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The Community Foundation of Louisville Inc

Annual Giving
$55.9M
Grant Range
$0K - $0.1M
Decision Time
1mo

The Community Foundation of Louisville Inc

Quick Stats

  • Total Assets: $874 million
  • Annual Giving: $55.9 million (Fiscal Year 2024)
  • Total Grants Since 1984: $1.2 billion
  • Number of Funds: 2,200+ charitable funds
  • Geographic Focus: Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky and beyond (regional affiliates in Green River Area, Oldham County, Shelby County)
  • EIN: 31-0997017

Contact Details

Overview

Founded in 1984 (originally established in 1916 and reorganized in 1984), The Community Foundation of Louisville has grown from holdings of just over $1 million and $90,000 in grants in its first year to over $874 million in assets managing 2,200+ charitable funds. The Foundation mobilizes people, networks, and capital to spark meaningful change in and beyond Louisville, with a current strategic plan focused through 2027. The organization's key priorities are to advance racial equity, steward philanthropic assets, increase capital to community resources, and unleash real and sustainable progress within the region. The Foundation distributes grants through multiple mechanisms: competitive grant programs, donor-advised funds (with a minimum grant of $100), and special initiatives like the Fund for Louisville Racial Justice Cohort. Since 1984, the Foundation has distributed $1.2 billion in grants across Louisville and the region. In 2024 alone, 616 grants were awarded. The Foundation values integrity, responsibility, excellence, and inclusion of all voices, with action areas focused on People, Prosperity, and Well-Being.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Sparking Change Mini-Grants

  • Amount: $1,000 per grant
  • Frequency: Three grants awarded monthly
  • Eligibility: Nonprofits with operating budgets under $250,000
  • Application: Rolling (apply once per calendar year, considered monthly thereafter)
  • Restriction: Each organization can receive only once per calendar year

Fund for Louisville - Racial Justice Cohort

  • Amount: Up to $40,000 annually, renewable for three years (up to $120,000 total)
  • Type: Unrestricted grants with technical assistance
  • Eligibility: Black-led social change nonprofit organizations in Louisville/Jefferson County working to change systems that result in unequal outcomes
  • Application: Cohort-based selection process involving Black community members and allies

Fund for Louisville - Capacity Building

  • Amount: Variable (program has granted over $2.5 million total since establishment in 2018)
  • Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations doing significant work in historically disinvested and underinvested parts of Louisville
  • Focus: Increasing efficiency and effectiveness of local nonprofits

Alden Fellows

  • Amount: Up to $10,000 per fellowship
  • Eligibility: Local nonprofit executives (executive directors, presidents, CEOs) pursuing professional certifications and/or professional development
  • Application: Open application process
  • Total Impact: Since 2014, $270,000 awarded to 44 fellows

Charles & Jack Fund for LGBTQ+ Advancement

  • Amount: Up to $20,000
  • Eligibility: 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving queer youth in Metro Louisville or Kentucky
  • Application: Annual cycle (next cycle in 2026)

Invest Louisville

  • Type: Equitable and impactful investments (not traditional grants)
  • Eligibility: For-profit corporate entities and nonprofit organizations
  • Focus: Affordable and accessible housing, entrepreneurship, and land development

Regional Affiliate Funds

  • Green River Area Community Foundation (serves Daviess, Hancock, McLean, Ohio, Union, and Webster counties)
  • Oldham County Community Foundation (serves Oldham County)
  • Shelby County Community Foundation

Donor-Advised Fund Grants

  • Minimum Grant: $100
  • Application: Fundholders recommend grants to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations and government entities
  • Review: Grants over $250,000 require additional review and may be delayed

Priority Areas

The Foundation's strategic focus includes three action areas:

  • People: Supporting human development and community well-being
  • Prosperity: Economic opportunity and financial stability
  • Well-Being: Health, safety, and quality of life

Special Emphasis:

  • Advancing racial equity (primary strategic priority)
  • Systems change for racial justice
  • Supporting Black-led organizations
  • Supporting historically disinvested communities in Louisville
  • LGBTQ+ youth advancement
  • Nonprofit leadership development
  • Community safety and healing

Recent Focus: The Foundation emphasizes Trust-Based Philanthropy practices and actively engages Black voices in decision-making, particularly for the Fund for Louisville initiatives.

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not extensively detailed in public materials, the Foundation's grants generally must go to:

  • IRS-approved 501(c)(3) nonprofits
  • Schools
  • Churches
  • Government entities (in some cases)

Organizations should verify eligibility for specific grant programs, as each has distinct criteria.

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO

Ron Gallo (Ronald V. Gallo) - President & CEO since July 20, 2020

  • Over 30 years of experience in private, corporate, family, and community foundations
  • Previously led the Santa Barbara Foundation and the Rhode Island Foundation
  • Spent 15 years as CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation, increasing assets from $150 million to $700 million
  • Holds a doctorate in education with a concentration in policy studies from Harvard University, a master's degree in social work from Columbia University, and a bachelor's degree in American history and Asian studies from Connecticut College

Board of Directors

The Foundation has an active Board of Directors including:

  • Dr. Armon Perry (University of Louisville's Kent School of Social Work)
  • Carl Williams, Sr. (20/twenty Strategic Consultants)
  • Additional trustees (full roster available on the Foundation's website)

The Foundation recently added five seasoned business leaders to its Board of Directors, demonstrating ongoing governance evolution.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Competitive Grant Programs: Applications are submitted through the Foundation's online portal. The specific application process varies by program:

