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Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation

Grant Range
Up to $15.0M

Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Specific figures not publicly disclosed (see large strategic grants below)
  • Geographic Focus: Kentucky (primarily Louisville area)
  • Grant Range: Varies significantly - Community Impact Grants to multi-million dollar strategic partnerships ($1M - $15M+)
  • Application Cycle: Annual (Community Impact Grants open August 2025)
  • Founded: 1999
  • Original Location: Mayfield Heights, OH (now based in Louisville, KY)

Contact Details

Address: 4910 Brownsboro Road, Suite 220, Louisville, KY 40222

Phone: (502) 290-3218

Website: www.liftalifefoundation.org

Grants Manager: Kiana Brown - kiana@liftalifefoundation.org

Previous Address (Ohio): 5885 Landerbrook Dr No 300, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124

Overview

The Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation (originally known as Lift a Life Foundation) was established in 1999 by David C. Novak, former CEO and Chairman of Yum! Brands, and his late wife Wendy Novak, as a charitable trust to provide grants and scholarships to people in need. The foundation changed its name to Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation in 2019 to include the family name. Originally based in Mayfield Heights, Ohio, the foundation relocated to Louisville, Kentucky, where it now focuses its philanthropic efforts exclusively on Kentucky-based nonprofits and initiatives.

The foundation's mission is to help individuals in need reach their full potential by funding innovative, high-impact projects led by passionate leaders committed to outstanding execution. Through strategic partnerships and community impact grants, the foundation invests in nonprofit leaders who are transforming lives across Kentucky in five key focus areas.

Notable recent activities include a $15 million gift in 2022 to create the Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute at Norton Children's Hospital, representing the starting point of a $60 million vision to expand diabetes care for children and adults. The foundation has also been instrumental in supporting major initiatives like the Dare to Care Community Kitchen and the Greater Louisville Head Start program.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Strategic Partnerships: Multi-year, large-scale grants to established organizations

  • Examples: $1 million (3-year) to Global Game Changers (2017), $15 million to Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute (2022)
  • Focus on organizations with proven leadership and capacity for large-scale impact
  • Involves deep collaboration and ongoing support

Community Impact Grants: Annual grant cycle for Kentucky nonprofits

  • Application cycle opens in August 2025
  • Eligible nonprofits can only receive one Community Impact Grant per calendar year
  • Grant amounts not publicly disclosed
  • Rolling consideration during open application period

Priority Areas

  1. Early Childhood Education: Empowering educators and caregivers with tools and resources to set children up for lifelong success. Strategic partners include 4-C and Family and Children's Place, whose Excellence Academy program became the basis for a $5 million annual federal Head Start grant creating Greater Louisville Head Start.

  2. Hunger Relief: Fighting food insecurity so every Kentuckian has the opportunity to thrive. Partners with Dare to Care Food Bank, funding the Parkland Community Kitchen which provides hot and healthy meals to over 30 out-of-school sites daily.

  3. Juvenile Diabetes (Type 1 Diabetes): Supporting innovative treatments and comprehensive care across the entire continuum—from perinatal to end-of-life. The foundation's signature initiative is the Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute, inspired by Wendy Novak's lifelong experience with juvenile diabetes diagnosed at age seven.

  4. Student Leadership Development: Equipping the next generation with confidence and skills to lead with purpose and make a lasting impact. Funded Global Game Changers Student Empowerment Program with $1 million over three years.

  5. Military Family Support: Providing education, care, and support to those who serve and the families who sacrifice alongside them.

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations outside of Kentucky (for Community Impact Grants)
  • Organizations that have received a Community Impact Grant within the same calendar year
  • Non-501(c)(3) organizations

Governance and Leadership

Founders

David C. Novak - Founder and CEO of David Novak Leadership, co-founder and former CEO and Chairman of Yum! Brands (1999-2016). Author, leadership development expert, and host of "How Leaders Lead" podcast. Novak built Yum! Brands into a global powerhouse with brands including KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut.

Wendy Novak - Co-founder (deceased). Diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at age seven, her personal experience with the disease inspired the foundation's significant focus on diabetes care and research. The Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute was named in her honor.

