Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation
Union, KY · EIN 61-6034264. Reported 87 grants totalling $994,137 to 81 recipients across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $10,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $5,000 and $15,000; the smallest was $1,000 and the largest $52,978. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Inc | Bowling Green, KY | $53,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Kentucky Youth Advocates | Louisville, KY | $52,978 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| God's Appalachian Partnership Inc | Mcdowell, KY | $29,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky Inc | Hazard, KY | $28,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| University of Kentucky | Lexington, KY | $28,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Gateway Children's Services | Mt Sterling, KY | $26,080 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Prisoner's Hope | Louisville, KY | $26,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| For a Real Change Inc | Bowling Green, KY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, KY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Young Adult Development in Action Inc Dba Youthbuild Louisville | Louisville, KY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hospice Care Plus | Berea, KY | $22,352 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Awake Ministries | Shelbyville, KY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hindman United Methodist Church | Hindman, KY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Prisoners Hope | Louisville, KY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Cleveland Home Dba Life Adventure Center | Versailles, KY | $19,320 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Neighborhood House | Louisville, KY | $19,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Garrard County Homeless Coalition | Lancaster, KY | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Hindman Settlement School | Hindman, KY | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hope Collaborative | Louisville, KY | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Housing Development Alliance Inc | Hazard, KY | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lexington Rescue Mission | Lexington, KY | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Refuge for Women | Lewisville, TX | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Yes Arts | Frankfort, KY | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Girl Scouts of Kentucky's Wilderness Road Council | Lexington, KY | $14,655 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Open Door of Hope Inc Dba (awake Ministries) | Shelbyville, KY | $14,289 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Food Literacy Project at Oxmoor Farm Inc | Louisville, KY | $14,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Have a Heart Foundation Inc | Louisville, KY | $13,475 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Isaiah House Inc | Willisburg, KY | $12,630 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Refuge Bowling Green | Bowling Green, KY | $12,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Habilitation Information Vocation Education Inc | Bowling Green, KY | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| City of Pikeville Exposition Center Cooperation | Pikeville, KY | $11,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Gods Pantry Food Bank Inc | Lexington, KY | $11,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hands & Healing Hearts Inc Dba Yes Arts | Frankfort, KY | $10,468 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Kentucky United Methodist Children | Nicholasville, KY | $10,255 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Gateway Regional Art Center | Mt Sterling, KY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana | Louisville, KY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Henderson Settlement Inc | Frakes, KY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Legal Aid Society Inc | Louisville, KY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Life Adventure Center | Versailles, KY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Living Arts and Science Center | Lexington, KY | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Metro Legal Aid | Louisville, KY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mission Behind Bars and Beyond | Louisville, KY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Pine Mountain Settlement School Inc | Bledsoe, KY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Shively Area Ministries | Louisville, KY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Southwest Family Ministries Dba Exodus Family Ministries | Louisville, KY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| CASA of the River Region | Louisville, KY | $9,900 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Gathering Strength Inc | Louisville, KY | $9,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky | Lexington, KY | $8,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Wanda Joyce Robinson Foundation | Frankfort, KY | $8,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Alice Lloyd College | Pippa Passes, KY | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Covington Ladies' Home Dba the Victorian at Riverside | Covington, KY | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Saint Vincent Mission | David, KY | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Concerned Citizens of Logan County | Russellville, KY | $7,788 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| CASA of Southern Ky Inc | Bowling Green, KY | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Opportunity Workshop of Lexington Inc | Lexington, KY | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Orphan Care Alliance Inc | Louisville, KY | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Seven Counties Services | Louisville, KY | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Guthrie Opportunity Center Foundations | Bardstown, KY | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| St Mary's Center | Louisville, KY | $6,898 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Tip It Forward | Louisville, KY | $6,400 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Barren Heights | Louisville, KY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Barren Heights Christian Retreat Center Inc | Louisville, KY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bluegrass Care Navigators | Lexington, KY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning | Lexington, KY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Junior Achievement of the Bluegrass | Lexington, KY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Louisville Family Justice Advocates Inc | Louisville, KY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Save the Children Federation | Lexington, KY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Simpson County Literacy Council Inc | Franklin, KY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Children's Home of Northern Ky | Covington, KY | $4,700 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Appalachian Arts Alliance | Hazard, KY | $4,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Art Center of the Bluegrass | Danville, KY | $4,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Matthew 25 AIDS Services Inc | Henderson, KY | $4,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Lighthouse Promise Inc Dba Lighthouse Academy at Newburg | Louisville, KY | $4,300 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Whitneystrong | Louisville, KY | $4,100 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Gateway Children's Advocacy Center | Morehead, KY | $3,750 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Arbor Youth Services | Lexington, KY | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Healing Place Inc | Louisville, KY | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| St John Center | Louisville, KY | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Spayed and Aid of Kentucky | Russellville, KY | $2,550 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ceder Lake Lodge Inc | Lagrange, KY | $2,249 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Nelson Library | Bardstown, KY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
6 of 81 (7%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 7%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Kentucky Youth Advocates
ADRESSING TRAUMA IN CHILDREN W/INCAR - Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky Inc
FLOOD RELIEF FOR EASTERN KY - Hotel Inc
HURRICANE RELIEF FOR WESTERN KY - University of Kentucky
MARTHA DAVIS MSW SCHOLARSHIPS - Gateway Children's Services
SUPPORT POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS FOR CHILDREN, THEIR INCARCERATED PARENTS, AND THEIR CAREGIVERS - Western Kentucky University
BUILDING A BRIDGE TO INDEPENDENCE: SCHOLARSHIPS FOR AUTISTIC YOUNG ADULTS
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 47 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14 | $159,533 | $9,250 |
| 2022 | 20 | $303,760 | $15,000 |
| 2023 | 29 | $251,155 | $7,500 |
| 2024 | 24 | $279,689 | $10,234 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
98% of its giving went to organizations in Kentucky. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $10,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Kentucky.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: Po Box 1288, Union, KY, 41091. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 61-6034264 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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