Foundations that fund organizations in Paducah, Kentucky
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for Paducah nonprofits
51 private foundations gave $10M to Paducah organizations in their latest filings; 20 of the 51 that say either way accept applications.
146 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Paducah around $5,000. 9 of these funders are based in Kentucky; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 51
- Accept applications
- 20
- of 51 that state a policy
- Dollars to Paducah
- $10M
- latest filings
- Grants
- 146
- Typical median grant
- $5,000
- Based in KY
- 18%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to Paducah organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carson-Myre Charitable Foundation | Paducah, KY | 39 | $4.7M | $50K | Yes | To fund christian ministry; Christian outreach to the poor; Sponsor & support cultural events |
| Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust | Paducah, KY | 31 | $4.6M | $50K | Yes | Programming support; General operating support; Operating support |
| The Andrew W Mellon Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $700K | $700K | Yes | To support capital improvements, preservation, strategic pl… |
| Reed Foundation | Gilbertsville, KY | 4 | $107K | $3,000 | Preselected only | Operating budget; Substance abuse recovery |
| Paducah Area Community Reuse Organization | Paducah, KY | 1 | $53K | $53K | Preselected only | Grant amount funded a carbon sequestration study. |
| Hugh & Mary Barber Rev Tr Xxx-Xx-Xxxx | St Louis, MO | 1 | $39K | $39K | Preselected only | Scholarship |
| Beiderwell Foundation | Milwaukee, WI | 1 | $31K | $31K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Suskin Foundation | Kenmore, WA | 1 | $30K | $30K | Preselected only | Support operations |
| Baird Foundation Inc | Milwaukee, WI | 9 | $17K | $1,500 | Preselected only | Ethnic and religious; Health and human services |
| The Frances Pilling and John B Cross Jr Foundation | Atlanta, GA | 1 | $16K | $16K | Preselected only | Operating fund |
| Sutphin Family Foundation Ica | Pittsburgh, PA | 1 | $15K | $15K | Yes | General support |
| Woodmenlife Outreach Foundation | Omaha, NE | 6 | $15K | $2,500 | Preselected only | Charitable donation |
| The Jahna Foundation Inc | Lake Wales, FL | 1 | $15K | $15K | Preselected only | Donation |
| Nikao Institute Inc Dba Jam | Paducah, KY | 1 | $13K | $13K | Preselected only | Empowering missions works |
| Johnston-Hanson Foundation | Washington, DC | 1 | $13K | $13K | Yes | General support |
| Vc Fund | Portland, OR | 1 | $13K | $13K | Yes | General Support |
| Anchored Support Foundation Inc | Groveland, FL | 1 | $12K | $12K | Yes | Minister to youth of single parents |
| Devota Brann Charitable Tr | Eagan, MN | 1 | $11K | $11K | Preselected only | General operating |
| The Robert E & Jenny D Kirkland Foundation | Union City, TN | 2 | $10K | $5,000 | Preselected only | Stimulate curiousity & understanding of our Nations river s…; To promote the growth of Quilting |
| Mgm Charitable Scholarship Tr | Paducah, KY | 1 | $10K | $10K | Yes | Donation to mccracken co high school |
| Whiteaker Charitable Trust | Birmingham, AL | 1 | $9,209 | $9,209 | Preselected only | General operating |
| M Lyons Tr UW Fbo Bdwy Ch of Christ | Eagan, MN | 1 | $7,700 | $7,700 | Preselected only | General operating |
| The Papa John's Foundation Inc | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $7,500 | $7,500 | Preselected only | Feeding Freedom |
| Lg&e and Ku Foundation Inc | Louisville, KY | 2 | $5,910 | $2,955 | Yes | United way of western ky po1; Uw western ky food pantry |
| Thomas C Blair Foundation | Cocoa Beach, FL | 2 | $5,500 | $2,750 | Preselected only | Unrestrited; Unrestricted |
| David Novak Leadership Inc C/O Cornerstone Family Office | Mayfield Heights, OH | 1 | $5,500 | $5,500 | Yes | Leadership |
| Charles B Wilson Trust UW Fbo Ninth Street | Birmingham, AL | 1 | $5,471 | $5,471 | Preselected only | General support |
| Hedden Charitable Trust | Pekin, IL | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | Services for the Poor |
