUDGET
MARSHALL COUNTY RESCUE SQUAD
$4,000OPERATING BUDGET
GILBERTSVILLE FIRE PROTECTION DIST
$2,500OPERATING BUDGET
YOUTH SERVICES FUND OF MARSHALL COUNTY ROTARY CLUB
$2,500OPERATING BUDGET
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
$2,000OPERATING BUDGET
RIVER CITY MISSIONS INC
$1,000OPERATING BUDGET
LIVINGSTON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
$1,000OPERATING BUDGET
MARSHALL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
$1,000OPERATING BUDGET
AMERICAN RED CROSS OF LAKELAND AREA
$1,000OPERATING BUDGET
KENTUCKY SHERIFFS' BOYS & GIRLS RANCH TRUST
$1,000OPERATING BUDGET
CHILDREN HOSPITAL OF VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
$1,000OPERATING BUDGET
MARSHALL COUNTY HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION
$100,000OPERATING BUDGET
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
$100,000OPERATING BUDGET
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES
$40,000OPERATING BUDGET
JUSTICE & MERCY INTERNATIONAL
$30,000OPERATING BUDGET
WOMEN AWARE INC(MERRYMAN HOUSE)
$25,000SUPPORT DOMESTIC ABUSE SHELTER
MARSHALL COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION-MCHS SCHOLARSHIPS
$18,750SCHOLARSHIPS
MARSHALL COUNTY NEED LINE
$10,000OPERATING BUDGET
HOPE CLINIC
$10,000OPERATING BUDGET
THE FAMILY FOUNDATION
$10,000OPERATING BUDGET
KENTUCKY EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION
$5,000OPERATING BUDGET
LIONS CLUB TELETHON
$5,000OPERATING BUDGET
KENTUCKY TECHNOLOGY STUDENT ASSOCIATION
$5,000OPERATING BUDGET
GILBERTSVILLE FIRE PROTECTION DIST
$2,500OPERATING BUDGET
YOUTH SERVICES FUND OF MARSHALL COUNTY ROTARY CLUB
$2,500OPERATING BUDGET
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
$2,000OPERATING BUDGET
LIVINGSTON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
$1,000OPERATING BUDGET
CHILDREN HOSPITAL OF VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
$1,000OPERATING BUDGET
KENTUCKY SHERIFFS' BOYS & GIRLS RANCH TRUST
$1,000OPERATING BUDGET
AMERICAN RED CROSS OF LAKELAND AREA
$1,000OPERATING BUDGET
RIVER CITY MISSIONS INC
$1,000OPERATING BUDGET
MARSHALL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
$1,000OPERATING BUDGET
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
$100,000OPERATING BUDGET
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES
$35,000OPERATING BUDGET
HOPE CLINIC
$35,000OPERATING BUDGET
MARSHALL COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION-MCHS SCHOLARSHIPS
$25,707SCHOLARSHIPS