Search Through Grants for Youth Programs in Kentucky in the U.S.

Many years ago, Carol and Ralph Haile established their Foundation to facilitate their annual giving. But they also wanted the Foundation to be the steward of their wealth, to ensure the funds would be used to improve the communities they loved and cherished. Upon Ralph’s death in 2006, the Foundation was funded by his estate and we began our journey of developing funding strategies that align with the Hailes’ passions in four areas of interest.

The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation is an independent family foundation dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for residents in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. As a private family foundation, we are honored and humbled to represent Carol and Ralph in helping to change our communities for the better through collaboration and innovation.

We are concentrating our efforts and resources in areas about which Carol and Ralph were most passionate:

• Arts and Culture

The Foundation values the advancement of the arts as both a vocation and as a contributor to the vibrancy and economic vitality of our communities. We support a broad variety of art forms, programs that support arts education, accessibility, capacity building, innovation in programming and audience development. We are always interested in new and bold ideas that enhance the spirit of our region. 

• Civic and Community

The Foundation’s investments include regional economic initiatives, neighborhood revitalization, entrepreneurship, workforce development, stable and affordable housing, and similar programs to foster community engagement and a sense of belonging which are the lifeblood of all neighborhoods.

• Education

We maintain a sharp focus on educational opportunities for underserved youth from their birth to workforce readiness. We believe in cross-sector collaboration and scaling of innovative solutions that drive long-lasting impact as well as ensuring that all have access to the rich variety of educational and cultural assets our region has to offer.

• Human Services

Since the Foundation’s beginning, we have supported services for women and children, food and shelter, the aging population and veterans. We understand and value the importance for everyone to live with dignity and invest in organizations who empower people to lead productive lives with a hopeful future.

Carol Ann and Ralph V Haile Jr Foundation Grant

Through supporting non-profit organizations with the Carol Ann and Ralph V Haile Jr Foundation Grant, we intend our work to have the greatest impact possible as we, in collaboration with our region’s stakeholders, help lead the way to a stronger and more vibrant community.

We welcome interested organizations that are in alignment with our funding priorities and operate within our geographic area of focus. This includes the 10 counties in the Greater Cincinnati region: Hamilton, Butler, Warren, Clermont and Brown in Ohio; Kenton, Campbell and Boone in Kentucky; Dearborn and Franklin in Indiana.

Background

Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation seeks to dramatically improve the lives of underserved communities across the globe by supporting scalable, innovative, and impact-first solutions that leverage existing systems and stakeholders. Our goal is to find social entrepreneurs with dynamic products or services that have a proven ability to positively impact the lives of underserved people, and nurture those organizations at the early stages by providing capacity, capital, and community.

Our application process is designed to be open and accessible, and we accept applications year round from across our priority geographies and sectors. Borrowing from our venture capital legacy, we find exceptional entrepreneurs and provide them with: 

Capacity

• The core of DRK’s model is deep and extensive operational and technical support for each portfolio organization, both through dedicated hands-on Board service and specialist capacity-building resources for fundraising, board and organizational development, leadership, financial support, and scaling strategy,

Capital

• DRK provides up to $300,000 USD in either unrestricted grant funding or investment capital over a three-year period, and

Community

• DRK convenes our portfolio and alumni annually, facilitating connections and community. 

What We Fund

DRK Foundation funds early-stage social impact organizations solving the world’s biggest social and environmental problems using bold, scalable approaches.

What stage of growth does DRK Foundation typically fund?

Early stage: Organizations who are early stage, which we define as post-pilot and pre-scale. This typically means: 

• Your program, product or service is already being used in the market or in the field, 
• You have early indication that your model is having its intended impact on the beneficiary populations,
• Your organization is relatively young (ideally between two and five years old, although we will consider both younger and older organizations).

Venture funding: In the case of for profits, we typically support Seed to Series A organizations, and never lead rounds; we also generally but not exclusively refrain from participating in financings exceeding a $15M USD post-money valuation.  

Spaces For All Fund

Kentucky Performing Arts strives to deepen and strengthen its commitment to being welcoming and inclusive by removing barriers to the joy and power of the arts. KPA's programming supports artists and artforms that reflect the diverse community it serves.

Kentucky Performing Arts (KPA) offers community-based artists and organizations an opportunity to obtain rental assistance in its family of venues: The Kentucky Center (Whitney Hall, Bomhard Theater and MeX Theater), the Brown Theatre, and Old Forester's Paristown Hall. The KPA Spaces for All Fund has been established to ensure local, qualifying organizations can successfully afford KPA venues at reduced rental rates.

Rental assistance awards may be used toward overall venue expenses, including rental cost, production equipment and labor, venue staffing and security costs. Funds will be applied at settlement and can only be used to support facility expenses.

