Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Competitive Giving: $400,000+
• Total Assets: $300+ million
• Total Grants Awarded (Lifetime): $211+ million
• Number of Funds: Nearly 900 charitable funds
• Decision Time: Typically 2 months (notification in August for June deadlines)
• Grant Range: $2,500 - $60,000 (varies by program)
• Geographic Focus: Central and Appalachia Kentucky (Boyle, Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Harrison, Madison, Magoffin, Rowan, and Woodford counties)

Contact Details

Main Office: 499 East High Street, Suite 112 Lexington, KY 40507 Phone: (859) 225-3343 Email: info@bgcf.org Website: www.bgcf.org

Grants Contact: Kristen Tidwell, Director of Grants + Scholarships Phone: (859) 721-2347 Email: kristen@bgcf.org or grants@bgcf.org

President & CEO: Lisa Adkins Phone: (859) 225-3343 Email: ladkins@bgcf.org

Overview

Blue Grass Community Foundation was founded in 1967 by Irene and C.W. Sulier to serve as "the ideal vehicle" for those wishing to support their community during and after their lifetimes. Since then, it has grown from one charitable fund to nearly 900, managing over $300 million in assets with approximately $150 million permanently endowed. Over its 58-year history, the Foundation has awarded more than $211 million in grants to organizations throughout Central and Appalachia Kentucky. The Foundation's mission is to "create generous, vibrant and engaged communities throughout Central and Appalachia Kentucky" by partnering individuals, families, and businesses with charitable goals, awarding grants addressing community issues, and building endowments for long-term community benefit. The Foundation earned a Four-Star rating (100% score) from Charity Navigator. Under President & CEO Lisa Adkins' leadership since 2009, the Foundation's assets have grown from $30 million to more than $300 million.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

BGCF365 Giving Circle (Fayette County)

• Amount: $5,000 - $15,000 per organization
• Total Pool: Approximately $30,000 annually
• Application: Competitive application process with finalist presentations
• Process: Members vote annually on proposals addressing Lexington community needs
• History: Since 2017, has awarded $210,000 in grants to Lexington nonprofits

MacAdam Early Childhood and Literacy Fund (Central Kentucky)

• Amount: $2,500 - $10,000 with option for one-year renewal
• Focus: Pre-K education, early childhood care, and literacy programs
• Priority: Low-income students, students of color, English Language Learners (ELL), and students with special needs
• Eligible Activities: Teaching/learning projects, educator professional development, parent engagement, literacy programs for all ages including adults
• Application Method: Online portal with fixed deadline (typically late June)

Beulah S. Mays Charitable Endowment (Central and Eastern Kentucky)

• Focus: Organizations serving older adults, particularly those addressing dementia-related diseases and caregivers
• Priority: Underserved populations including low-income individuals and people of color
• Support Type: Project or operating support
• Recent Awards: $40,000 to ITN Bluegrass; $4,800 to Sayre Christian Village
• Application Method: Online portal with fixed deadline (typically late June)

Hudson-Ellis Grants (Boyle County)

• Amount: Maximum $7,500
• Focus: Public education and services for disadvantaged and/or disabled youth and adults
• Emphasis: Sustainable projects with measurable outcomes
• Application Deadline: Typically mid-August
• History: Celebrated $2 million in total grants to Boyle County; awarded $130,000 in nonprofit grants plus $45,000 in scholarships in 2024

Woodford County Community Fund (WCCF)

• Amount: $2,500 - $5,000
• Focus: Projects, programs, or partnerships enhancing quality of life in Woodford County
• Total 2024 Awards: $56,315 to 14 nonprofits
• Application Deadline: Typically early November

Inside Out Education Field Trip Grant (Central Kentucky)

• Focus: K-12 school field trips to Kentucky's State Parks
• Purpose: Extend classroom learning with immersive field experiences aligned to curriculum

Better Together Grants (Fayette County - Special Initiative)

• Historical Pool: $150,000 supporting 10 organizations
• Focus: Innovative projects advancing racial equity and closing Black equity gaps in Lexington
• Range: $5,000 - $50,000 (based on past awards)

Priority Areas

• Early childhood education and literacy (especially for underserved populations)
• Services for older adults and those with age-related diseases
• Public education for disadvantaged and disabled youth and adults
• Racial equity and closing equity gaps
• Youth workforce development and pathways
• Food insecurity
• Environmental stewardship in underserved communities
• Community building across racial and geographic divides

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations identified by Horizon Forum Hate Screen as participating in hateful activities
• Religious activities (religious institutions may apply only for secular charitable programming such as food pantries or educational programs with secular purposes)
• Organizations without 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
• Individual fundraising campaigns

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team

President & CEO: Lisa Adkins, J.D.

