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    5. Kentucky

    Grants in Kentucky

    1,183 foundations$2B total annual giving$15K median grant24 metro areas

    Kentucky Grantmaking at a Glance

    Foundations HQ'd Here

    1,183

    Foundations Funding Here

    6,803

    Total Annual Giving

    $2B

    Total Assets Under Management

    Largest Foundations in Kentucky

    FoundationCityAnnual GivingTotal AssetsMedian GrantNTEEScope
    Baptist Healthcare System IncLouisville$207.6M$5.2B$17KE210Local
    Norton Healthcare IncLouisville$100.3M$2.6B$15KE210Local
    COMMUNITY ACTION KENTUCKY INCFRANKFORT

    Explore Kentucky Foundations

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    Kentucky(locked)

    What Gets Funded in Kentucky

    Top Cause Areas

    Education
    419$360.7M
    Education419 · $360.7M
    Philanthropy & Voluntarism
    301$396.1M
    Philanthropy & Voluntarism301 · $396.1M
    Human Services
    252$356.6M
    Human Services252 · $356.6M

    Where Foundations Are Located in Kentucky

    Top 10 metro areas by foundation count

    Metro AreaFoundationsTotal Annual GivingAvg Grant Size
    Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN713$1.1B$1.5M
    Lexington-Fayette, KY354$180.1M$509K
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN

    Types of Foundations in Kentucky

    Family Foundation
    24.5%
    45724.5%$261.4M
    Family Foundation457 (24.5%)

    $261.4M in annual giving

    Independent Foundation
    20.6%
    38520.6%$176.1M

    Typical Grant Profile in Kentucky

    Median Grant Size

    $15K

    New Grantee Rate

    40%

    Accept Unsolicited Proposals

    73%

    Most Recent Filing Year

    2026

    The typical Kentucky foundation awards grants of $15K. Approximately 40% of Kentucky foundations actively fund new organizations, and 73% accept unsolicited proposals.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Grants in Kentucky

    How many foundations give grants in Kentucky?
    There are 1,183 grantmaking foundations headquartered in Kentucky and an additional 5,620 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?

    AI-Powered Grant Intelligence for Kentucky

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    Kentucky is home to 1,183 grantmaking foundations with combined annual giving of $2B. The median grant from Kentucky foundations is $15K.

    $44.2B

    Median Grant Size

    $15K

    $68M
    $7.4M
    $3.5M
    S21Z
    unknown
    THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF LOUISVILLE INCLOUISVILLE$55M$766.9M$22KT310Regional
    UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATIONLEXINGTON$52M$277.1M$46.4MB110Local
    DARE TO CARE INCLOUISVILLE$42M$33M$17KK31ZLocal
    Adam R Scripps FoundationFt Mitchell$35.5M$754.6M$38KT20National
    W L LYONS BROWN FOUNDATIONLOUISVILLE$34.1M—$10KY12Regional
    RAY & KAY ECKSTEIN CHARITABLE TRUSTPADUCAH$22.8M$457.4M$42KB82National
    CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF LOUISVILLE INCLOUISVILLE$22.4M$18.7M$76KP30ZLocal
    Baptist Healthcare System Inc

    Louisville

    Annual Giving

    $207.6M

    Total Assets

    $5.2B

    Median Grant

    $17K

    E210Local
    Norton Healthcare Inc

    Louisville

    Annual Giving

    $100.3M

    Total Assets

    $2.6B

    Median Grant

    $15K

    E210Local
    COMMUNITY ACTION KENTUCKY INC

    FRANKFORT

    Annual Giving

    $68M

    Total Assets

    $7.4M

    Median Grant

    $3.5M

    S21Zunknown
    THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF LOUISVILLE INC

    LOUISVILLE

    Annual Giving

    $55M

    Total Assets

    $766.9M

    Median Grant

    $22K

    T310Regional
    UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION

    LEXINGTON

    Annual Giving

    $52M

    Total Assets

    $277.1M

    Median Grant

    $46.4M

    B110Local
    DARE TO CARE INC

    LOUISVILLE

    Annual Giving

    $42M

    Total Assets

    $33M

    Median Grant

    $17K

    K31ZLocal
    Adam R Scripps Foundation

    Ft Mitchell

    Annual Giving

    $35.5M

    Total Assets

    $754.6M

    Median Grant

    $38K

    T20National
    W L LYONS BROWN FOUNDATION

    LOUISVILLE

    Annual Giving

    $34.1M

    Total Assets

    —

    Median Grant

    $10K

    Y12Regional
    RAY & KAY ECKSTEIN CHARITABLE TRUST

    PADUCAH

    Annual Giving

    $22.8M

    Total Assets

    $457.4M

    Median Grant

    $42K

    B82National
    CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF LOUISVILLE INC