Funding

In-kind support of between $1,500 and $5,000 may be awarded. No cash is awarded. In-kind support will be applied toward venue expenses with the exception of the deposit. Applicants will be asked to communicate the amount of support they are requesting between $1,500 and $5,000. Award amounts are at the discretion of the review panel. Amounts awarded may be less than requested. Awards are for a single, arts-based project to be presented in a KPA venue.

About Us

Appalachian Community Fund is bold, forward-thinking, inclusive—a champion of the people of Appalachia.

By lifting up the voices of our community, supporting our community’s vision for change, and advancing local leadership, Appalachian Community Fund (ACF) embodies the power of collective action and bottom-up transformation. Inclusivity is paramount to our definition of community, and this value is lived out in our efforts to give many different voices a platform. To everyone at ACF, “y’all means all” is much more than a fun catchphrase.

ACF’s commitment to effective, people-driven progress is bolstered by our firm Appalachian roots. Beyond honoring Appalachian culture and heritage, our approach to change-making fundamentally reflects the spirit of Appalachia: gritty and resourceful with a well-developed instinct for problem-solving. At the heart of the fund is a staunch belief in the sharing of resources, energy, time, and ideas with each other to achieve a common vision for change and to shift the narrative about Appalachia.

Our Mission

ACF funds and encourages grassroots social change in Central Appalachia. We work to build a sustainable base of resources in order to support community-led organizations seeking to overcome and address issues of race, economic status, gender, sexual identity, disability, and the environment. As a community-controlled fund, ACF aims to expand and strengthen movements for social change—to change systems and institutions—by leveraging our collective power.

LGBTQ Initiative (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning Initiative)

These grants are dedicated to expanding resources for LGBTQ organizing efforts in Appalachian communities. The LGBTQ fund is primarily focused on growing LGBTQ communties’ institutional resources, building capacity in LGBTQ efforts, and assisting organizational development. Special priority will be given to new and emerging efforts, particularly among LGBTQ youth.

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Funding Criteria

ACF provides grants to community-based organizations working for social, economic, racial and environmental justice in Central Appalachia.

We look to fund organizations that have developed a realistic plan for creating social change and prioritize work that utilizes organizing and education as strategies to achieve this end. We invite projects that are startup in nature.

We fund organizations working to:

• End racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, ageism, and ableism
• Promote non-violent communities
• Build organizations that are fair, inclusive, and democratic

In Our Community

Republic Bank recognizes the importance of making a lasting IMPACT, and that starts by strengthening the communities in which we live and work. We believe Republic Bank not only serves the community but is also a part of the community.

Together, we can make an impact that goes beyond banking. Bank with us, and let’s strengthen our community – together.

Generally, organizations and activities meeting the established criteria will fall into one of the following categories:

• Education and Youth Programs
• Family and Community Welfare
• Civic Projects
• Healthcare and Human Services
• Performing Arts and Cultural Activities
• Recreation and Preservation Programs

In-Kind Donations

Republic Bank occasionally donates used computer equipment, office equipment, and furniture to community organizations. 

Philanthropy is our commitment to communities in which we operate and broader society. We focus our resources on a limited number of key projects that can deliver valuable benefits from our contributions and those of our partners. We give priority to innovative, high-quality projects that meet the following criteria:

• promote sustainable development
• offer an opportunity for Roche to use its expertise and logistics capabilities
• involve Roche actively at an early stage with local authorities and established partners
• engage Roche employees in cultural (focus on contemporary arts), educational and social activities
• managed by an accredited charity

Our four focus areas

Humanitarian and Social

We direct the majority of our philanthropic donations to humanitarian and social development projects.

Science and education

We are dedicated to programmes that promote scientific interest and provide educational opportunities for young people around the world.

Community and Environment

We are committed to building stronger communities and responding to natural disasters sustainably.

Arts and Culture

We support groundbreaking contemporary art, cultural projects and activities that explore the parallels between innovation in art and in science. 

Kentucky Statewide Reserve Fund (KY)

The Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) is a federally funded grant program that provides Youth, Adult and Dislocated Worker funding throughout our Commonwealth to Local Workforce Development Boards, State Agencies, and Non-Profit 501(c)3 organizations that engage in the required/allowable WIOA activities.

The Statewide Reserve Fund is authorized as part of the Federal Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) under 20 CFR 682.110 (b). The goal of the Statewide Reserve Fund is to promote innovative approaches to meeting the goals laid out in the WIOA State Plan and provides a mechanism to allow for statewide initiatives outside of the established Local Workforce Development Areas. 

The Kentucky Statewide Reserve (SWR) Fund is a grant program operated by the Kentucky Education & Labor Cabinet (ELC) to provide grants through various channels to support and implement required and allowable workforce development activities.

Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank

The Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank is committed to creating a greater impact on programs and initiatives that create strong, vibrant communities and provide pathways to opportunity.  Grants for programming in education, the arts, community development, and health and human services in the Greater Cincinnati area are considered, in addition to the specific funding interests originally identified by each of the individual benefactors. 