• Serving since October 1, 2009
• Under her leadership, assets have grown from $30 million to $300+ million
• Quote: "My promise to the community is this: Blue Grass Community Foundation will continue to listen and learn. We will work to provide leadership, create partnerships and engage everyone who wants to help."
• Quote: "Our work is really about transformation. We're focused on building generous, vibrant and engaged communities so that our citizens can have the best quality of life possible."

Senior Leadership:

• Brian Dineen – Senior Vice President, Finance + Administration
• Scott Fitzpatrick – Vice President, Advancement
• Halee Cunningham – General Counsel + Director of Planned Giving
• Kristen Tidwell – Director of Grants + Scholarships
• Jane Higgins – Director of Community Advancement
• Lauren Parsons – Director of Strategic Initiatives + Communications
• Maddie Patrick – Director of Accounting
• Melissa Newman – Executive Director, Press Forward Blue Grass

Board of Directors

Officers:

• Michelle Hollingshead – Board Chair
• Bill Alverson – Vice Chair
• Marsha Moors-Charles – Secretary
• Susan Krauss – Treasurer + Finance Chair
• Tony Thompson – Scholarships Chair
• Andy Reynolds – Investment Chair + Past Board Chair

Board Members: 20 additional directors representing various sectors including John Backer, Kristen LaRue Bond, Blanton Coates Jr., Gentry Collins, Dr. Tiffany Daniels, Noa Gimelli, Dr. Rodney Jackson, Louie Kessinger, Mike Kretz, Daryl Love, Walter Morris, Carolyn Purcell, Michelle Rawlings, Lesme Romero, Art Salomon, and Suzanne Shaffar.

The board is described as "a distinguished group of community leaders who represent the diverse public interests of Central and Appalachia Kentucky."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

All applicants must register with BGCF's online grant portal at grantinterface.com. An Applicant Guide is available for download to assist with registration and portal navigation.

Application Method: Online application through grant portal (rolling deadlines vary by program)

Pre-Application Support: Contact Kristen Tidwell, Director of Grants + Scholarships, at kristen@bgcf.org or (859) 721-2347 with questions about specific grant opportunities.

Decision Timeline

Typical Timeline (for major programs):

• Application Deadline: Late June
• Notification: August (approximately 2 months)
• Grant Period: Begins August, typically runs 1-2 years

Variations by Program:

• Hudson-Ellis Grants: August deadline, September start
• Woodford County Community Fund: November deadline
• BGCF365: Annual review process with live voting event called "The Finals"

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, examples of competitive processes include:

• BGCF365: Advisory Committee reviews 40+ proposals, selects 3 finalists to present at live voting event
• Better Together Grants: 10 organizations funded from competitive pool
• Multiple county-specific funds support 10-15 organizations annually

Reapplication Policy

The Foundation offers renewal options for successful grantees:

• MacAdam Early Childhood and Literacy Fund: Option for one-year renewal
• Beulah S. Mays Charitable Endowment: Grant period August 2024 - July 2026 with renewal option

Application Success Factors

Demonstrate Sustainable Impact and Measurable Outcomes The Foundation explicitly states that successful proposals "demonstrate sustainable impact and measurable outcomes." This is a consistent theme across grant programs, particularly emphasized in the Hudson-Ellis Grants guidelines.

Focus on Equity and Underserved Populations Recent funding patterns show strong support for organizations serving:

• Low-income students, students of color, English Language Learners, and students with special needs (MacAdam Fund)
• Underserved populations including low-income individuals and people of color (Beulah S. Mays Fund)
• Projects advancing racial equity (Better Together Grants awarded $150,000 to 10 organizations)

Examples of Successful Projects:

• Life Adventure Center: Parent-child resilience-building camp in response to surgeon general's statement on toxic stress
• Uniting Voices Lexington: $50,000 to develop choir uniting youth across geographic and racial borders through culturally responsive music education
• Fayette Education Foundation: $10,000 for Teachers for Tomorrow to create pipeline for diverse education workforce
• Boyle County Early Childhood Center: $60,000 for playground equipment installation
• ITN Bluegrass: $40,000 for senior transportation services

Clear, Thoughtful, and Honest Responses Based on the Foundation's scholarship review guidance, which likely applies to grant applications: "Reviewers look for a clear, thoughtful, and honest response that effectively answers the prompt and conveys the applicant's unique voice, experiences, and perspective." Notably, "while reviewers consider the use of grammar, spelling, and organization, an essay need not be technically perfect to receive a top score."

