Best Grants for Rural Development in Kentucky

The Global Impact Cash Grants by Cisco Systems Foundation support innovative early-stage solutions aimed at addressing significant social problems. Targeting nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations, these grants focus on four key sectors: crisis response, education, economic empowerment, and climate regeneration. Eligible organizations must demonstrate alignment with these areas, particularly serving underserved communities. The foundation seeks to leverage technology for impactful solutions, ensuring sustainability and community resilience through strategic investments.

State Farm's Good Neighbor Citizenship Company Grants aim to enhance community safety, development, and education. Focused on long-term impact, they support initiatives in auto and home safety, disaster preparedness, affordable housing, and educational programs. Eligible recipients include nonprofits, educational institutions, and government entities. However, funding is not available for individuals, religious programs, or organizations outside the U.S. By addressing critical community needs, these grants foster safer and more resilient neighborhoods.

The Hearst Foundation: Culture Grant aims to support outstanding nonprofits that enhance cultural engagement and artistic talent in the U.S. With a focus on programs that reach young people, the grant prioritizes organizations that create lasting impacts in the arts and sciences. The Foundation allocates 25% of its funding to cultural initiatives, favoring established organizations with a history of significant results. Eligible nonprofits must encourage inclusivity and sustainability in their programs.

The Labcorp Charitable Foundation, a private 501(c)(3) entity, aims to enhance healthcare access and education for all. With grant opportunities focusing on food programs, healthcare services for underserved populations, and STEM initiatives, it seeks to support community health and well-being. Organizations eligible for funding must be U.S.-based and hold tax-exempt status. Requests are reviewed biannually, in March and September, to foster impactful community projects.

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation provides grants to organizations focused on improving the lives of children in urban poverty in the U.S., India, and South Africa. They prioritize projects in education, health, and family economic stability. Grants typically do not exceed 25% of a project's budget or 10% of an organization's annual expenses. The foundation seeks to partner with organizations already making an impact, ensuring funding supports impactful social enterprises.

The PNC Foundation aims to enhance the lives of individuals in local communities through partnerships with nonprofit organizations. Their focus includes promoting educational opportunities, particularly for early childhood education, and supporting economic development initiatives. Grants are available for organizations that benefit low- to moderate-income families and enhance community growth. The foundation prioritizes programs that foster sustainability and diversity, ensuring a lasting impact on the communities they serve.

Roche Corporate Donations and Philanthropy (CDP) focuses on impactful projects that foster sustainable development, engage employees, and leverage Roche's expertise. Their philanthropic efforts prioritize humanitarian, educational, environmental, and cultural initiatives, aiming to build stronger communities and support innovative projects. Eligibility is limited to local organizations, while ineligible projects include those with political or religious ties. The foundation strives to create a positive societal impact through collaboration and strategic partnerships.

The Sidney Stern Memorial Trust Grant supports charitable, scientific, medical, and educational organizations that are 501(c)(3) certified. This private funder emphasizes impactful service to diverse populations without discrimination. Grants must be utilized within the United States and cannot be awarded to individuals, political candidates, or lobbying efforts. The Trust is dedicated to enhancing the general welfare through soundly-managed initiatives that contribute significantly to community needs.

The Southern Partners Fund's Discretionary Fund Grant aims to support grassroots community organizing for social, economic, and environmental justice in the Southeastern United States. It provides financial resources and technical assistance to rural organizations and leaders focused on transformative change. Eligible applicants include self-governed rural groups engaging in advocacy and community development. The fund prioritizes education reform, immigration rights, and voter engagement, allowing up to two requests per year, with a maximum award of $3,500.

The TJX Foundation Grants support nonprofit organizations located within 15 miles of a TJX store that align with their community mission. Eligible areas include basic needs, education for at-risk youth, workforce training, and safety from domestic violence. Organizations must be a registered 501(c)(3) for at least 12 months and have a nondiscrimination policy. Applications are invited through a Letter of Inquiry, with funding decisions based on community impact.

The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation offers grants to support diverse initiatives, including museums, educational programs, and environmental activities. Aiming to make a significant impact with modest funding, the Foundation targets IRS-qualified non-profits in the U.S. Grants typically range from $1,000 to $20,000, fostering community development and enhancement. Organizations focused on youth, seniors, and individuals with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply, as the Foundation seeks to empower those in need.