Cincinnati, OH - (Cincinnati, Dayton and Northern Kentucky) Foundations 

• Charles Moerlein Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee: Supports charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes.
• Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee: Supports initiatives that empower and assist women and girls in achieving self–sufficiency
• Eleanora C.U. Alms Trust, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee: Supports charitable and educational purposes for the City of Cincinnati, with a focus on the arts.
• H.B., E.W. & F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee: Supports mainly environmental and historical preservation, and educational and arts organizations in the greater Cincinnati area, as well as named preferred organizations named in the trust document.
• Helen G., Henry F., & Louise Tuechter Dornette Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee: Supports nature and the conservation of nature’s beauty, as well as organizations that are beneficial to children, with a preference to organizations that Miss Dornette identified during her lifetime
• Louis & Melba Schott Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee: Supports assistance to youth, with emphasis on youth of primary school through junior high school age, who are disadvantaged because of medical conditions, economic status, family background or for other similar reasons. 
• Patricia Kisker Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee: Supports organizations that benefit or serve children and educational, musical or arts organizations, as well as organizations which Patricia Kisker supported during her lifetime.
• Jacob G. Schmidlapp Fund, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee: Supports charitable or educational purposes; for relief in sickness, suffering and distress; for the care of young children, the aged or the helpless or afflicted; for the promotion of education and to improve living conditions.
• Stillson Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee: Helps children and provides assistance to those charities the Stillsons supported during their lifetime.
• Ohio Valley Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Agent: Funds small equipment, technology and capital improvement projects in the Ohio Valley.
• Frank J. Kloenne & Jacqueline Dawson Kloenne Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee: Promote, encourage or aid religious, charitable, scientific, literary and educational activities.
• Mary Martha McGee Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee: To support community outreach activities of non–profit, religious organizations and churches that serve the low–income population in Greater Cincinnati
• Harold Schilling Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee: To support organizations, preferably located in Hamilton County, that aid persons who are hearing or visually impaired or who are developmentally disabled. 
• Lawrence J. Mayer Trust, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee: Supports Catholic or religious order of men or women, which serves or caters to the poor in Greater Cincinnati.

Kentucky Opioid Abatement Grants: Prevention

Purpose

Kentuckians have been hard hit by the impact of the opioid epidemic, creating numerous challenges for families and communities. In 2021, the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission (KYOAAC) was established by the General Assembly to oversee a trust fund to distribute settlement funds from lawsuits against certain manufacturers and distributors of opioids. The Commission is made up of 11 members, nine voting and two non-voting, who are charged with the distribution of the Commonwealth’s portion of settlement funds. The Commission has adopted nationally recognized principles for allocating funds, including use the money to save lives, use evidence to guide spending, invest in youth prevention, focus on equity for impacted communities across the Commonwealth, and create a fair and transparent process. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to provide settlement dollars for prevention focused efforts addressing the opioid epidemic.

Population of Focus

Funds must be used to provide prevention services for individuals who have or are at risk of one of the following:

• Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)
• Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and comorbid polysubstance use
• Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and co-occurring mental illness
• Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and comorbid polysubstance use and co-occurring mental illness

Funding Priorities

• The Commission has determined Prevention is a priority focus for the settlement funds. Priority consideration will be given to applications that address the following categories:
  • Youth-focused prevention – Youth defined as up to 26-years-old. These include both inschool and out-of-school initiatives.
  • Overdose Reduction Efforts – for example, Naloxone distribution, mobile clinical services, etc.

Priority Criteria

While the Commission may consider all areas of the application, they established several criteria they deem to be considered priorities, which include: 

• Projects that demonstrate strong collaboration.
• Projects that expand or enhance services or opportunities. Supplanting, defined as replacing funding of a recipient’s existing program with awarded funds, is discouraged.
• Projects involving recovery housing must comply with state accreditation requirements.
• Projects that address or fill service gaps in particular regions.
• While the Commission will consider requests to continue funding provided by previous KYOAAC awards, those requests must decrease by 25 percent of the original funding award.

Funding

Award Ceiling: $1,000,000.00

The review committee may request budget modifications be made prior to award.

About Us

We choose to live out our Kentucky Colonel commission through continued service and charitable contributions.

Mission

We support worthy nonprofits by:

• Actively engaging Colonels
• Fostering strong relationships
• Maintaining high grant vetting standards
• Being good stewards of our resources and traditions

… all with integrity and compassion.

Good Works Program

The Good Works Program annually provides over $2.5 million in grants to Kentucky nonprofits that together help over 3.9 million individuals.

Since 1951, the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels has granted $68 million through over 8,900 grants. These grants are entirely dependent on the support of over 30,000 active Colonels throughout the world, who have chosen to continue their charitable efforts through contributions to help Kentuckians.

