Frances N Alden Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• EIN: 86-6493305
• Total Assets: $44.8M (2024)
• Annual Giving: $4.9M (2024)
• Grant Range: $25,000 - $1,000,000
• Average Grant: $125,000
• Geographic Focus: Louisville, KY and Kentucky
• Application Process: No public application process - preselected organizations only

Contact Details

Mailing Address: PO Box 32760 Louisville, KY 40232-2760

Trustee: Baird Trust Company 500 W. Jefferson St., Suite 2600 Louisville, KY 40202

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications.

Overview

The Frances N Alden Charitable Trust is a private foundation established in 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky. With total assets of $44.8 million as of 2024, the trust focuses exclusively on supporting charitable organizations within Louisville and the broader Kentucky region. The foundation distributed $4.9 million in grants during 2024 across 16 awards. The trust is professionally managed by Baird Trust Company, a Louisville-based trust administration firm founded in 1984 that manages over $20 billion in assets. The foundation exemplifies a focused philanthropic approach, concentrating its resources on preselected organizations in arts and culture, environmental conservation, education, social services, and community development sectors within the Louisville metropolitan area.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Frances N Alden Charitable Trust does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines or application cycles. Instead, the foundation proactively identifies and selects charitable organizations to support. Grant amounts have ranged significantly based on organizational need and project scope:

• Major Grants: $500,000 - $1,000,000 (for capital projects and significant institutional support)
• Mid-Level Grants: $100,000 - $300,000 (for program support and capacity building)
• Smaller Grants: $25,000 - $50,000 (for specific programs and services)

Priority Areas

Based on recent grant-making patterns, the trust supports organizations working in:

Arts and Culture

• Museums and cultural institutions
• Public art and cultural programming
• Arts education and community access

Environmental Conservation

• Botanical gardens and green spaces
• Parks and natural areas preservation
• Environmental education

Education and Libraries

• Public library programming and enhancement
• Educational access and equity
• Youth development programs

Social Services and Community Development

• Child welfare and family services
• Healthcare and hospice care
• Programs serving at-risk youth and vulnerable populations
• Community foundations and collaborative giving

Geographic Focus: All grants are directed to organizations serving Louisville and Kentucky communities, with a strong emphasis on Louisville-based institutions.

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, grant patterns indicate the trust does not support:

• Organizations outside Kentucky
• Religious organizations for sectarian purposes
• Political campaigns or lobbying
• Individuals or scholarships
• Organizations that accept unsolicited applications from the general public

Governance and Leadership

Trustee: Baird Trust Company serves as the sole trustee of the Frances N Alden Charitable Trust. Baird Trust Company is a professional trust administration firm headquartered in Louisville, with over 40 years of experience managing trusts, estates, and charitable foundations.

Compensation: Baird Trust Company receives compensation for trust administration services, which has grown as the foundation has become more active:

• 2024: $141,693
• 2023: $123,562
• 2022: $90,967
• 2021: $1,336

The trust's governance structure reflects a professionally managed private foundation model where investment decisions, grant selections, and administrative functions are handled by experienced fiduciary professionals.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Frances N Alden Charitable Trust explicitly indicates on its IRS Form 990-PF that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

This means:

• Grant proposals from new organizations are not accepted
• There are no published application guidelines or deadlines
• The trustee proactively identifies and selects grant recipients
• Organizations cannot apply for funding through any formal process

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not operate on a published decision timeline for external applicants. Grant awards appear to be made throughout the year based on trustee decisions.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications. The foundation selects 100% of its grant recipients through trustee discretion rather than a competitive application process. In 2024, the trust made 16 grants, and in 2023, it made 8 grants.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations cannot submit initial applications or reapplications.

