The grant opportunities listed here are curated by Grant Ready Kentucky as a selection of funding programs determined to be relevant for Kentucky-based organizations. This is not an all-inclusive list of available opportunities.
While we make every effort to accurately summarize and compile information, errors or omissions may occur, and all critical details such as eligibility requirements, deadlines, and application instructions should be verified directly with the funding organization. Program information is subject to change, and this content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice.
Supports charitable organizations in Western Kentucky and southern Indiana. Recent funding has supported homeless shelters, youth facilities, emergency assistance, social-service organizations, medical and safety equipment for schools, home-fire recovery, and community facilities
The C. F. Pollard Foundation supports education and scholarships, youth-serving organizations, parks and community assets, equine-related education and animal welfare, disaster relief, community services, and other charitable purposes. Recent Kentucky recipients include the Horse Farm Workers' Educational Assistance Fund, West End School, Metro United Way, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville Foundation, 21st Century Parks, and the American Red Cross for Eastern Kentucky flood relief.
The Jessie Barker McKellar Charitable Foundation supports nonprofit organizations focused on education, healthcare and medical research, youth and social services, and other charitable purposes.
The Wood & Marie C. Hannah Foundations supports nonprofit organizations across a broad range of charitable purposes. Recent grantmaking has included education and scholarships, services for children and families, disability services, community and human services, conservation and environmental education, cultural and civic organizations, and capital or facility projects.
Fund for the Arts Community Event Mini-Grants support creative, short-term or one-time events that engage Greater Louisville communities through the arts. Funding may support multigenerational, free community gatherings incorporating artistic elements such as performances, exhibits, culinary arts, or participatory arts activities. Eligible applicants include individual artists, groups, arts organizations, non-arts nonprofits, businesses, neighborhood associations, and other community-based organizations.
Republic Bank Foundation and Republic Bank provide grants and sponsorships to charitable nonprofit organizations. Priority areas include education and youth programs, family and community welfare, civic projects, healthcare and human services, performing arts and cultural activities, and recreation and preservation programs. Republic specifically identifies community-development-related activities such as affordable or transitional housing, homeownership, community services benefiting low-to-moderate-income populations or areas, financial literacy, healthcare, neighborhood revitalization or stabilization, economic development through small-business financing, and job training/readiness.
The Julia & Isadore Klein Family Foundation is a Louisville-based private family foundation supporting charitable organizations in Kentucky and elsewhere. Recent Kentucky grantmaking includes higher education, community and human services, Jewish community organizations, arts and culture, animal welfare, equine-related organizations, health-related causes, and other charitable activities. Louisville-area organizations represent a significant portion of the Foundation's recent grantmaking.
The Mildred V. Horn Foundation is a La Grange, Kentucky-based private foundation supporting charitable organizations primarily in Oldham County and surrounding counties. Major areas of giving include education, homeless services, historic preservation, literary and cultural activities, and other charitable purposes. Historic preservation funding has a broader geographic reach and may support public historic homes in Kentucky and several surrounding states.
Provides $300,000-$15 million to acquire land or water for public parks, develop new outdoor recreation spaces, or renovate existing facilities. Eligible projects include parks, trails, playgrounds, sports fields, water recreation facilities, conservation areas, community gardens, and similar outdoor amenities.
Provides $250,000-$3 million for land acquisition and outdoor recreation projects in eligible areas near military installations. Projects may also include recreation development, compatible land use, conservation, and resilience improvements, but every project must include land acquisition.
Provides $1,000-$8,000 to nonprofit and government presenters to engage an artist from South Arts’ roster for a public performance, screening, reading, or exhibition plus an educational/community activity. Funds cover up to 50% of the artist fee.
Provides up to $5,000 to literary arts organizations, independent publishers, small presses, and literary journals for publishing projects and community engagement, including books, journals, anthologies, reading series, literary festivals, podcasts, and digital literary programming
Supports writers developing original book-length manuscripts with unrestricted awards for writing time, research and archival work, workspace and equipment, manuscript consultation, editing, mentorship, travel, childcare or eldercare, and other costs that advance works in progress.