Who We Support

Grants through the Good Works Program are focused on helping organizations that mainly fall within these categories:

• Community Enhancement
• Community Support
• Education
• Health, Rehabilitation, and Life Skills
• Historic Preservation
• Homeless, Low Income, and Those in Crisis
• Veterans Services and Military
• Youth Services

Large Grants

If your grant request exceeds $10,000.00.

Cultural Pass Partner

Cultural Pass provides free access to many of Greater Louisville’s arts and culture institutions for youth ages 0-21. Cultural Pass is valid for a one-time general admission for each of the Partners and is valid through the specified date range. The Cultural Pass is a collaboration of Louisville Metro Government, Fund for the Arts, Arts & Culture Alliance (ACA), Kentuckiana Cultural Consortium, and participating libraries including Bullitt County Public Library, Charlestown-Clark County Public Library, Floyd County Public Library, Harrison County Public Library, Jeffersonville Township Public Library, and Louisville Free Public Library.

Reimbursement grant funding awarded through Cultural Pass is restricted to arts and culture programming.  

The Daniel and Susan Pfau Foundation

The Pfau Foundation was established in 1994 in Cincinnati by Daniel A. Pfau and Susan Laufer Pfau.

Mrs. Pfau, a community volunteer, and Mr. Pfau, a local businessman, have been actively involved in programs serving disabled and disadvantaged youth, and in organizations promoting the Greater Cincinnati area. The Foundation complements the Pfaus’ personal charitable efforts and will continue their support into the future.

Purpose of the Pfau Foundation

The Pfau Foundation’s primary focus is on the education, health, cultural experience and social welfare of children, adolescents, young adults (to age 30) with physical, mental, or developmental disabilities and their families. A secondary focus is on children, adolescents, young adults (to age 30) who face significant economic barriers to success and their families. There is a particular interest in programs that help clients realize their full potential. The Foundation also advocates and supports large regional arts and cultural organizations. Small and mid-size organizations that use the arts as a vehicle for achieving impact with successful shared outcomes will be considered. (These outcomes must be aligned with the first two priorities of the Foundation.) The fourth area of interest is recreation areas.

Kentucky Opioid Abatement Grants: Prevention

Purpose

Kentuckians have been hard hit by the impact of the opioid epidemic, creating numerous challenges for families and communities. In 2021, the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission (KYOAAC) was established by the General Assembly to oversee a trust fund to distribute settlement funds from lawsuits against certain manufacturers and distributors of opioids. The Commission is made up of 11 members, nine voting and two non-voting, who are charged with the distribution of the Commonwealth’s portion of settlement funds. The Commission has adopted nationally recognized principles for allocating funds, including use the money to save lives, use evidence to guide spending, invest in youth prevention, focus on equity for impacted communities across the Commonwealth, and create a fair and transparent process. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to provide settlement dollars for prevention focused efforts addressing the opioid epidemic.

Population of Focus

Funds must be used to provide prevention services for individuals who have or are at risk of one of the following:

• Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)
• Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and comorbid polysubstance use
• Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and co-occurring mental illness
• Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and comorbid polysubstance use and co-occurring mental illness

Funding Priorities

• The Commission has identified certain priorities within the area of treatment and recovery supports for distribution of settlement funds. Priority consideration will be given to applications that address the following:
  • For Treatment: Research on residential treatment bed availability shows Kentucky had 70.34 beds per 100,000 population in 2022, making it the state with the highest rate of beds per capita in the county. Due to this status, any applications requesting funding for residential treatment should specifically detail why the request fills a significant need or gap in service for the population served.
  • For Recovery: The Commission has determined there are several areas of recovery support that could benefit from continued or increased investment. Therefore, priority consideration will be given to applications that demonstrate investments in the following areas:
    • Supportive Housing
    • Transportation – proposals may not include direct purchase of vehicles.
    • Employment Supports – such as recovery-to-work programs or workforce development.
    • Recovery Community Centers
    • Family Togetherness – for example, programs that work to keep families united, take a wholistic approach to recovery, support kinship care, etc.

Priority Criteria

While the Commission may consider all areas of the application, they established several criteria they deem to be considered priorities, which include: 

• Projects that demonstrate strong collaboration.
• Projects that expand or enhance services or opportunities. Supplanting, defined as replacing funding of a recipient’s existing program with awarded funds, is discouraged.
• Projects involving recovery housing must comply with state accreditation requirements.
• Projects that address or fill service gaps in particular regions.
• While the Commission will consider requests to continue funding provided by previous KYOAAC awards, those requests must decrease by 25 percent of the original funding award.

Funding

Award Ceiling: $1,000,000.00

The review committee may request budget modifications be made prior to award.