Current Leadership

Ashley Novak Butler - Executive Director (joined 2010). Daughter of David and Wendy Novak, Ashley created and implemented the foundation's investment strategy across all five focus areas. She serves on multiple nonprofit boards including Thrive by 5 Louisville, Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C), Norton Children's Hospital Foundation, and the Ready for K Alliance Guiding Team.

Kiana Brown - Grants Manager (joined 2024). Manages the grant application process and builds relationships with nonprofit partners.

Leadership Philosophy

Ashley Novak Butler emphasizes strong leadership as a key criterion: "Access to high-quality child care is fundamental to the well-being and future success of our children, families, and communities. In Kentucky, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive from an early age is more than a priority—it's a necessity."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Community Impact Grants:

  • Applications open annually in August (next cycle: August 2025)
  • Must be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity
  • Must be located in Kentucky
  • Online application through foundation website
  • Organizations can submit a "Remind Me to Apply" form to receive notification when applications open

Strategic Partnerships:

  • Not an open application process
  • Foundation identifies organizations through direct outreach and relationship building
  • Focus on organizations with proven leadership, capacity, and track record

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines for Community Impact Grants are not publicly disclosed. Organizations are advised to monitor the foundation's website and communications for updates during the application cycle.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

  • Organizations that receive a Community Impact Grant cannot apply again within the same calendar year
  • No waiting period mentioned for unsuccessful applicants
  • Organizations can apply in subsequent years

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated priorities and approach:

Strong, Passionate Leadership: The foundation explicitly states they "work to identify passionate leaders who make a difference in the lives of people in need" and recognize that "without strong leaders and the resources to execute a large-scale vision, high impact in the nonprofit space is limited."

Capacity for Excellence: They commit to "partnering with organizations that have the leadership capability, the know-how, the humility to learn, and the personal passion to help the people they serve reach their full potential."

Innovation and High Impact: The mission emphasizes "funding innovative, high-impact projects." The foundation values organizations that bring new approaches and measurable outcomes to longstanding challenges.

Kentucky Focus: For Community Impact Grants, organizations must demonstrate how they serve Kentucky residents and communities. The foundation has clearly shifted from a national/regional focus to concentrated work in Kentucky.

Alignment with Focus Areas: Projects should clearly align with one of the five priority areas: early childhood education, hunger relief, juvenile diabetes, student leadership development, or military family support.

Collaborative Approach: Strategic partners demonstrate willingness to work collaboratively with the foundation. The Hunger Innovation Fellowship (2017) was designed to "identify opportunities with the potential to significantly accelerate and elevate the collective efforts of local organizations and their partners."

Proven Track Record: For larger strategic partnerships, the foundation seeks established organizations with demonstrated success and capacity to scale.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Leadership matters most: The foundation repeatedly emphasizes investing in "nonprofit leaders" and "passionate leaders." Applications should highlight the strength, vision, and commitment of your leadership team.

  • Kentucky organizations only: Since relocating from Ohio to Kentucky, the foundation focuses exclusively on Kentucky-based nonprofits for Community Impact Grants. Don't apply if you're outside Kentucky.

  • Think strategically about grant size: The foundation offers both Community Impact Grants (smaller amounts) and Strategic Partnerships (multi-million dollar, multi-year commitments). Understand which track is appropriate for your organization's stage and needs.

  • Innovation is valued: The foundation seeks "innovative, high-impact projects." Demonstrate what makes your approach unique and potentially transformative.

  • Demonstrate humility and willingness to learn: The foundation values organizations with "the humility to learn," suggesting they appreciate partners who are reflective and open to feedback.

  • Show scalability and sustainability: Major grants like the $1 million to Global Game Changers were explicitly designed to help organizations "build an organization with the foundation to expand their reach and become more self-sustaining."

  • Connect to family mission: Understanding the Novak family's personal connection to causes (especially Wendy's experience with juvenile diabetes) can help frame why your work matters.

  • Be patient with Strategic Partnerships: Large strategic grants are not part of an open application process. Building relationships and demonstrating impact over time appears to be the pathway to these opportunities.

References

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