Provides $30,000 for nonprofit organizations supporting folk arts and traditional culture in Central Appalachia to strengthen operations through professional development, emergency planning, marketing, website maintenance, strategic planning, minor equipment, software, travel, and other non-programming infrastructure needs.
The S.A.F.E. program provides grants to qualifying volunteer fire departments for fire-protection needs such as equipment and training. Peoples maintains a specific nomination and application pathway for departments in its service territory.
Essential Foundation supports nonprofit organizations benefiting communities served by Essential Utilities’ Aqua and Peoples businesses. Priorities include environmental initiatives, direct human services, emergency services, community economic growth, education, food insecurity, and other essential community resources.
Atmos Energy accepts financial-support requests from organizations through an online contribution form. Requests may involve charitable donations or event sponsorships.
Foothills Communications accepts requests from organizations seeking donations or sponsorships for community events and activities.
Grants to support the professional development needs of Southern arts organizations with operating budgets of $500,000 or less. Funding can support arts administrators’ or board members’ participation at conferences, workshops, and other professional development opportunities and events. In addition, these grants can support expenses for in-person and virtual professional development for organization-wide staff learning and training.
School Uplift provides energy-management training and competitive, need-based facility grants to help public and private schools reduce energy costs and improve learning environments. Enrollment is open for the 2026–27 school year.
Jackson Energy’s Operation RoundUP uses voluntary member contributions to fund community grants for civic organizations, volunteer fire departments, schools, nonprofits, youth programs, emergency-response organizations, and other community groups.
Charitable funds for law-related projects and education in Fayette County, Kentucky; for improvement of the judiciary, the administration of justice; the legal profession and access to the justice system; and for the encouragement of FCBA members' involvement in the charitable activities of the community.
Pennies for Purpose uses voluntary contributions from Blue Grass Energy members to fund charitable causes throughout the cooperative’s 23-county Kentucky service area. Blue Grass Energy maintains a public donation application.
Supports Kentucky nonprofit educational institutions in establishing or expanding accredited dental hygiene programs. Funding is intended to increase the rural oral-health workforce by expanding student capacity, developing clinical training infrastructure and strengthening partnerships with rural healthcare sites.
Provides funding to nonprofit behavioral health organizations serving eastern Kentucky to participate as regional partners in a statewide telebehavioral health hub. Supported activities may include psychiatric consultation, crisis-adjacent behavioral health services, care coordination, technology integration and connections to primary and crisis care.
Provides funding to Kentucky Community Mental Health Centers to strengthen the behavioral health crisis system. Funding supports rapid follow-up and continuity of care following EmPATH visits and behavioral health training, coordination and technical support for emergency medical services agencies.
Provides funding to improve the quality and availability of hands-on emergency medical services training in Kentucky. Eligible Training and Educational Institution agencies may purchase advanced training equipment or establish and expand mobile simulation units serving rural and underserved communities.
Supports initiatives addressing adolescent health and wellness, including behavioral health, prevention, access to health services, and related youth well-being needs. Funding throughout Kentucky with a strong focus on Louisville.
Supports nonprofit projects involving land, the arts, education, and human need, with an emphasis on organizations serving Louisville and the surrounding Kentucky area, but awards throughout Kentucky.
Supports educational purposes and organizations serving children at risk in Daviess County. Recent recipients include Goodfellows Club, Green River Asset Building Coalition, RiverPark Center, Community Dental Clinic, Puzzle Pieces, The Center, Volunteers of America Freedom House, and the University of Louisville nursing program.
Supports nonprofit organizations serving Owensboro and Daviess County through health initiatives, education, spiritual opportunities, community programs, youth services, arts programming, basic-needs assistance, sports facilities, and community facilities
Middlesboro-based foundation supporting scholarships, postsecondary education, local history, youth programming, churches, and community institutions. Recent activities included support for Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church, Bell County Historical Society, Bluegrass Council Boy Scouts of America, and Cathedral Domain
Provides grants for charitable projects benefiting Cumberland, Benham, Lynch, and the immediately surrounding area in Harlan County. The foundation supports one-time projects, multiyear projects of up to three years, program start-up, and challenge or matching grants. Recent funding has supported food assistance, youth sports, municipal improvements, schools, tourism, historic facilities, and other community projects.