Martin Jr. Foundation Community Grant

The Felix E. Martin Jr. Foundation welcomes grant applications from nonprofit organizations for the benefit of the residents of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. Grant proposals should support civic, educational or cultural projects in Muhlenberg County, with preference to those that relate to an aspect of the four key areas of need, Economic Development, Youth Services, Substance Abuse Services, and Health/Human Services. 

Funding

Grant applicants requesting in excess of $20,000 are likely to be considered outside of the Community Grants program and will likely require additional time for review and approval. 

About Us

We choose to live out our Kentucky Colonel commission through continued service and charitable contributions.

Mission

We support worthy nonprofits by:

• Actively engaging Colonels
• Fostering strong relationships
• Maintaining high grant vetting standards
• Being good stewards of our resources and traditions

… all with integrity and compassion.

Good Works Program

The Good Works Program annually provides over $2.5 million in grants to Kentucky nonprofits that together help over 3.9 million individuals.

Since 1951, the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels has granted $68 million through over 8,900 grants. These grants are entirely dependent on the support of over 30,000 active Colonels throughout the world, who have chosen to continue their charitable efforts through contributions to help Kentuckians.

Who We Support

Grants through the Good Works Program are focused on helping organizations that mainly fall within these categories:

• Community Enhancement
• Community Support
• Education
• Health, Rehabilitation, and Life Skills
• Historic Preservation
• Homeless, Low Income, and Those in Crisis
• Veterans Services and Military
• Youth Services

Medium Grants

If your grant request is between $2,500 and $9,999.00.

Healthy Eating & Active Living

Communities across the nation are facing a growing prevalence of obesity and associated preventable chronic diseases – the Tri-State is no different. Currently, in our region, one-third of adults are obese – higher than the national average. Tri-State children are also affected, with a third of our youth either obese or overweight. Unfortunately, excess weight dramatically increases the risk of many conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and some cancers. In January 2016, the World Health Organization warned, “…obesity is particularly concerning and has the potential to negate many of the health benefits that have contributed to increased life expectancy.” In their 2012 report, Trust for America’s Health cautioned, “…the current generation of young people could be the first in U.S. history to live sicker and die younger than their parents’ generation.” The solution is not in access to health care alone because obesity is difficult and expensive to treat. Prevention is necessary – through community solutions focused on policy, systems, and environmental changes – ultimately leading to lifestyles that incorporate healthy eating and active living.

Social Determinants of Health

There’s a lot of discussion today focused on the Social Determinants of Health. These are defined as the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age and include factors like socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood, and physical environment, employment, and social support networks as well as access to health care.

There are a growing number of programs and initiatives working to address the Social Determinants of Health both within and outside of the healthcare system.

Health Equity

The underlying message of the “Social Determinants of Health” is that the conditions in which people live have a more significant impact on their overall state of health than their genetics. Access to quality food, education, transportation, and living conditions all play a critical part in our health.

The concept of “Equity versus Equality” challenges the idea that giving “equal” treatment to every individual is adequate. Instead, equitable treatment accounts for individual/community needs and unique sets of circumstances.

This month, we’re taking what we’ve learned from each of the past two advocacy topics (the Social Determinants of Health and Equity versus Equality) as we look at Health Equity.

Understanding Health Equity is a vital piece in moving the needle in health outcomes. If we understand the relationship between “equity” and the Social determinants of Health (access to quality food, affordable housing, education, transportation, stable income, and stable relationships), we are more likely to create sustainable change.

Our Investment

A culture of Healthy Eating & Active Living will contribute to the following community changes:

• More residents of all ages are meeting the recommended guidelines for nutrition and physical activity
• Fewer residents of all ages will have weight-related chronic disease

The Foundation has identified four specific priorities that rely on comprehensive planning and systemic change:

• Nutritious Food and Beverage Availability – Increasing opportunities for healthy eating
• Physical Activity Access – Increasing opportunities for active living
• Healthy Environments – Increasing opportunities to facilitate systems change
• Motivate Usage – Encouraging individuals to make healthy choices

About Us

We choose to live out our Kentucky Colonel commission through continued service and charitable contributions.

Mission

We support worthy nonprofits by:

• Actively engaging Colonels
• Fostering strong relationships
• Maintaining high grant vetting standards
• Being good stewards of our resources and traditions

… all with integrity and compassion.

Good Works Program

The Good Works Program annually provides over $2.5 million in grants to Kentucky nonprofits that together help over 3.9 million individuals.

Since 1951, the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels has granted $68 million through over 8,900 grants. These grants are entirely dependent on the support of over 30,000 active Colonels throughout the world, who have chosen to continue their charitable efforts through contributions to help Kentuckians.

Who We Support

Grants through the Good Works Program are focused on helping organizations that mainly fall within these categories:

• Community Enhancement
• Community Support
• Education
• Health, Rehabilitation, and Life Skills
• Historic Preservation
• Homeless, Low Income, and Those in Crisis
• Veterans Services and Military
• Youth Services

Small Grants

If your grant request is less than $2,499.00.