  • Sparking Change Mini-Grants: Apply once per calendar year through the online portal; applications are then considered monthly
  • Specialized Programs (Alden Fellows, Charles & Jack Fund, etc.): Applications open during specific cycles, typically announced via the Foundation's monthly newsletter and website
  • Fund for Louisville: Selection through a cohort-based process involving community advisors

For Donor-Advised Fund Grants: Fundholders log in through the online platform or contact stewardship@cflouisville.org or 502-585-4649

Pre-Application Support:

  • The Community Engagement Team is available at 502-585-4649 for questions about grant opportunities
  • For specialized programs like Vogt Awards, the Foundation hosts information sessions providing tips on crafting competitive applications
  • Program leadership is available to support applicants with guidance throughout the application process

Application Methods:

  • Online portal: Primary method for most competitive grants
  • Rolling basis: Sparking Change Mini-Grants
  • Fixed deadlines: Most specialized programs (Alden Fellows, Charles & Jack Fund, regional affiliate funds)
  • Invitation/cohort-based: Fund for Louisville Racial Justice Cohort

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines vary by program:

  • Sparking Change Mini-Grants: Monthly review and award cycle
  • Other competitive programs: Timelines vary; specific dates announced with application openings
  • Donor-Advised Fund grants: Generally processed on an ongoing basis, with grants over $250,000 requiring additional review time

Prospective applicants should subscribe to the Foundation's monthly newsletter for announcement of 2026 deadlines and updates.

Success Rates

  • 2024 Grant Activity: 616 awards made
  • 2023 Grant Activity: 546 awards made
  • 2022 Grant Activity: 555 awards made

The Foundation manages a large portfolio of grantmaking, with hundreds of grants awarded annually across competitive programs, donor-advised funds, and special initiatives. Specific success rates for individual competitive programs are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Sparking Change Mini-Grants: Organizations may apply once per calendar year. If awarded, they cannot receive the grant again within the same calendar year. Reapplication in subsequent years is allowed.

Other Programs: Reapplication policies vary by program. The Alden Fellows program has successfully supported 44 fellows since 2014, suggesting fellows may be one-time recipients, but multi-year programs like the Fund for Louisville Racial Justice Cohort explicitly provide renewable funding for three years.

Application Success Factors

Funder-Specific Insights

Alignment with Racial Equity Priority: The Foundation has made advancing racial equity a central strategic priority. According to their strategic communications, "an essential starting point of their strategy is to actively engage Black voices in decision making" for the Fund for Louisville. Organizations demonstrating commitment to racial equity and systems change for racial justice are strongly aligned with current priorities.

Trust-Based Philanthropy: The Foundation explicitly states they are "taking steps to include Trust-Based Philanthropy practices when distributing funds." This approach emphasizes relationships, flexibility, and reducing burdens on applicants.

Community Engagement: The Foundation values community input in grantmaking. The Fund for Louisville Racial Justice Cohort selection process involved bringing together "Black community members and their allies to advise the Foundation on creating a grant process intentionally focused on supporting Black-led social change organizations and to select the recipients."

Focus on Systems Change: For the Fund for Louisville, the Foundation specifically seeks organizations "working to change systems that result in unequal outcomes," indicating a preference for structural, long-term solutions over temporary fixes.

Geographic Connection: The Foundation prioritizes work in and beyond Louisville, with particular attention to "historically disinvested and underinvested parts of Louisville."

Demonstrated Impact on Three Action Areas: Applications should clearly connect to the Foundation's action areas of People, Prosperity, and Well-Being.

Organizational Capacity: Different programs target different organizational sizes. The Sparking Change Mini-Grants specifically target smaller organizations (operating budgets under $250,000), while other programs serve organizations of various sizes.

Leadership Development: The Foundation values nonprofit leadership capacity, as evidenced by the Alden Fellows program supporting "Louisville's inspirational nonprofit executives in pursuit of professional development or certifications" that will "elevate their work as a leader, benefit their organization, and impact the community."

Recent Funded Organizations: Examples of organizations supported through Fund for Louisville include Louisville Urban League, REBOUND, and Re: Land. The first round of Sparking Change Mini-Grants included Elevate Louisville (supporting conflict resolution and effective communication education at The Academy at Shawnee).

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Lead with racial equity: The Foundation's primary strategic priority is advancing racial equity. Applications should clearly articulate how the proposed work contributes to this goal and addresses systemic inequities.
  • Target the right program: With multiple grant programs ranging from $1,000 mini-grants to multi-year $120,000 cohort grants, carefully match your organization's size, budget, and project to the appropriate opportunity.
  • Engage with staff proactively: The Foundation emphasizes being available to support applicants. Don't hesitate to contact the Community Engagement Team at 502-585-4649 for guidance, especially for first-time applicants.
  • Think systems change, not band-aids: The Foundation's Fund for Louisville explicitly seeks organizations working to change systems. Frame your work in terms of long-term structural impact rather than short-term service delivery alone.
  • Subscribe to stay informed: Many grant cycles open on fixed schedules announced through the monthly newsletter. Subscribe to ensure you don't miss application windows, especially for 2026 opportunities.
  • Emphasize community voice: The Foundation values community engagement and including the voices of those most impacted. Highlight how your organization centers community members in decision-making and program design.
  • Consider the Give for Good Louisville platform: Even if not applying for competitive grants, participation in Give for Good Louisville (which raised $10.4 million for 646 organizations in one day) can connect you to the Foundation's network and fundholder community, with nearly $4 million granted by fundholders to participating organizations in 2025.

References

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