Supports Kentucky organizations and institutions that provide cultural, educational, civic-improvement, and community well-being opportunities. Recent grantees include schools, colleges, affordable-housing organizations, aging services, food pantries, animal-welfare organizations, libraries, community media, economic-development organizations, and Kentucky State Police-related programs.
Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation funds veterinary research relevant to equine health, safety, soundness, and performance. Although closely associated with the Thoroughbred industry, funded research is intended to benefit horses of all breeds. Grants support research conducted through universities and research institutions in North America and internationally.
Supports Central Kentucky nonprofits working to improve access to food, affordable housing, education, information, community spaces, and services that improve quality of life. Examples described by the foundation include food-access organizations, youth homelessness programs, parks, museums, crisis support, and mentoring for parents and caregivers of autistic children.
Provides annual grants to Kentucky-based nonprofit organizations, prioritizing organizations in Central Kentucky. Funding generally supports capital expansion and equipment purchases in arts and culture, community development, education, health and human services, and the Thoroughbred industry.
Accepts year-round grant proposals from nonprofits located in Boyle, Garrard, Lincoln, or Mercer Counties for projects improving quality of life in the region.
Responds to urgent, critical, or unplanned human services needs in Magoffin County so local nonprofits can continue serving the community.
Support for artists that have demonstrated a high level of skill in, commitment to, and leadership in their traditional art form. Awards ensure continuation of traditional knowledge and artistic skills within cultural communities. Art forms may include, but are not limited to: foodways, material culture (handcraft), storytelling, music, etc.
Funding aims to increase access to the arts, expand audiences for artists, and broaden South Art's reach. Eligible projects require a Southern artist/company visiting another Southern state for public activities, offering access to arts programming by professional artists.
STEP is a reimbursement grant available through a partnership between the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The purpose of this program is to help Kentucky’s small to mid-size businesses grow by entering or expanding markets internationally. The grant offsets costs associated with exporting activities such as exhibiting at trade shows with international audiences, trade missions, website and product translations, export training, and more.
Provides funds to protect important natural areas, acquire land for outdoor recreation and to develop or renovate public outdoor recreation facilities.
Reimbursement grant that helps Kentucky schools cover transportation costs for student field trips to arts organizations in the Arts Miles Directory. Reimbursement is based on roundtrip mileage and driver pay for up to two buses per trip.
AKC Reunite, through its Canine Support and Relief Fund, coordinates contributions and funds to donate AKC Pet Disaster Relief Units to qualified organizations and government units and instrumentalities. These Units are intended to be used to provide co-location for the pets and service animals of people evacuating emergency situations, in accordance with the federal PETS Act of 2006. Each Unit comprises a 16 ft. x 7 ft. two-axle trailer with many of the materials necessary to set up an emergency shelter for fifty or more pets and service animals.
The purpose of this program is to strengthen nonprofit HIV service organizations, including clinical providers, community-based organizations, advocacy groups, and coalitions, as they navigate a national contraction of funding and increasing political hostility. This program will provide financial and technical assistance to HIV service organizations that are experiencing or anticipating organizational transition. This program is intended to support ecosystem-wide resilience and sustainability of core service provision by helping HIV service organizations to plan for and execute systems-level changes to organizational structure and operations.
With many owned pets in need of care, our hope is to help as many as possible, and at no or as little cost as possible to the owners. While we may consider funding programs that deliver all types of veterinary care for owned pets, we prioritize free or nearly free preventive and wellness care, as well as basic care to address minor injuries and illnesses (such as ear or eye infections). If appropriate and cost-effective, we may consider providing you an in-kind donation of medications or vaccines in conjunction with a grant award. With many pets in need, we may not be able to approve funding for microchips, expensive orthopedic, specialty, or emergency care.
Funding to service needs of active military, veterans, first responders and their families. Organizations in designated states, including Kentucky, may submit applications in one of the following focus areas: safety; mental, social, and emotional health; bridging community divides; workforce development; financial assistance; and, food insecurity.