Newer Organizations

Organizations 1-5 Years in Existence: For organizations who have been in existence for at least one year but do not meet the five years in existence requirement. Grants are capped at $5,000.00.

The Kentucky Touring Grant is a matching grant that helps make quality public performances available to the people of the commonwealth. This program provides presenters with support to book performers of dance, music, theatre and storytelling from the Kentucky Arts Council Performing Artists Directory.

Applicants may request up to $5,000 for artist fees, marketing and promotion. Funding may be used only for performers who have juried into the Performing Artist Directory. Grantees must match at least 25% of the requested award with cash from other grants, donations, ticket sales, sponsorships, etc. The remaining match may be secured with in-kind goods and services.

We are Stronger Together

2020 was a year like no other. It offered us a unique opportunity to demonstrate the strength of H.B. Fuller’s values, particularly the power of collaboration and courage. Our focus on taking care of employees, solving customers’ challenges in new ways, and supporting our communities when they need us most never faltered.

Our commitment to STEM education and youth leadership development did not waver, and we created a new funding focus to address racial inequities in the areas of employment, education and safety. Additionally, employees around the world took part in company-sponsored matching programs and a variety of virtual or socially-distanced volunteer opportunities to amplify their impact on issues they care about.

Overall, the gifts of time, talent and financial resources provided by H.B. Fuller and its employees in 2020 had an immeasurable effect on communities around the world.

STEM and Youth Leadership Grant

H.B. Fuller’s philanthropic vision is to help young people grow into productive, successful adults.

H.B. Fuller Company Foundation grants are strategically focused in two areas:

• STEM education – youth education initiatives in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)
• Leadership development for youth – organizations and programs that help young people become successful, productive adults

The Donald C. and Laura M. Harrison Family Foundation

The Foundation was established in 2006 by Donald and Laura Harrison and their children in Cincinnati, Ohio. Laura Harrison was an active community volunteer involved in a broad group of activities. Dr. Harrison is a cardiologist, administrator, and business entrepreneur.

They have creatively funded programs and facilities at their respective colleges and have participated in supporting a number of local charitable organizations with educational missions for the underprivileged.

Mission & Purpose of the Harrison Foundation

The Foundation seeks to improve opportunities and outcomes primarily for underprivileged students by funding educational scholarships, programs and research with a particular emphasis on seeding and supporting new programs.

The Foundation's primary initiative is to help launch innovative educational programs for primary, secondary and adult education. The Foundation also emphasizes funding programs for underprivileged children, youth, adults and families. The ultimate goal is to empower citizens affected by the grant to shape their own future in the community.

Grants may be awarded for consecutive years, but a new proposal is generally required for the subsequent year. Initially grant sizes will be in a range of $5,000 to $15,000 per year.

Community Partnership Award

The Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award recognizes outstanding nonprofit organizations in the United States that have shown exemplary leadership by facilitating partnerships with public, private or social sector leaders who are working together as equal partners, not as donors and recipients, to build a cohesive community that serves as a model for collaborating with others for the greater good.

Each year, the Mutual of America Foundation sponsors a national competition in which hundreds of organizations demonstrate the value of their partnership to the communities they serve, their ability to be replicated by others and their capacity to stimulate new approaches to addressing significant social issues.

Six organizations are selected by an independent committee to receive the Community Partnership Award.

• The Thomas J. Moran Award is given to the national award-winning program and includes $100,000 and a documentary video about the program.
• The Frances R. Hesselbein Award is given to a partnership that is addressing social challenges in more than one community, or which demonstrates the potential to be replicated in other communities. This recipient receives $75,000.
• Four other organizations are named Honorable Mention recipients for their programs, and each receives $50,000.

Since its inception in 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 262 partnerships from cities and towns across America. Like so many of our clients working in the nonprofit community, Mutual of America is dedicated to having a direct, positive impact on society.

About Us

Blue Grass Community Foundation is where people go to give to enhance the quality of life in Central and Appalachia Kentucky. We connect charitable individuals, families, businesses, communities and nonprofit organizations with causes they care about to meet community needs and make a difference.

We were founded in 1967 by visionary Lexington couple Irene and C.W. Sulier, who created a permanent endowment for our community with simple aspirations: they hoped their fund would grow to support diverse community needs over time and that others with charitable intent might join them. Their dreams have been more than realized. In the past 50+ years, we have grown from one charitable fund to over 700, each with its own unique charitable purpose. Charitable assets total more than $200 million. Most importantly, the Community Foundation, in partnership with our generous donors, has awarded more than $160 million in grants.

