Updated Oct 28, 2026
Private foundations based in Kentucky
333 grantmaking foundations headquartered in Kentucky, holding $6.1B in assets. Ranked by grants paid in their latest 990-PF; 20 on this page say they accept applications. For foundations ranked by where their grants went, see local funders.
| Foundation | Based in | Grants paid | Median grant | Accepts applications | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam R Scripps Foundationsince 2021 | Ft Mitchell, KY | $35M281 grants · 2024 | $50K | Preselected only | $755M |
| George and Beverly Rawlings Endowment Foundation Incsince 2020 | Lagrange, KY | $24M2 grants · 2024 | $12M | Preselected only | $516M |
| Ray and Kay Eckstein Charitable Trustsince 2005 | Paducah, KY | $23M183 grants · 2024 | $50K | Yes | $457M |
| Humana Foundation Incsince 1982 | Louisville, KY | $16M1 grants · 2024 | $16M | Yes | $393M |
| James Graham Brown Foundation Incsince 1964 | Louisville, KY | $15M50 grants · 2024 | $203K | Yes | $391M |
| William Lawrence & Blanche Hughes Foundationsince 1997 | Lexington, KY | $15M5 grants · 2024 | $1.0M | Yes | $184M |
| Fischer Fam Foundation 2008 Charita Ble Trsince 2009 | Covington, KY | $14M166 grants · 2024 | $50K | Preselected only | $201M |
| Yum Brands Foundation Incsince 1998 | Louisville, KY | $10M41 grants · 2025 | $15K | Yes | $21M |
| Brown-Forman Foundationsince 2019 | Louisville, KY | $9.8M56 grants · 2025 | $80K | Yes | $111M |
| Carson-Myre Charitable Foundationsince 2007 | Paducah, KY | $8.9M155 grants · 2025 | $25K | Yes | $55M |
| Gheens Foundation Incsince 1959 | Louisville, KY | $6.3M157 grants · 2024 | $25K | Yes | $161M |
| Harold Juanita David Dennis & Gary Koon Family Charitable Foundationsince 2017 | Bowling Green, KY | $5.6M32 grants · 2025 | $100K | Preselected only | $79M |
| Elhapa Foundation Incsince 2016 | Lexington, KY | $5.0M122 grants · 2025 | $25K | Preselected only | $34M |
| Frances N Alden Charitable Trsince 2021 | Louisville, KY | $4.9M23 grants · 2025 | $120K | Preselected only | $46M |
| W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation Incsince 1994 | Louisville, KY | $4.8M65 grants · 2024 | $25K | Preselected only | $36M |
| R C Durr Foundation Incsince 1993 | Crescent Spgs, KY | $4.7M136 grants · 2024 | $15K | Yes | $86M |
| C E and S Foundation Incsince 1985 | Louisville, KY | $4.5M59 grants · 2024 | $45K | Yes | $77M |
| Miramar Charitable Foundationsince 2015 | Ft Mitchell, KY | $4.5M188 grants · 2024 | $2,000 | Preselected only | $33M |
| Lg&e and Ku Foundation Incsince 1994 | Louisville, KY | $4.3M497 grants · 2025 | $2,500 | Yes | $22M |
| Robert and Mary Tincher Charitable Foundation Incsince 2013 | Bowling Green, KY | $4.2M7 grants · 2024 | $100K | Preselected only | $15M |
| Indigo Foundation Incsince 2017 | Louisville, KY | $3.9M13 grants · 2024 | $250K | Preselected only | $35M |
| Scripps Family Fund for Education and the Artssince 2016 | Ft Mitchell, KY | $3.4M256 grants · 2025 | $10K | Preselected only | $28M |
| Harry T Wilks Family Foundationsince 2010 | Covington, KY | $3.4M48 grants · 2025 | $15K | Preselected only | $22M |
| Bridgestone Americas Holding Incsince 1955 | Louisville, KY | $3.3M1 grants · 2025 | $3.3M | Yes | $27M |
| Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Foundation Incsince 2013 | Louisville, KY | $2.7M95 grants · 2023 | $10K | Preselected only | $15M |
| George and Mary Lee Duthie Charitable Foundation Incsince 2019 | Louisville, KY | $2.4M30 grants · 2025 | $25K | Preselected only | $31M |
| Hacet Foundation Incsince 2014 | Prospect, KY | $2.3M8 grants · 2025 | $21K | Preselected only | $21M |
| Mildred V Horn Foundationsince 1988 | La Grange, KY | $2.3M7 grants · 2024 | $205K | Yes | $20M |
| Smith Brothers Family Foundation Incsince 2020 | Louisville, KY | $1.9M16 grants · 2024 | $5,500 | Yes | $90M |
| James a and Martha R Brown Charitable Foundation Incsince 2019 | Lexington, KY | $1.8M12 grants · 2024 | $72K | Yes | $39M |
| Dig Deeper Foundation Incsince 2019 | Union, KY | $1.7M27 grants · 2025 | $10K | Preselected only | $45M |
| Drees Homes Foundation Incsince 2016 | Ft Mitchell, KY | $1.6M11 grants · 2025 | $100K | Yes | $19M |
| William O Alden Jr Charitable Trsince 2025 | Louisville, KY | $1.5M1 grants · 2025 | $1.5M | Preselected only | $18M |
| J Rogers Badgett Sr Foundation Incsince 2001 | Madisonville, KY | $1.3M33 grants · 2024 | $25K | Preselected only | $44M |