Funds programs or projects that address needs or opportunities to improve the quality of life for women and children in South Central Kentucky. Projects must be in one or more of the following focus areas: Education, Health, Human Services, Other Civic Endeavors.
Provides crucial grant and loan funding and technical assistance support across Central Appalachia to catalyze renewable, efficient, and resilient energy projects in local communities.
Funding supports organizations that strengthen the region's arts ecosystem, invest in community and economic development (including workforce development, entrepreneurship, and neighborhood revitalization), prioritize education that improves opportunities for underserved youth “from birth to workforce readiness,” and human services that address basic needs and help people build stability, dignity, and economic mobility.
Funds worthwhile community programs that enrich the lives of children. The Foundation makes grants to private, non-profit organizations and public agencies in Greater Cincinnati for programs that benefit children in the region in the areas of arts/culture, education, healthcare, social services and other community needs.
Funding for workforce training, economic recovery, job development, and K–12 STEM education focused on energy infrastructure, natural disaster preparedness, environmental conservation, clean water, underserved communities, and just transition projects improving access and mobility in underserved areas.
Funding through the Industry Transformation Pathway will help communities and regions devise and implement long-term economic recovery strategies through large, multi-component initiatives to transform regional economies in areas where a Presidential declaration of a major disaster was issued in 2023 and 2024.
Funding through the Readiness Pathway will help communities and regions devise and implement long-term economic recovery strategies through a variety of non-construction projects to build capacity for future recovery in areas where a Presidential declaration of a major disaster was issued in 2023 and 2024.
The purpose of this program is to address challenges that require immediate attention and/or new or expanded service provision to help U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-assisted residents affected by an urgent event. Funding will support one-time assistance for service coordination and limited direct services for residents of HUD-assisted housing. This program promotes local leadership and flexibility in addressing urgent social needs caused by unanticipated emergencies. Examples of these emergencies can include: Natural disasters, such as wildfires, hurricanes, extreme heat, flooding, or catastrophic weather events Public health crises, including gun violence, community-level contamination, or environmental hazards, or widespread traumatic events Economic disruptions, such as closure of a major employment center that employs residents at the target site Other urgent events that have had a widespread impact on the HUD-assisted community
The mission of Emma Loves Dogs is to provide financial assistance to organizations that share the same passion that Emma had for helping animals, such as police K9 units and non-kill animal shelters.
Provides resources for attracting new businesses, helping existing business customers expand, and assisting with developing new business and industrial real estate product, and economic development educational opportunities.
Provides funding for projects that focus on health and welfare, education, or community. Common grant opportunities include: supporting food pantries and meal programs, providing healthcare and patient services for underserved populations, encouraging STEM programming, advocating for healthy lifestyles through ongoing medical research and screenings.
The purpose of this program is to bring recent advances in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) knowledge into undergraduate education, that adapt, improve, and incorporate evidence-based practices into STEM teaching and learning, and that lay the groundwork for institutional improvement in STEM education. Funding will support projects that implement evidence-based and knowledge-generating approaches to understand and improve STEM learning and learning environments, improve the diversity of STEM students and majors, and prepare STEM majors for the workforce. Funding will also support projects to conduct workshops and conferences aimed at improving undergraduate STEM education, developing implementation practices, and/or assembling research partnerships and agendas. Conference projects that address diversity in STEM teaching and learning and/or involve collaborations of educational researchers and disciplinary scientists to ensure that STEM teaching reflects cutting-edge STEM disciplinary research are especially encouraged.