Recent Grant Recipients

2023 Grants (Most Recent Detailed Data Available)

1. Speed Art Museum - $1,000,000

   • Kentucky's oldest and largest art museum
   • Purpose: Charitable purposes/general support

2. Waterfront Botanical Gardens - $500,000

   • Purpose: To preserve healthy nature
   • Named the Frances Newman Alden Learning Center in recognition of support

3. Community Foundation of Louisville - $300,000

   • Purpose: Empowerment and community development

4. Louisville Free Public Library Foundation - $100,000

   • Purpose: Enhance library programs

5. Home of the Innocents - $50,000

   • Child welfare organization
   • Purpose: Empower and enrich lives

6. Hosparus Inc - $50,000

   • Hospice and palliative care services
   • Purpose: Grief counseling services support

7. Cabbage Patch Settlement House - $25,000

   • Youth development organization
   • Purpose: Equip and empower at-risk youth

8. Olmsted Parks Conservancy - Amount not specified

   • Parks preservation and maintenance

Funding Trends

• The foundation has significantly increased its grant-making activity since inception in 2021
• 2024 saw $4.9 million distributed across 16 grants
• 2023 saw approximately $2.2 million distributed across 8 grants
• Grant amounts vary widely based on recipient size and project scope
• Major institutions receive six-figure grants, while smaller service organizations receive smaller but still substantial awards
• Strong focus on Louisville's cultural infrastructure and quality of life

Understanding the Trust's Approach

While organizations cannot apply for funding, understanding the trust's giving patterns can provide insight into its philanthropic priorities:

Organizations the Trust Has Supported Share Common Characteristics:

1. Strong Louisville Roots: All recipients are established Louisville institutions with significant community presence

2. Diverse Community Impact: Recipients serve broad constituencies across arts, environment, education, and social services

3. Institutional Credibility: Recipients include well-established organizations with proven track records (many are Louisville's oldest and most respected institutions)

4. Capital and Capacity Focus: Larger grants appear to support capital projects, endowments, and significant program expansion

5. Quality of Life Mission: Grants collectively enhance Louisville's cultural vitality, environmental quality, educational access, and social services infrastructure

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Direct Application Path: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant-seeking methods - applications are not accepted
• Relationship-Driven: Grant awards appear to flow from existing relationships between the trustee and established Louisville institutions
• Significant Resources: With nearly $45 million in assets and $5 million in annual giving, this is a substantial Louisville funder despite its private nature
• Strategic Focus: The foundation supports Louisville's institutional infrastructure across culture, environment, education, and social services
• Professional Management: Baird Trust Company's professional management suggests sophisticated due diligence and strategic grant-making
• Capital Campaign Potential: Large grants to Speed Art Museum ($1M) and Waterfront Botanical Gardens ($500K) indicate willingness to make major capital investments in strategic institutions
• Long-term Relationships: Named recognition (Frances Newman Alden Learning Center at Waterfront Botanical Gardens) suggests potential for sustained multi-year relationships with key grantees

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Frances N Alden Charitable Tr (EIN 86-6493305). Form 990-PF filings 2021-2024. Accessed February 9, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/866493305

2. Cause IQ - Frances N Alden Charitable Trust Organization Profile. Accessed February 9, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/frances-n-alden-charitable-trust,866493305/

3. Instrumentl - Frances N Alden Charitable Tr 990 Report. Accessed February 9, 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/frances-n-alden-charitable-tr

4. Grantmakers.io - Frances N Alden Charitable Tr Profile. Accessed February 9, 2026. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/866493305-frances-n-alden-charitable-tr/

5. Baird Trust Company - About Us. Accessed February 9, 2026. https://www.bairdtrust.com/about-us/

6. Waterfront Botanical Gardens - Event listings showing Frances Newman Alden Learning Center. Accessed February 9, 2026. https://waterfrontgardens.org/

7. The Cabbage Patch Settlement House - 2024 Donors List. Accessed February 9, 2026. https://www.cabbagepatch.org/donors-list/

8. Kentucky Attorney General - Private Foundations Registry. Updated February 2, 2026. https://www.ag.ky.gov/Resources/Consumer-Resources/charity/Documents/privatefoundations.pdf