Address Community Needs All programs emphasize addressing specific community needs within the Foundation's service area of Central and Appalachia Kentucky. Geographic specificity matters—proposals should clearly identify which county/counties will benefit.

Innovation and Transformation CEO Lisa Adkins has emphasized: "Our work is really about transformation." The Foundation values innovative approaches, as evidenced by Better Together Grants supporting "innovative projects working to advance racial equity."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Register early with the online grant portal at grantinterface.com and download the Applicant Guide well before deadlines
• Emphasize measurable outcomes and sustainability in your proposal—this language appears consistently across all grant programs
• Connect to equity priorities if applicable—the Foundation has demonstrated strong commitment to supporting underserved populations, students of color, low-income individuals, and racial equity initiatives
• Geographic focus matters—clearly identify which county/counties in Central or Appalachia Kentucky will benefit and ensure it aligns with the specific fund's service area
• Consider multi-year potential—several programs offer renewal options, so frame initial proposals with sustainability in mind
• Contact Kristen Tidwell early with questions at kristen@bgcf.org or (859) 721-2347—the Foundation provides pre-application support
• Authenticity over perfection—based on review criteria, clear and honest responses are valued over technically perfect writing
• Think transformation, not just services—CEO Lisa Adkins' emphasis on "transformation" suggests proposals should articulate how funding will create lasting community change

References

1. Blue Grass Community Foundation Official Website - About Us. https://www.bgcf.org/about-us/ (Accessed December 2024)
2. Blue Grass Community Foundation - Apply for a Grant. https://www.bgcf.org/grant-opportunities/ (Accessed December 2024)
3. Blue Grass Community Foundation - Our Team. https://www.bgcf.org/about-us/our-team/ (Accessed December 2024)
4. Blue Grass Community Foundation - Board of Directors. https://www.bgcf.org/about-us/board-of-directors/ (Accessed December 2024)
5. Blue Grass Community Foundation - BGCF365. https://www.bgcf.org/community-engagement/bgcf365/ (Accessed December 2024)
6. GuideStar Profile - Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/61-6053466 (Accessed December 2024)
7. Charity Navigator - Rating for Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/616053466 (Accessed December 2024)
8. "Woodford County Community Fund announces 2024 grant recipients." Blue Grass Community Foundation. https://www.bgcf.org/stories/woodford-county-community-fund-announces-2024-grant-recipients-awards-56315-to-local-nonprofits-this-year/ (Accessed December 2024)
9. "Hudson-Ellis Fund at BGCF celebrates $2 million in grants to benefit Boyle County." Blue Grass Community Foundation. https://www.bgcf.org/hudson-ellis-fund-at-bgcf-celebrates-2-million-in-grants-to-benefit-boyle-county/ (Accessed December 2024)
10. "Better Together Grants: Advancing Racial Equity." Blue Grass Community Foundation. https://www.bgcf.org/stories/better-together-grants-advancing-racial-equity-and-bringing-people-together-across-racial-divides/ (Accessed December 2024)
11. "Lexington Black Prosperity Initiative announces recipients of $150,000 Better Together grant pool." Blue Grass Community Foundation. https://www.bgcf.org/lbpi-bettertogethergrants/ (Accessed December 2024)
12. "Blue Grass Community Foundation celebrates 50 years of community building." Smiley Pete Publishing. https://smileypete.com/business/a-pillar-of-support-blue-grass-community-foundation-celebrat/ (Accessed December 2024)
13. "Lisa Adkins - President & CEO of Blue Grass Community Foundation." United Way Bluegrass. https://www.uwbg.org/post/lisa-adkins-president-ceo-of-blue-grass-community-foundation (Accessed December 2024)
14. "BGCF365: Empowering Change in Lexington Through Philanthropy." Blue Grass Community Foundation. https://www.bgcf.org/stories/bgcf365-empowering-change-in-lexington-through-philanthropy/ (Accessed December 2024)
15. Early Childhood Education & Literacy Grant Opportunity (RFP). Blue Grass Community Foundation. https://www.bgcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/RFP-2024-Early-Childhood-Ed-and-Literacy-Grant.pdf (Accessed December 2024)