Hudson-Ellis Grants

Qualified charitable organizations serving Boyle County are eligible to apply for funding for projects for the good of Boyle County. Funding priorities for this grant opportunity include public education and services for disadvantaged and/or disabled youth and adults. Successful proposals will address community needs through projects and programs that demonstrate sustainable impact and measurable outcomes. The Hudson-Ellis competitive grantmaking program is made possible through the generosity of Lottie B. Ellis and other donors who established funds through bequests for the good of Boyle County. Grant request amount should not exceed $7,500.

Background

Every community faces unique barriers that require collaborative solutions to thrive. The Dow Promise Program supports educational and economic challenges Black youth and adults face in the United States by addressing community-identified needs and advancing equitable opportunities. Through grants of up to $10,000 towards social, economic or environmental initiatives, Dow Promise not only fosters a thriving community, but a shared future.

Since 2000, this annual competitive program has committed to uplifting communities in which Dow operates by supporting their needs and investing in positive social change for long-term success.

Mission Statement

The King’s Daughters and Sons Foundation of Kentucky, Inc. is a faith-based philanthropic organization serving non-profit entities that meet established eligibility criteria.  Funding is determined by need and the amount of monies available during the grant cycle.

Grants

The King’s Daughters and Sons Foundation of Kentucky, Inc. (TKDSF) awarded $645,988 in grants last year to nonprofit organizations located throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. These organizations met grant criteria and demonstrated capability to meet TKDSF’s philanthropic mission of providing impactful, charitable services to Kentuckians. These organizations will serve as TKDSF’s outreach to Kentuckians to address a variety of needs related to health, education, safety, and general welfare.

Funding Priorities

The primary categories for awarding funding by The King’s Daughters and Sons Foundation of Kentucky, Inc. (TKDSF) are Higher Education, Health and General Welfare programs.  Within these categories, grants will be awarded to support projects with an emphasis on capital expansion, equipment purchases, and higher education scholarships for Kentucky residents.  

Funding Examples

Awards from the last funding cycle will positively affect on-going, unmet areas of need to:

• At-risk children and disadvantaged youth
• Elderly and disabled adults
• Vulnerable adults and children with food and medical insecurity
• Individuals needing financial assistance to pursue Allied Health and Nursing degrees

About

Investing in Southeastern Illinois for good, and forever.

Across America, more than 700 community foundations help individuals, families and organizations make permanent charitable investments in their communities. Each works to create vibrant communities within their specific geographic area. Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation is proud to be in their company.

Mission

Cultivating philanthropy to build better communities.

In support of our mission, Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation is committed to bringing the full capabilities of an independent community foundation to smaller communities in our region by working with local volunteers and donors to improve their hometowns.

Fall Grant Cycle: Siemer Milling Company Fund for Youth Leadership Development

Siemer Milling Company is a family and employee-owned company with mills located in Hopkinsville, KY, W. Harrison, IN, and Teutopolis, IL. The organization has realized success to date because of the commitment of many fine people and their sincere desire to do a good job and deliver a worthwhile product. As the company grows, it will always emphasize attentiveness to the legitimate needs of its employees, customers, and the communities of which they are a part.

The Siemer Milling Company Fund established in 2006 provides a permanent source of funding to programs in Effingham County, Illinois and Christian County, Kentucky, and Dearborn County, Indiana that support the development of young leaders.

Why is Youth Leadership Development important?

For youth to be prepared to work in partnership with adults, they need to develop and enhance their leadership skills. Leadership training prepares youth to manage time, work as a team, set goals, start conversations, facilitate meetings, and make a difference. Promoting youth leadership development is a great way to promote positive life skills learning and prepare the next generation of leaders in our businesses, churches, and community.

The Siemer Milling Company Endowment awards grants to programs aimed at developing youth (ages 19 and under) to become extraordinary leaders by investing in the leadership skills required for improving our shared life, such as:

ENTERPRISE SAVVY — The ability to leverage opportunities with integrity and innovation; to make the right decisions and achieve results.

CONSCIENCE — Strong moral/religious character, working to have an ethical impact on the community.

COLLABORATIVE COMMUNICATION — The ability to engage others inclusively across teams, functions, and cultures, effectively marketing ideas.

ABOUT ROOTED IN JUSTICE

“Rooted in Justice” is a funding program designed to help amplify youth voices and actions in the environmental and food justice movements.  Rooted in Justice supports community-based organizations and groups that manage established, youth-led, urban greening programs within a justice framework as a core part of their work, with two-year grants of $25,000/year.  

Rooted in Justice recognizes the importance and undeniable right of every young person to have the ability to develop their own relationship with the environment, be it through growing food, spending time with nature, creating community green spaces, or becoming environmental stewards. Rooted in Justice also honors the power and possibilities that arise when young people collectively work to be change-makers in their communities.

Rooted in Justice supports organizations, groups, collectives, and programs that work with young people between the ages of 12 to 20 in youth-led programming for communities or cultures which have historically or currently experience:

• A lack of access to land or nature;
• Agricultural oppression and/or neglect;
• Food apartheid; and/or
• Other forms of injustice based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics and disability.

