The Ginkgo Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,590,000
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
• Decision Time: N/A (trustee discretion)
• Grant Range: Median $50,000 (Average $70,700)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Kentucky, with focus on Louisville area

Contact Details

• Phone: 502-893-4513
• Address: 4350 Brownsboro Road, Suite 110, Louisville, KY 40207-1681
• Website: None available
• Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Ginkgo Fund is a private family foundation established in 1989 in Kentucky, originally founded as The Joan and Lee Thomas Foundation. With assets of $35.1 million, the foundation distributes approximately $1.6 million annually through 20-30 grants to pre-selected charitable organizations. Operating as a private grantmaking foundation, The Ginkgo Fund focuses its philanthropic efforts on human services and education initiatives, primarily within Kentucky. The foundation maintains a low public profile with no website or public-facing grant application process, operating entirely through trustee discretion and pre-established relationships with recipient organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through a single discretionary grant program:

• Trustee-Directed Grants: Median $50,000, Average $70,700 (invitation only, no public application)

Priority Areas

• Human services programs
• Education initiatives
• Youth development and support services

What They Don't Fund

As the foundation only makes grants to pre-selected organizations, they do not fund:

• Unsolicited requests
• Organizations without existing relationships with the foundation
• Individual requests

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

• Glenn E. Thomas - President and Director
• Ann B. Thomas - Vice President, Assistant Secretary, and Director
• Donald H. Vish - Assistant Secretary and Director

The foundation operates as a family foundation with a small board structure, maintaining continuity from its original founding as The Joan and Lee Thomas Foundation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Ginkgo Fund explicitly states on their IRS Form 990-PF that they "only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations and do not accept unsolicited requests for funds." Grants are awarded through trustee discretion to organizations with pre-existing relationships with the foundation.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at the discretion of the trustees throughout the year to pre-selected organizations.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept public applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - invitation-only funding model.

Application Success Factors

Given the invitation-only nature of The Ginkgo Fund's grantmaking:

• Organizations cannot directly apply for funding
• Grants are made to organizations already known to and vetted by the trustees
• The foundation has demonstrated consistent support for youth services organizations, particularly those providing residential treatment and therapeutic programs
• Organizations such as Bellewood & Brooklawn, which provides comprehensive youth services in Kentucky, exemplify the type of beneficiary the foundation supports

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Ginkgo Fund is an active grant maker distributing $1.6 million annually, but operates without a public application process
• Focus areas include human services and education, particularly youth-serving organizations in Kentucky
• With a median grant size of $50,000 and average of $70,700, the foundation makes substantial contributions to its selected beneficiaries
• The foundation has maintained consistent giving levels, awarding 20-30 grants annually
• Organizations cannot proactively seek funding from this foundation; relationships must be initiated by the trustees
• The foundation operates with minimal public presence - no website, limited contact information

References

1. Cause IQ Foundation Profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-j-and-l-foundation,611166955/ (Accessed March 3, 2026)
2. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The Ginkgo Fund: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/611166955 (Accessed March 3, 2026)
3. Instrumentl 990 Report - J & L Foundation: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/j-l-foundation (Accessed March 3, 2026)
4. Grantmakers.io Profile: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/611166955-ginkgo-fund/ (Accessed March 3, 2026)
5. OpenCorporates - The Ginkgo Fund Inc.: https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_ky/0263117 (Accessed March 3, 2026)
6. Kentucky Attorney General Private Foundations List (February 2026)
7. Bellewood & Brooklawn 2016-17 Annual Report: https://bellewoodandbrooklawn.org/2016_17annualreport/ (Accessed March 3, 2026)