The Kentucky Civic Seal Mini-Grant Program aims to empower educators and students by funding civic engagement projects that align with the Civic Seal criteria. Offering grants ranging from $100 to $1000, this initiative supports planning, enacting, and showcasing civic action projects. Launched with the help of the CivXNow and community partners, it emphasizes diversity in applicant selection and encourages collaboration between students and adult sponsors to enhance civic learning and participation.

What does this program do?

It provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to:

• To help microenterprises startup and growth through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund.
• Provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs.

The Nordstrom Community Grant focuses on supporting youth and families by providing over $1 million in grants annually. It aims to assist grassroots organizations that address essential community needs such as food, shelter, and clothing, as well as creating opportunities for economic mobility through mentorship and workforce development. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits located in areas where Nordstrom operates. Applications are encouraged for those meeting these criteria.

The Dr. Scholl Foundation offers grants annually to IRS 501(c)(3) organizations, primarily focusing on U.S. applicants. The foundation supports projects in education, social services, healthcare, civic and cultural initiatives, and environmental efforts. While the grant cycle runs from October 1 to March 1, it encourages innovative solutions to global challenges. Only one application per organization is accepted each year, and funding is limited to one year. Unqualified organizations, including political entities, are ineligible.

The LGBTQ Grant from Just Fund KY aims to support antiracist projects that uplift LGBTQ individuals, especially those from marginalized communities in Kentucky. By promoting understanding, grassroots leadership, and inclusivity, this grant seeks to bridge gaps between LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ organizations. The initiative emphasizes that true freedom is collective, as noted by Emma Lazarus, and works towards creating a brighter future for all Kentuckians.

The Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation Grant supports non-profit organizations serving Kentucky residents, focusing on enhancing social welfare for those facing economic hardships. Established in 1948, it prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion while targeting rural areas and communities in need. Grants are awarded for program expansion or new initiatives that promote self-help and training. Eligible applicants must be IRS-approved charitable organizations based in Kentucky, ensuring their projects align with the foundation's core values.

The O'Reilly Automotive Foundation Grant focuses on enhancing community welfare through philanthropic initiatives that support economic stability, workforce development, health services, and disaster relief. Established in 2020, the Foundation seeks to empower underrepresented individuals and organizations in the U.S. by addressing vital community needs. It particularly aims to provide assistance to nonprofits that foster positive change and improve quality of life for those in need, ensuring a lasting impact in local communities.

The True Inspiration Awards, established by Chick-fil-A in 2015, recognizes nonprofit organizations that significantly impact their communities. In 2025, the program will distribute $6 million in grants, ranging from $30,000 to $350,000, to sixteen selected organizations. Categories include Caring for People, Caring through Food, Community, and Caring for our Planet, with a focus on educational initiatives, food security, housing services, and environmental stewardship, honoring the legacy of founder S. Truett Cathy.

The Hubert E. Sapp Regular Grant Cycle, by Southern Partners Fund, aims to empower rural communities in the Southeastern U.S. through grassroots leadership and organizing. The fund provides support to nonprofit organizations focused on social, economic, and environmental justice. Eligible applicants are community-based organizations with budgets under $350,000. The initiative honors Hubert E. Sapp's legacy, promoting equitable relationships that drive real transformation and community decision-making.

Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services

Our mission is to be a diverse and inclusive organization providing programs, services and supports that protect and promote the health and well-being of all Kentuckians and their communities.

Department for Public Health (DPH) - Rural Health Transformation Program Funding Opportunity to Establish or Expand Community Paramedicine Programming

About the Program

This project is 100% funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for a total of $212.9 million in budget year 1 with 100% by CMS/HHS. The RHTF grant spans five budget periods aligned with federal fiscal years (FY2026–FY2030). Funding is disbursed annually by CMS based on achievement of performance metrics.

Funding is designed to support early program development and scaling. Community paramedicine programs are not expected to be fully sustainable during initial funding periods. Awards may vary depending on the proposed budget provided by the applicant and additional funding will be provided in subsequent years.