    LOUISVILLE

    Annual Giving

    $22.4M

    Total Assets

    $18.7M

    Median Grant

    $76K

    P30ZLocal
    See all 1,183 foundations
    Health Care
    170$360.1M
    Health Care170 · $360.1M
    Arts, Culture & Humanities
    166$77.6M
    Arts, Culture & Humanities166 · $77.6M
    Religion-Related
    165$129.6M
    Religion-Related165 · $129.6M
    Recreation & Sports
    118$44.8M
    Recreation & Sports118 · $44.8M
    Community Improvement
    71$317.1M
    Community Improvement71 · $317.1M
    Animal-Related
    70$31.9M
    Animal-Related70 · $31.9M
    Housing & Shelter
    68$15.7M
    Housing & Shelter68 · $15.7M
    CategoryFundersGiving

    Common Focus Areas

    General Operating(288)College Access(170)Youth Development(133)Healthcare(125)Emergency Assistance(101)Capacity Building(86)Housing(80)Food Access(77)Arts Culture(67)Disaster Relief(63)Research(47)Workforce Development(44)Mental Health Services(42)Literacy(36)Early Childhood(34)Conservation(34)Community Organizing(21)Foster Care Services(20)Transportation(19)Advocacy(18)
    140
    $111.8M
    $799K
    Bowling Green, KY63$28.5M$453K
    Frankfort, KY49$131.7M$2.7M
    Owensboro, KY37$13M$351K
    Paducah, KY-IL36$46.8M$1.3M
    Elizabethtown, KY35$5.6M$161K
    Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH35$2.7M$76K
    Richmond-Berea, KY27$29.2M$1.1M
    Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
    Foundations

    713

    Total Giving

    $1.1B

    Avg Grant

    $1.5M

    Lexington-Fayette, KY
    Foundations

    354

    Total Giving

    $180.1M

    Avg Grant

    $509K

    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
    Foundations

    140

    Total Giving

    $111.8M

    Avg Grant

    $799K

    Bowling Green, KY
    Foundations

    63

    Total Giving

    $28.5M

    Avg Grant

    $453K

    Frankfort, KY
    Foundations

    49

    Total Giving

    $131.7M

    Avg Grant

    $2.7M

    Owensboro, KY
    Foundations

    37

    Total Giving

    $13M

    Avg Grant

    $351K

    Paducah, KY-IL
    Foundations

    36

    Total Giving

    $46.8M

    Avg Grant

    $1.3M

    Elizabethtown, KY
    Foundations

    35

    Total Giving

    $5.6M

    Avg Grant

    $161K

    Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
    Foundations

    35

    Total Giving

    $2.7M

    Avg Grant

    $76K

    Richmond-Berea, KY
    Foundations

    27

    Total Giving

    $29.2M

    Avg Grant

    $1.1M

    Independent Foundation
    385 (20.6%)

    $176.1M in annual giving

    Operating Nonprofit
    17.8%
    33217.8%$440.8M
    Operating Nonprofit332 (17.8%)

    $440.8M in annual giving

    Private Operating Foundation
    1126.0%$4.3M
    Private Operating Foundation112 (6.0%)

    $4.3M in annual giving

    Service Club / Fraternal
    1085.8%$59.9M
    Service Club / Fraternal108 (5.8%)

    $59.9M in annual giving

    Professional Association
    1085.8%$54M
    Professional Association108 (5.8%)

    $54M in annual giving

    Faith-Based Foundation
    854.6%$262.6M
    Faith-Based Foundation85 (4.6%)

    $262.6M in annual giving

    Other
    15.0%
    27915.0%$692.2M
    Other279 (15.0%)

    $692.2M in annual giving

    Foundation TypeCountShareGiving
    The largest foundations in Kentucky by annual giving are Baptist Healthcare System Inc, Norton Healthcare Inc, COMMUNITY ACTION KENTUCKY INC, with combined giving of $375.9M.
    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 1,183 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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