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    5. Kentucky

    Grants in Kentucky

    1,150 foundations$1.9B total annual giving$15K median grant24 metro areas

    Kentucky Grantmaking at a Glance

    Foundations HQ'd Here

    1,150

    Foundations Funding Here

    6,156

    Total Annual Giving

    $1.9B

    Total Assets Under Management

    $40.3B

    Largest Foundations in Kentucky

    FoundationCityAnnual GivingTotal AssetsMedian GrantNTEEScope
    Baptist Healthcare System IncLouisville$207.6M$5.2B$17KE210Local
    CHRISTIAN APPALACHIAN PROJECT INCPAINTSVILLE$181.1M$51.4M$77.7MP200Local
    Norton Healthcare IncLouisville$100.3M

    Explore Kentucky Foundations

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    Kentucky(locked)

    What Gets Funded in Kentucky

    Top Cause Areas

    Education
    418$360M
    Education418 · $360M
    Philanthropy & Voluntarism
    301$391.3M
    Philanthropy & Voluntarism301 · $391.3M
    Human Services
    253$301M
    Human Services253 · $301M

    Where Foundations Are Located in Kentucky

    Top 10 metro areas by foundation count

    Metro AreaFoundationsTotal Annual GivingAvg Grant Size
    Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN596$1B$1.7M
    Lexington-Fayette, KY263$182.3M$693K
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN107$131.7M

    Types of Foundations in Kentucky

    Family Foundation
    29.5%
    43929.5%$221.7M
    Family Foundation439 (29.5%)

    $221.7M in annual giving

    Independent Foundation
    25.4%
    37825.4%$172.9M
    Independent Foundation378 (25.4%)

    Typical Grant Profile in Kentucky

    Median Grant Size

    $15K

    New Grantee Rate

    68%

    Accept Unsolicited Proposals

    96%

    Most Recent Filing Year

    2026

    The typical Kentucky foundation awards grants of $15K. Approximately 68% of Kentucky foundations actively fund new organizations, and 96% accept unsolicited proposals.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Grants in Kentucky

    How many foundations give grants in Kentucky?
    There are 1,150 grantmaking foundations headquartered in Kentucky and an additional 5,006 out-of-state foundations that fund Kentucky-based organizations.
    What is the average grant size in Kentucky?
    The median grant from Kentucky foundations is $15K. Actual grant sizes vary widely depending on the foundation's size and focus area.
    What are the largest foundations in Kentucky?
    The largest foundations in Kentucky by annual giving are Baptist Healthcare System Inc, CHRISTIAN APPALACHIAN PROJECT INC, Norton Healthcare Inc, with combined giving of $489M.

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    Kentucky is home to 1,150 grantmaking foundations with combined annual giving of $1.9B. The median grant from Kentucky foundations is $15K.

    Median Grant Size

    $15K

    Total Grants on Record

    0

    $2.6B
    $15K
    E210
    Local
    LOUISVILLE MEDICAL CENTER DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONLOUISVILLE$84.8M—$21.9M—Local
    COMMUNITY ACTION KENTUCKY INCFRANKFORT$66.5M$11.5M$3.5MS21Zunknown
    UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE FOUNDATION INCLOUISVILLE$65.8M$1.2B$28.1MB110Local
    THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF LOUISVILLE INCLOUISVILLE$55.9M$699.5M$22KT310Regional
    UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATIONLEXINGTON$47.7M$234.3M$46.4MB110Local
    Adam R Scripps FoundationFt Mitchell$35.5M$754.6M$38KT20National
    NORTHERN KENTUCKY AREA DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTFLORENCE$26M$14.9M$33KS32Regional
    Baptist Healthcare System Inc

    Louisville

    Annual Giving

    $207.6M

    Total Assets

    $5.2B

    Median Grant

    $17K

    E210Local
    CHRISTIAN APPALACHIAN PROJECT INC

    PAINTSVILLE

    Annual Giving

    $181.1M

    Total Assets

    $51.4M

    Median Grant

    $77.7M

    P200Local
    Norton Healthcare Inc

    Louisville

    Annual Giving

    $100.3M

    Total Assets

    $2.6B

    Median Grant

    $15K

    E210Local
    LOUISVILLE MEDICAL CENTER DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

    LOUISVILLE

    Annual Giving

    $84.8M

    Total Assets

    —

    Median Grant

    $21.9M

    Local
    COMMUNITY ACTION KENTUCKY INC

    FRANKFORT

    Annual Giving

    $66.5M

    Total Assets

    $11.5M

    Median Grant

    $3.5M

    S21Zunknown
    UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE FOUNDATION INC

    LOUISVILLE

    Annual Giving

    $65.8M

    Total Assets

    $1.2B

    Median Grant

    $28.1M

    B110Local
    THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF LOUISVILLE INC