Rooted in Justice awards a small number of grants each year with applications due in the fall and decisions made the following spring. Final grant decisions are recommended to the Cedar Tree board via a participatory grantmaking process with outside reviewers who have experience in youth-led urban greening, as well as food or climate justice programming. So far the program has awarded multi-year grants to 21 organizations and one-time grants to 10 additional organizations since 2021. 

Definitions

Rooted in Justice grants support organizations or programs that include all four of the elements described below: social justice, youth-led, urban greening, and cohort-based youth work. We articulate our understanding of those terms below in an effort to provide a guide for prospective organizations to use in determining whether their program is a good fit. However as we continue our work towards questioning and dismantling some of our preconceived notions, we recognize that these are not finite definitions and encourage prospective applicants who still feel their work may be a good fit to describe in their proposals why this is the case.  

Social Justice-Based Programs

Programs dedicated to creating equitable outcomes for communities directly affected by different aspects of injustice by:

• Sharing and redistributing power and resources;
• Amplifying voices and leadership;
• Tackling root problems through ongoing engagement and collaboration to find solutions, organize against oppression of all kinds and create mechanisms for change; and
• Developing a critical analysis with youth and community members.

Youth-Led

The development of youth leadership skills is a core part of programs funded by Rooted in Justice. Young people have the opportunity to play a role in the planning and decision-making for their program and may help shape the internal workings of the organization. Examples of youth-led programs include programs where participants: 

• Managing a portion of their programming budget;
• Co-facilitating program activities, meetings and gatherings;
• Shape their own programming and/or organizational strategic planning;
• Have regular and end-of-program opportunities to provide program feedback and evaluation; and
• Have opportunities for personal and/or professional growth within the program and organization.

Urban Greening

For the purpose of this grant we define “urban greening” as any activity that creates a mutually beneficial relationship between city dwellers and their environments. Programs that are a strong fit for Rooted in Justice will have many opportunities for youth to be outdoors.  Project settings can include, but are not limited to: 

• Urban and aquaponic farms
• Greenhouses and rooftop gardens
• Community gardens, green spaces, and rain gardens
• Composting sites
• Land conservation efforts
• Urban forests
• River or other water restoration  

Cohort-Based Youth Works

Rooted in Justice looks to fund organizations that build community with cohorts of youth through intentional, recurring programming. This grant is intended to support programs that offer youth significant learning and leadership opportunities as a group and as individuals. Priority will be given to organizations that have program infrastructure that supports a cohort of youth over time.  Drop-in programming, one-time conferences, or individual internships are not a good fit for Rooted in Justice.  

Youth Budgeting

As part of grant proposal, all Rooted in Justice grantees must share a plan to allocate a portion of the grant funds for youth participants to manage. What do we mean by this? We ask applicants to specifically set aside some amount of grant funds for youth to allocate to priorities of their choosing.  For example, youth participants can use their allocated funding to:

• Fund an entrepreneurial endeavor;
• Design the brand or swag for their group;
• Hire a speaker or outside expert to teach a new skill;
• Purchase supplies for a community-based art project;
• Host a celebration for their families, friends and neighbors;
• Pay for transportation to programming, special events, or conferences; and/or
• Any other youth-led activity the group may find beneficial.

Use of Funds

Rooted in Justice funding must be used for project support of existing youth led, urban greening, social justice work and associated general operating expenses. Operating expenses can include anything from program costs like staff salaries and youth stipends to organizational sustainability needs like major equipment purchases and leadership/staff training. If your organization’s entire mission is youth led, urban greening, social justice work, the Rooted in Justice grant can be general support. 

Funding

Two Year Grant

• Rooted in Justice Grant awards are two-year grants of $25,000 per year.
• After the initial two year grant, grantees may be eligible for a third year of funding at the same or lower level through a simple renewal process.
• In the 2025-2026 grant cycle, the Cedar Tree Foundation expects to support 4 organizations with multi-year grant awards.

Funding for Professional Development

• Each Rooted in Justice grantee organization also has access to an additional $6,000 to support professional development opportunities identified by each organization.  Half of these funds must be used to directly support the professional development of youth. 
• Rooted in Justice grantees can request reimbursement from this professional development fund to attend conferences, hire consultants, purchase equipment or software that increases organizational capacity, or participate in any activities that strengthen youth programming or justice practice of program providers in support of their youth development programming. The funds set aside for youth professional development can be used for youth exchanges or youth participation in conferences and other professional development opportunities directly for youth.  

Community Professional Development Calls

• Cedar Tree works with grantee partners to assess their professional development interests and facilitates on-line gatherings of staff or youth for skill shares, trainings, and networking opportunities.
• These network calls will likely happen 2-3 times per year.