Private foundations · 990-PF data

Foundations accepting grant applications in Kentucky

122
foundations
$99.7M
grants paid, FY2023–FY2025
$5,000
median grant

Grantlas lists 122 private foundations based in Kentucky whose latest 990-PF says they accept unsolicited requests, from filings for FY2023–FY2025. Together they paid out $99.7 million in grants in their latest filing year. The most common cities are Louisville (44), Lexington (17) and Owensboro (4).

“Accepts unsolicited requests” is a box the foundation ticked on its 990-PF — not a promise to read your letter. Check the foundation’s own site before you write.

See all 582 foundations in Kentucky, including the ones that give by invitation only.

Top 25 of 122 foundations

Ranked by how many grants they made last year, most first. Another 97 are not shown.

Foundations accepting grant applications in Kentucky
Lg&e and Ku Foundation IncLouisville, KY494$2,500$4.3M$100–$749,000FY2025Locked: fit score and contacts
John B & Brownie Young Memorial FundOwensboro, KY392$500$894,318$250–$27,036FY2025Locked: fit score and contacts
The Gheens Foundation IncLouisville, KY160$25,000$6.3M$2,500–$400,000FY2024Locked: fit score and contacts
Carson-Myre Charitable FoundationPaducah, KY158$25,000$8.9M$5,000–$1.3MFY2024Locked: fit score and contacts
V V Cooke Foundation CorporationLouisville, KY89$2,750$377,750$250–$30,000FY2024Locked: fit score and contacts
Gardner Foundation IncorporatedLouisville, KY82$1,000$107,500$200–$7,000FY2024Locked: fit score and contacts
Julia & Isadore Klein FamilyLouisville, KY64$1,375$374,965$50–$57,000FY2024Locked: fit score and contacts
The Butler FoundationCovington, KY57$5,000$972,507$379–$104,500FY2023Locked: fit score and contacts
Marilyn & William Young CharitableOwensboro, KY54$3,000$450,014$300–$100,000FY2025Locked: fit score and contacts
Churchill Downs Incorporated FoundationLouisville, KY51$500$62,782$41–$2,500FY2025Locked: fit score and contacts
Yum Brands Foundation IncLouisville, KY49$10,000$10.3M$120–$4.3MFY2025Locked: fit score and contacts
Fred R & Opal S Woosley FoundationLouisville, KY48$10,000$742,000$2,000–$35,000FY2025Locked: fit score and contacts
Brown-Forman FoundationLouisville, KY47$67,500$9.8M$25,000–$2MFY2025Locked: fit score and contacts
Irvin F & Alice S EtscornLouisville, KY47$25,000$1.6M$3,000–$205,000FY2024Locked: fit score and contacts
Nicklies Foundation IncLouisville, KY43$3,000$231,500$250–$70,000FY2025Locked: fit score and contacts
The Copia Foundation IncLexington, KY43$7,500$480,850$1,000–$100,000FY2025Locked: fit score and contacts
Dunbar Foundation IncLouisville, KY40$5,000$320,000$1,000–$30,000FY2025Locked: fit score and contacts
Barbara and Albert Horton Foundation IncLouisville, KY39$1,000$208,300$100–$116,600FY2024Locked: fit score and contacts
Caldwell Preload Spirit Foundation IncLouisville, KY39$1,500$86,217$244–$7,875FY2025Locked: fit score and contacts
Lester E Yeager Charitable Trust BOwensboro, KY38$5,000$274,828$2,000–$21,000FY2025Locked: fit score and contacts
Grant County SchoolsWilliamstown, KY37$1,000$67,500$1,000–$10,000FY2024Locked: fit score and contacts
Chas and Ruth SeligmanWalton, KY35$10,000$418,625$1,000–$80,000FY2024Locked: fit score and contacts
Mahan Foundation IncLagrange, KY35$4,000$290,000$1,000–$60,000FY2025Locked: fit score and contacts
The Habit Restaurants FoundationLouisville, KY33$2,500$61,338$299–$2,500FY2025Locked: fit score and contacts
Capricorn Foundation Charitable TruLouisville, KY32$2,000$69,800$1,000–$8,000FY2024Locked: fit score and contacts
  • Median grant and grant range come from the 990-PF grant schedule; a dash means there is none to report.
  • “One grant” means a schedule with a single grant — no median, nothing to range over. “One amount” means several grants, all the same size.

97 more foundations — see all in Grantlas

Data from 990-PF filings, FY2023–FY2025. Updated September 27, 2026.