    LOUISVILLE

    Annual Giving

    $55.9M

    Total Assets

    $699.5M

    Median Grant

    $22K

    T310Regional
    UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION

    LEXINGTON

    Annual Giving

    $47.7M

    Total Assets

    $234.3M

    Median Grant

    $46.4M

    B110Local
    Adam R Scripps Foundation

    Ft Mitchell

    Annual Giving

    $35.5M

    Total Assets

    $754.6M

    Median Grant

    $38K

    T20National
    NORTHERN KENTUCKY AREA DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT

    FLORENCE

    Annual Giving

    $26M

    Total Assets

    $14.9M

    Median Grant

    $33K

    S32Regional
    See all 1,150 foundations
    Health Care
    170$408M
    Health Care170 · $408M
    Arts, Culture & Humanities
    166$75.5M
    Arts, Culture & Humanities166 · $75.5M
    Religion-Related
    165$80.9M
    Religion-Related165 · $80.9M
    Recreation & Sports
    118$53.3M
    Recreation & Sports118 · $53.3M
    Community Improvement
    71$313.1M
    Community Improvement71 · $313.1M
    Animal-Related
    70$55.2M
    Animal-Related70 · $55.2M
    Housing & Shelter
    68$18.3M
    Housing & Shelter68 · $18.3M
    CategoryFundersGiving

    Common Focus Areas

    General Operating(284)College Access(169)Youth Development(132)Healthcare(121)Emergency Assistance(102)Capacity Building(85)Housing(80)Food Access(78)Arts Culture(67)Disaster Relief(60)Research(45)Workforce Development(44)Mental Health Services(43)Literacy(35)Early Childhood(33)Conservation(33)Community Organizing(21)Transportation(19)Foster Care Services(19)Advocacy(18)
    $1.2M
    Bowling Green, KY50$31.6M$631K
    Frankfort, KY35$119.6M$3.4M
    Owensboro, KY31$10.2M$330K
    Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH30$3M$99K
    Elizabethtown, KY26$8.7M$334K
    Paducah, KY-IL26$46.9M$1.8M
    Richmond-Berea, KY20$17.6M$882K
    Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
    Foundations

    596

    Total Giving

    $1B

    Avg Grant

    $1.7M

    Lexington-Fayette, KY
    Foundations

    263

    Total Giving

    $182.3M

    Avg Grant

    $693K

    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
    Foundations

    107

    Total Giving

    $131.7M

    Avg Grant

    $1.2M

    Bowling Green, KY
    Foundations

    50

    Total Giving

    $31.6M

    Avg Grant

    $631K

    Frankfort, KY
    Foundations

    35

    Total Giving

    $119.6M

    Avg Grant

    $3.4M

    Owensboro, KY
    Foundations

    31

    Total Giving

    $10.2M

    Avg Grant

    $330K

    Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
    Foundations

    30

    Total Giving

    $3M

    Avg Grant

    $99K

    Elizabethtown, KY
    Foundations

    26

    Total Giving

    $8.7M

    Avg Grant

    $334K

    Paducah, KY-IL
    Foundations

    26

    Total Giving

    $46.9M

    Avg Grant

    $1.8M

    Richmond-Berea, KY
    Foundations

    20

    Total Giving

    $17.6M

    Avg Grant

    $882K

    $172.9M in annual giving

    Operating Nonprofit
    11.6%
    17311.6%$441M
    Operating Nonprofit173 (11.6%)

    $441M in annual giving

    Private Operating Foundation
    1127.5%$5.2M
    Private Operating Foundation112 (7.5%)

    $5.2M in annual giving

    Faith-Based Foundation
    724.8%$249M
    Faith-Based Foundation72 (4.8%)

    $249M in annual giving

    Service Club / Fraternal
    563.8%$49.5M
    Service Club / Fraternal56 (3.8%)

    $49.5M in annual giving

    Professional Association
    443.0%$48.3M
    Professional Association44 (3.0%)

    $48.3M in annual giving

    Other
    14.5%
    21614.5%$710.4M
    Other216 (14.5%)

    $710.4M in annual giving

    Foundation TypeCountShareGiving
    What types of organizations do Kentucky foundations fund?
    The most commonly funded areas in Kentucky include Education, Philanthropy & Voluntarism, Human Services. Explore the focus area breakdown above for the full distribution.
    How do I find grants for my nonprofit in Kentucky?
    Kindora's free foundation directory includes 1,150 Kentucky foundations with IRS 990 financial data, grant history, and geographic reach. Use the interactive discovery table above to filter by metro area, focus area, foundation type, and grant size. Sign up for a free account to access AI-powered grant intelligence including fit scores and application tips.

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