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Find nonprofit grants in Kentucky, including opportunities in Louisville, Lexington, and Bowling Green. Updated listings for 501(c)(3) organizations statewide.
9,000+
Available grants
$3.24B
Total funding
$5K
Median grant
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Funding for the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government’s Library Financial Management Certification program is provided through the Grants to States program, administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). This initiative supports the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives’ (KDLA) five-year strategic plan by expanding professional development and training opportunities that strengthen the knowledge and skills of public library and archival staff. The program aligns with the goals outlined in the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives – Library Services and Technology Act Plan (2023–2027).
Goal of the Project:
To promote responsible stewardship of public funds, library directors and staff responsible for financial management must possess the knowledge and skills necessary to understand governmental budgeting processes and effectively manage public resources. The Library Financial Management Certification Program will provide participants with the training and practical knowledge needed to develop, implement, and manage sound, functional, and fiscally responsible library budgets that support organizational priorities, ensure accountability, and maximize the effective use of taxpayer funds.
Award Information
Local governments certified under the Certified Local Government (CLG) Program, pursuant to Title 36 Section 61.5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, are eligible to compete for annual CLG grant funds. The Funding Priorities are: Preservation Education, Community Outreach & Education, Updating Documentation, Preservation Building Trade Schools & Workshops, Surveys, Historic Context & Thematic Studies, and National Register Nominations.
About CKCF
Our Mission
Central Kentucky Community Foundation is the philanthropic focal point in the region, serving as a resource, leader and catalyst to people who wish to improve life in their community.
Available Scholarships
2026 Kacy Lee Johnson Memorial Scholarship
Creative West
Established in 1974 as a nonprofit U.S. Regional Arts Organization (USRAO), Creative West was founded on the belief that place matters to the creative process. Fifty years later, communities of place, practice, experience, and identity remain fundamental to our work, framing our understanding of how culture is creatively produced and collectively experienced.
Creative West empowers artists and culture-makers with direct, practical resources, delivered regionally.
We offer practical, equity-centered learning experiences and funding opportunities that connect and inspire artists, culture-bearers and communities to build a more inclusive sector, strengthen the arts field, and catalyze change.
National Arts Futures Fellowship
The National Arts Futures Fellowship (NAFF) is a six-month virtual leadership development program rooted in democracy, wellness, and belonging. It calls on early and mid-career arts and culture professionals from all backgrounds to step into their power as civic leaders and cultural innovators—building the skills, networks, and vision needed to shape a future where creativity drives justice, care, and connection.
Fellows join a national network committed to strengthening public life, nurturing collective wellness, and fostering deep belonging across communities. Together, they learn, experiment, and act—advancing a shared vision of leadership that is sustainable, community-rooted, and future-focused.
Each fellow enters NAFF with a Personal Action Project (PAP)—a concrete idea they will develop and implement with support from peers, coaches, guest experts, and flexible seed funding of $250–$1,000. Projects may include launching a cultural initiative, organizing a community campaign, supporting artist-led advocacy, seeking a public leadership role, or piloting another form of civic or community action. Throughout the fellowship, each project evolves through coaching, peer feedback, strategy sessions, and real-world experimentation. Fellows conclude the program by sharing their project, leadership growth, and next steps at the National Fellows Summit.
What’s New in Cohort Two?
Guiding Principles
What kinds of projects are supported?
Examples: Running for office, launching cultural programs, organizing campaigns, supporting policies. Projects can be local, regional, or national in scope.
Central Kentucky Community Foundation
Established in 1960 as North Central Education Foundation, Central Kentucky Community Foundation is one of more than 780 community foundations in the United States today. We serve the Lincoln Trail Region, offering our donors and partners a variety of ways to touch our community through philanthropic giving.
Hardin County Cattlemen’s Association Wayne G. Overall, Jr. Memorial Scholarship
The applicant must be a graduating senior in high school.
What does this program do?
It provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to:
Kentucky grants for nonprofits provide funding to support public health, education, and rural development projects. The following grants help organizations address state-specific challenges, promote equity, and improve the quality of life across Kentucky.
Explore 143 funding opportunities for nonprofits in Kentucky, with $58.8M in resources. Instrumentl streamlines the funding search with deadline notifications, customized filtering, and key insights to support impactful initiatives throughout Kentucky.
How common are grants in this category?
Common — grants in this category appear regularly across funding sources.
Over the past year, when are grant deadlines typically due for Kentucky grants for Nonprofits?
Most grants are due in the first quarter.
What's the typical grant amount funded for Kentucky Grants for Nonprofits?
Grants are most commonly $10,000.
A wide variety of funding sources for nonprofits are available in Kentucky. Over 100+ individual grants, totaling $58,828,182, are available. If you’re interested in applying for grant funding in Kentucky, know that the median grant size is $10,000. Grants for nonprofits in Kentucky provide funding to support areas like public health, education, and rural development initiatives.
In Kentucky, grants come from all different types of funders, including private foundations, federal government agencies, and corporations. Here’s a breakdown of where you’ll find available grants in Kentucky:
Whether you go after government grants or foundation grants depends on your grant readiness. Keep in mind that government grants often have large awards but equally large compliance requirements.
Based on the data we have now, the best time to apply for grants in Kentucky is in Q1, which is when 34.1% of grant deadlines fall. Of the available grants, 23.3% of deadlines fall in Q3 and 21.8% fall in Q2. Comparatively, Q4 is the grant period with the least activity, as only 20.7% of deadlines fall within this timeframe. To maximize your odds of receiving funding, be aware of the peak fundraising periods.
The nonprofit funding landscape throughout Kentucky has shown large activity across the past several years. Based on the funding reports sent to the IRS, overall grant funding reached up to ~$1.7 billion in 2021 and increased to ~$1.8 billion in 2022, a growth of nearly 6%. Among all of the grants awarded in Kentucky during this time, the most popular focus areas for funding were single-organization support from professional societies and associations and alliance/advocacy organizations. Likewise, the top counties receiving the most funding were Jefferson County, Kenton County, and Fayette County.
If you want to start finding more grants, Instrumentl simplifies the entire grant process. You can find grants within Kentucky for your nonprofit while also researching funders, managing deadlines, and keeping on top of everything in our all-in-one platform.
With Instrumentl, you'll get access to over 20,000 live grants and 400,000 funders beyond what you see here in Kentucky. Learn more about Instrumentl's platform.