Indigo Foundation Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $3.9 million (2024)
Total Assets: $41 million (2024)
Grant Range: Varies widely, median $250,000
Average Grant: $227,778
Number of Grants: 13 grants (2024)
Geographic Focus: Primarily Kentucky (Louisville, Lexington, Frankfort, Hazard), with select grants in California and Illinois
Application Process: No public application process - preselected organizations only

Contact Details

Indigo Foundation Inc Louisville, KY 40202 EIN: 81-4600741

Note: This foundation does not maintain a public website and does not accept unsolicited grant applications.

Overview

Indigo Foundation Inc is a private independent foundation established in Louisville, Kentucky. With total assets of $41 million and annual distributions of $3.9 million (2024), the foundation has demonstrated consistent growth in both assets and grantmaking capacity. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) private foundation under IRS classification T22 (Private Independent Foundations). Led by a three-person board with minimal compensation, the foundation maintains a lean operational structure with the President and Vice President serving without compensation and only modest compensation ($4,277 in 2024) for the Secretary/Treasurer. The foundation primarily focuses on human services organizations, with particular emphasis on healthcare access, child development, workforce development, and education initiatives. Operating primarily in Kentucky with select grants in California and Illinois, the foundation supports organizations in Louisville and other Kentucky communities including Lexington, Frankfort, and Hazard.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Indigo Foundation Inc does not operate formal grant programs with specified application cycles or published guidelines. The foundation makes grants exclusively to preselected charitable organizations through trustee discretion.

2024 Grant Range: Grants have ranged significantly, with a median grant of $250,000. The largest known grant in 2024 was $750,000.

Priority Areas

Based on recent grantmaking patterns, the foundation focuses on:

Healthcare Access

Free healthcare clinics serving uninsured populations
Community health centers
Hospital foundation initiatives
Child health and wellness programs

Child Development and Early Education

Child development centers
Early childhood education facilities
Youth services

Workforce Development and Higher Education

Community college foundations
Technical education programs
Workforce training initiatives

Human Services (Broad)

Organizations addressing social service needs in Kentucky communities
Community development initiatives

Geographic Focus

Primary: Louisville, Kentucky and surrounding Jefferson County Secondary: Other Kentucky communities including Lexington, Frankfort, and Hazard Limited: Select grants in San Francisco, California and Chicago, Illinois

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publicly document exclusions. However, based on their grantmaking pattern:

Organizations outside their preselected network
Unsolicited applications from any organization
International programs (focus is domestic, primarily Kentucky)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

Leslie Taylor, President - Serves without compensation, demonstrating personal commitment to the foundation's mission
Vicki Buster, Vice President - Serves without compensation
Laura Forbes, Secretary/Treasurer - Receives modest compensation of $4,277 annually (2024)

The foundation operates with a lean governance structure, with all three board members making funding decisions. The minimal compensation structure suggests board members have independent means and are personally invested in the foundation's philanthropic goals rather than treating it as a source of income.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

According to public filings and foundation databases, Indigo Foundation Inc "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to organizations they have identified and selected independently. There is no application portal, no published guidelines, and no process for new organizations to submit proposals.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications. Grant decisions are made internally by the board of trustees on their own timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications - the foundation does not accept them.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not have an open application process.

Recent Grant Recipients

Based on 2024 data, confirmed grant recipients include:

Baptist Health Foundation (Louisville, KY) - $750,000

Purpose: Child Development Center renovation and expansion
The grant supports a $5.4 million project to expand capacity by more than 80 children, addressing significant waitlist demand

Family Community Clinic Inc (Louisville, KY)

A volunteer-based free clinic serving uninsured Louisville residents
Founded in 2010, provides free primary healthcare services
Has served more than 14,000 patients since inception
Operates with 6 paid staff and volunteer physicians and nurses

Jefferson Community and Technical College Foundation (Louisville, KY)

Supports workforce development and higher education access
Provides scholarships, program development, and facility improvements
Serves first-generation college students and Pell Grant-eligible learners
The Foundation distributed $756,156 in grants in 2023 to support student needs

National Philanthropic Trust (San Francisco, CA)

Listed as recipient with possible designation as "Optimus Foundation"
May represent donor-advised fund activity or pass-through grantmaking

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, analysis of their grantmaking patterns reveals:

Organizations in Their Network Share Common Characteristics:

Established Local Presence - Recipients are well-established organizations with proven track records in the Louisville area or other Kentucky communities
Focus on Underserved Populations - Strong emphasis on serving uninsured, low-income, or otherwise underserved populations (free clinics, community colleges serving first-generation students, child development centers with waitlists)
Healthcare and Human Services Emphasis - The vast majority of grants support healthcare access, child development, or workforce development initiatives
Operational Excellence - Recipients demonstrate strong volunteer engagement (Family Community Clinic), significant community impact (14,000+ patients served), or fill critical gaps (child development center waitlists)
Capital and Major Projects - Recent large grants support capital improvements and capacity expansion rather than general operating support
Louisville Metro Focus - The majority of grantmaking stays within the Louisville metropolitan area, with select grants to other Kentucky communities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No Open Application Process - This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant writing. They select their own grantees without solicitation.
Focus on Healthcare Access - Major grants support free clinics, hospital foundations, and healthcare initiatives serving uninsured or underserved populations.
Significant Grant Sizes - With a median grant of $250,000 and grants up to $750,000, this is a major funder when they engage with an organization.
Louisville-Centric - While they support some Kentucky communities beyond Louisville and occasionally California and Illinois, the vast majority of funding stays in the Louisville metro area.
Capital Project Support - Recent major grants have supported capital projects and capacity expansion (child development center expansion) rather than solely operating support.
Preexisting Relationships Required - Organizations in their funding portfolio appear to have been identified through board member networks and community connections rather than through formal outreach.
Human Services Priority - The foundation's primary focus area is human services, particularly healthcare, child development, and workforce development.

References

ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Indigo Foundation Inc (EIN 81-4600741) https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/814600741 Accessed January 1, 2026
Grantmakers.io Profile - Indigo Foundation Inc https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/814600741-indigo-foundation-inc/ Accessed January 1, 2026
Cause IQ - Indigo Foundation https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/indigo-foundation,814600741/ Accessed January 1, 2026
Charity Navigator - Indigo Foundation Inc https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/814600741 Accessed January 1, 2026
Kentucky Attorney General - Private Foundations List https://www.ag.ky.gov/Resources/Consumer-Resources/charity/Documents/privatefoundations.pdf Accessed January 1, 2026
Baptist Health - "Groundbreaking held for Child Development Center renovation and expansion" https://www.baptisthealth.com/about/news-center/2025/groundbreaking-held-for-child-development-center-renovation-and-expansion Accessed January 1, 2026
WHAS11 - "Baptist Health Louisville expanding Child Development Center" https://www.whas11.com/article/news/local/baptist-health-louisville-expanding-child-development-center-timeline-cost-kentucky/417-ddd2c2fc-4d0b-48fb-be41-0abef912b4bf Accessed January 1, 2026
Free Clinic Directory - Family Community Clinic https://freeclinicdirectory.org/detail/family_community_clinic_louisville_ky.html Accessed January 1, 2026
WHAS11 - "Family Community Clinic offers free healthcare to uninsured" https://www.whas11.com/article/news/community/butchertown-lousiville-family-community-clinic-free-healthcare-uninsured/417-5c3cce3d-2022-4f5f-b768-1f0e282d61a7 Accessed January 1, 2026
Jefferson Community and Technical College - Foundation https://jefferson.kctcs.edu/alumni/giving/e-foundation.aspx Accessed January 1, 2026