Program Objectives

Funded programs must demonstrate their willingness and ability to:

• Design and deliver community paramedicine services that address low-acuity, preventative, and high-utilization patient needs in Kentucky’s rural communities.
• Reduce unnecessary emergency department utilization and repeat visits after discharge by supporting community members where they are.
• Strengthen partnerships with rural service sites such as Local Health Departments, Federally Qualified Health Centers, rural clinics, and behavioral health partners, including Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs).
• Connect community members to the right care before and after emergencies by repositioning EMS as a front-line connector to care.
• Operate in a cost-effective, sustainable, and compliant manner. Compliance is defined as adherence to KBEMS standards for EMS agencies. 

The Rural Business Development Grants in Kentucky aim to provide essential technical assistance and training to small rural businesses, defined as those with fewer than 50 employees and under $1 million in gross revenue. Funding is prioritized for smaller requests, and grants must support projects that benefit rural communities outside urban areas. Eligible recipients include public entities, nonprofit corporations, and institutions of higher education, among others, focusing on fostering economic development and job training.

Kentucky RHT is investing in expanding access to behavioral health services through a statewide telebehavioral health hub. Nonprofit behavioral health organizations are invited to apply for funding to participate as regional partners, supporting psychiatric consultation, care coordination, and connection to primary care and crisis services. 

Rapid Response to Recovery: Telebehavioral Health Support (Rural Health Transformation Program)

These three core focus areas of the Rapid Response to Recovery Program reflect an opportunity to coordinate a larger system of care strategy for tailoring RHT-funded work to address unique community needs A collaborative, cross-disciplinary network of providers will strengthen the behavioral health crisis continuum by: facilitating a process to plan, coordinate, and oversee elements of a crisis system; coordinating with system partners for community assessment and planning; coordination and interconnectedness of services; and data-driven continuous quality improvement.

Rural Health Transformation has a long-term vision of enabling systems change to increase our ability to serve entire populations through enhanced partner collaboration, as opposed to serving individuals as single providers. We encourage applicants to consider how telebehavioral health capacity, integration, and coordination can support this broader system vision. We encourage applicants to think about the following framework when developing their responses:

• Improving outcomes for the entire crisis system, so that every person receives the right service in the right setting, every time
• Promotion and adoption of enhanced data-sharing technology, agreements, data collection and reporting processes, and real-time information sharing between different system partners as a person moves through the crisis care journey;
• Facilitation of a data-driven quality improvement process, tracking quality outcomes and performance measures and strategizing amongst system partners for improving measures of success, access, and quality;
• Collaboration through shared care planning, policy, protocols, and procedure development; engagement in collaborative structures such as coalitions, committees, workgroups; and moving beyond siloes to ensure people receive the right care at the right time;
• Advancement of clinically effective crisis services across partners, while closing safety net gaps to strengthen prevention, early identification, and access to behavioral, physical, and social supports, through telebehavioral health-enabled care coordination and consultation

The anticipated budget ceiling for applicants supporting the telebehavioral health hub focus area is approximately $500,000. 

The Gupta Family Foundation Grant aims to empower disadvantaged individuals by providing financial support to organizations that foster self-reliance. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, the foundation offers grants ranging from $5,000 to over $250,000, prioritizing smaller organizations with a strong commitment to their missions. Eligibility typically includes US-based IRS 501(c)(3) entities, with operations extending to countries like India and Kenya. The foundation emphasizes mission alignment and effective resource allocation to ensure maximum impact.

The Community Facilities Grant Program in Kentucky provides funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. It aims to improve access to health care, public safety, education, and local food systems by offering low-interest loans and grants. Eligible applicants include public bodies and non-profit organizations in rural communities with populations under 20,000. The program prioritizes projects in small, low-income areas, ensuring vital services are available to support community development.

The Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants in Kentucky provide crucial funding for communities facing emergencies that threaten safe drinking water access. Eligible applicants, including state and local governments and nonprofit organizations, can receive up to $1 million for water source projects or $150,000 for water transmission line improvements. This program aims to restore and improve water supply systems, particularly in rural areas, enhancing resilience against disasters like droughts and floods.

The In These Mountains: Infrastructure Grants, offered by South Arts, aim to preserve and promote the folk arts and traditional culture of Central Appalachia. This initiative supports non-profit organizations in Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee, focusing on enhancing the resources necessary for sustaining and advancing traditional arts. Grants of up to $30,000 are available to address non-programming expenses, ensuring the continuity of cultural practices while prioritizing inclusivity and accessibility.