| Crescent Hill Family Foundation Incsince 2022 | Louisville, KY | $1.3M5 grants · 2024 | $191K | Preselected only | $19M |
| Ed Gardner Trsince 2005 | Paducah, KY | $1.3M1 grants · 2025 | $1.3M | Preselected only | $24M |
| Sam Swope Family Foundation Incsince 2003 | Pewee Valley, KY | $1.2M16 grants · 2025 | $80K | Preselected only | $17M |
| E E Murry Family Foundationsince 1976 | Lexington, KY | $1.1M20 grants · 2024 | $48K | Preselected only | $20M |
| Trager Family Foundation Trsince 2021 | Louisville, KY | $1.0M10 grants · 2025 | $8,600 | Preselected only | $19M |
| Robert P and Mariana R Scripps Family Foundationsince 2009 | Ft Mitchell, KY | $1.0M16 grants · 2025 | $61K | Preselected only | $16M |
| Don Jacobs Sr Charitable Foundation Incsince 2010 | Lexington, KY | $1.0M18 grants · 2025 | $15K | Preselected only | $14M |
| Whitaker Foundation Incsince 2004 | Lexington, KY | $971K29 grants · 2025 | $10K | Preselected only | $22M |
| Elsa M Heisel Sule Charitable Trustsince 2011 | Ft Mitchell, KY | $931K97 grants · 2024 | $7,500 | Yes | $25M |
| John B and Brownie Young Memorial Fundsince 1964 | Owensboro, KY | $894K392 grants · 2025 | $500 | Yes | $13M |
| Harshaw Family Foundation Incsince 2012 | Louisville, KY | $845K10 grants · 2024 | $75K | Preselected only | $15M |
| Dr Marius E Johnston and Margaret Johnston Wright Memorial Trustsince 1994 | Lexington, KY | $834K1 grants · 2025 | $834K | Preselected only | $15M |
| Robert J Lightner Foundationsince 1988 | Florence, KY | $830K1 grants · 2025 | $830K | Preselected only | $24M |
| Wo and Lois Newell Charitable Trustsince 2010 | Somerset, KY | $809K13 grants · 2025 | $40K | Preselected only | $14M |
| Opera House Fund Incsince 1976 | Lexington, KY | $726K13 grants · 2024 | $33K | Preselected only | $14M |
| Jerry E Baker Foundation Incsince 1991 | Bowling Green, KY | $649K3 grants · 2024 | $5,000 | Preselected only | $28M |
| Paul W and Rose Suchovsky Charitable Tr Dated 3-7-2012since 2014 | Louisville, KY | $639K7 grants · 2025 | $51K | Preselected only | $18M |
| Woodland Farm Foundation Incsince 2018 | Russell Spgs, KY | $619K3 grants · 2025 | $128K | Preselected only | $28M |
| The Greater Clark Foundation Incsince 1945 | Winchester, KY | $572K13 grants · 2024 | $5,900 | Preselected only | $46M |
| Fultum Foundation Incsince 2018 | Louisville, KY | $500K1 grants · 2024 | $500K | Preselected only | $21M |
| E O Robinson Mountain Fundsince 1949 | Lexington, KY | $480K1 grants · 2024 | $480K | Yes | $20M |
| Kentucky Foundation for Women Incsince 1985 | Louisville, KY | $445K6 grants · 2024 | $50K | Yes | $14M |
| Carol Ann and Ralph V Haile Jr Foundationsince 2004 | Covington, KY | — | — | Not stated | $283M |
| Grandview Care Foundation Incsince 2021 | Louisville, KY | — | — | Preselected only | $72M |
| Owsley Brown II Family Foundation Incsince 1992 | Louisville, KY | — | — | Preselected only | $60M |
| The Susan S Donaldson Foundation Incsince 1989 | Lexington, KY | — | — | Preselected only | $38M |
Sources: IRS Business Master File (assets), ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer and IRS 990-PF e-file (grants paid, application policy). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own Part XV checkbox.
Open grant programs in Kentucky
All 2| Deadline | Grant | Funder | Award ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rollingno deadline | Kentucky Arts Council — Organizational GrantsStateKentucky Arts Council | Kentucky Arts Council | Not listed |
| Rollingno deadline | Kentucky Humanities — Humanities GrantsStateKentucky Humanities | Kentucky Humanities | Not listed |
Common questions
How many private foundations are based in Kentucky?
Our directory lists 333 private grantmaking foundations in Kentucky with at least $1 million in assets, holding a combined $6.1B. The data comes from the IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File and Form 990-PF.
How do I get a grant from a private foundation?
Start with foundations that already fund organizations like yours nearby. Read the grantee list on each profile, check whether the foundation accepts applications (it says so on its 990-PF), and lead with a short letter of inquiry. Many family foundations fund only organizations they already know; an introduction through a shared grantee or board member works better than a cold proposal.
Can you help us approach foundations?
Yes. Our grant writers research foundation prospects, write letters of inquiry, and build a foundation fundraising plan. Request a free consultation.