| Bill and Carol Latimer Charitable Foundation | Union City, TN | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | Religious |
| Karen Kay Buckley and Joseph David Buckley Foundation | Carlisle, PA | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | Grant for National Quilt Museum for operating costs. |
| The Shepherds Hand Inc | Lakeland, FL | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | Ministry |
| Leeper Family Foundation Inc | Bonita Springs, FL | 3 | $3,700 | $1,200 | Preselected only | Support |
| Lanelle Boyles Testamentary Trust | Birmingham, AL | 1 | $3,609 | $3,609 | Yes | Scholarships |
| Edward Jones Foundation | St Louis, MO | 4 | $3,150 | $300 | Preselected only | Crime, legal-related; Educational institutions and related activities; Human services - multipurpose and other |
| Frederick Yeamans Dabney Family Foundation | Gulf Breeze, FL | 1 | $2,117 | $2,117 | Yes | Care of stray and unwanted animals. |
| The Ford Family Foundation | Roseburg, OR | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Yes | Tiny Pieces Vast Vision Quilt Exhibition |
| Ralph J Baudhuin Foundation C/O Thomas Baudhuin | Roscoe, IL | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Yes | Scholarship |
| Wk Kellogg Foundation | Battle Creek, MI | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Yes | Matching Grant |
| The Wm M & a Cafaro Family Foundation | Niles, OH | 3 | $2,000 | $500 | Yes | General purpose |
| The William H Jarrett II Foundation Inc | Atlanta, GA | 1 | $1,200 | $1,200 | Preselected only | General fund |
| The Lighthouse Beacon Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $1,153 | $1,153 | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted (See General Explanation Attachment) |
| R T Vanderbilt Trust Agy Main | Norwalk, CT | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | General operating |
| The Allstate Foundation | Northbrook, IL | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Yes | Agent - individual hh |
| Hollie Brewer Adaptive Rodeo Inc | Lake Wales, FL | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | support nonprofit with related mission |
| Tallgrass Farm Foundation Inc | Harrodsburg, KY | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | General fund |
| The Rosenthal Foundation Inc | Lexington, KY | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | Contribution to 501(c) charity for unrestricted purposes |
| Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation | Santa Barbara, CA | 1 | $500 | $500 | Preselected only | General support |
| The Osi Group Foundation | Aurora, IL | 1 | $500 | $500 | Preselected only | Fishing tournament |
| Watermark Auto Group Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $500 | $500 | Preselected only | Charitable Event |
| Tractor Supply Company Foundation | Brentwood, TN | 2 | $500 | $250 | Yes | Hometown heroes donation |
| Tuw D Cartin Fbo Salvation Army | Dallas, TX | 1 | $281 | $281 | Preselected only | Unrestricted general |
Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV, latest electronic return per foundation (2026-10-28). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own checkbox on Part XV line 2. Grants to individuals excluded.
Common questions
Which foundations give to nonprofits in Paducah, Kentucky?
Carson-Myre Charitable Foundation, Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust, The Andrew W Mellon Foundation, Reed Foundation, Paducah Area Community Reuse Organization and 46 others reported grants to Paducah organizations on their latest Form 990-PF.
How do I approach a foundation that doesn't accept applications?
A foundation that checks "contributes only to preselected organizations" on its 990-PF won't review a cold proposal. Look at who it funds, find a shared board member, grantee or advisor, and ask for an introduction. Foundations that accept applications usually list a contact and deadlines in Part XV; we show that text on each foundation's page.
Is this list complete?
No. It covers private foundations (Form 990-PF filers) whose latest electronic return lists at least one grant to an organization in Paducah. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.