This program helps very small, financially distressed rural communities with predevelopment feasibility studies, design and technical assistance on proposed water and waste disposal projects. Funds may be used to pay predevelopment planning costs, including:Feasibility studies to support applications for funding water or waste disposal projectsPreliminary design and engineering analysisTechnical assistance for the development of an application for financial assistanceThe predevelopment planning costs must be related to a proposed project that meets the following requirements:Construct, enlarge, extend or improve rural water, sanitary sewage, solid waste disposal and storm wastewater disposal facilitiesConstruct or relocate public buildings, roads, bridges, fences or utilities, and to make other public improvements necessary for the successful operation or protection of facilitiesRelocate private buildings, roads, bridges, fences, or utilities, and other private improvements necessary for the successful operation or protection of facilities
The Numotion Foundation fosters relationships with other 501(c)(3) organizations, such as the ALS Association, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, United Spinal Association, and other similar national organizations, as well as smaller, more localized charities to raise awareness for the needs of individuals with mobility disabilities. Through the Foundation’s charitable giving, partner organizations will fund research, and other necessary support services.
Priority funding for organizations that focus on education, social services and community development activities which are likely to increase the quality of life in the larger Northern Kentucky region. Secondary consideration is given to health care, particularly to public health care, in the same geographic area.
The Commonwealth Fund carries out its mission by supporting independent research on health care issues and making grants to improve health care practice and policy.
The purpose of this program is to support the efforts of nonprofit organizations to build vibrant communities that offer stable jobs, homes, and communities connected through culture, recreation, and play. The program focus is to support organizations with an intentional approach to addressing immediate needs and systemic economic barriers to success.
Funding life-saving prevention, recovery and wellness programming across Appalachia and beyond - but heavily focused in Central Appalachia (Eastern Kentucky, West Virginia, East Tennessee and western Virginia). Additionally, Hope in the Hills funds music therapy and festival outreach around the region.
The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation® provides grants to families that are in need of financial assistance to keep their dog healthy and in their home and to rescue groups and shelters with a dog who needs medical care before they can be made available for adoption.
USA Pickleball Serves is committed to supporting the pickleball community and growing the sport one court at a time. Through relationships with partners and community organizations, we renovate and install pickleball courts across the country. If your community organization is in need of a pickleball court, let us know
The Wawa Foundation provides financial grants on a local, regional and national level ensuring that our commitment extends from the local communities Wawa serves. Organizations must fall into The Wawa Foundation’s three key areas of focus: Health, Hunger and Everyday Heroes.
Our Food Love Grants program focuses on nonprofits that serve food to those who need it. Our Food Love Grants support comes to life throughout Popeyes neighborhoods with programs support ranging from onsite feeding programs, mobile kitchens, homebound food delivery programs, out-of-school meals, and disaster-related food support.
Funds specific programs or projects focused on building confidence in women.
The Kentucky State Parks Foundation Education Fund at Blue Grass Community Foundation is pleased to offer grants to K-12 schools to support the cost of student fields trips to Kentucky's State Parks and Historic Sites. The goal of the Inside Out Education Field Trip Program is to extend classroom learning and provide immersive field experiences that align with core curriculum objectives. By utilizing the Kentucky’s incredible State Park system as a learning laboratory, the program seeks to enhance the traditional classroom experience and maximize student achievement.
Supports projects that align with ECMC Foundation’s strategic priorities and North Star goal, with emphasis on systemic reforms that improve postsecondary undergraduate persistence and completion for students from underserved backgrounds.
Provides funding through sponsorships, corporate memberships, charitable donations, and program grants for organizations and programs aligned with Alkermes’ therapeutic areas and company values. They support research, education and patient advocacy programs with high potential to benefit people affected by serious diseases in our therapeutic areas of focus (Addiction, Serious mental illness, Sleep disorders)
Provides customized, no-cost training and technical assistance to law enforcement agencies on a voluntary basis, using a “by the field, for the field” model tailored to each agency’s needs.
Donates overdose-reversal kits to eligible active-duty law enforcement and search-and-rescue K9 teams in the U.S. to protect working dogs from opioid exposure such as heroin or fentanyl.
Offers brand-new, donated books by the carton for just the cost of shipping and processing.
Awards no-cost Little Free Library book-sharing boxes to individuals, organizations and businesses located in communities where books are scarce.
Awards free Comfort Kits for distribution to veterans in local communities. These kits are designed to meet the unique needs of veterans and offer critical support where they are needed most.
Offers communities a one-day facilitated opportunity to brainstorm strategies for overcoming persistent obstacles in solving transportation issues.
Dedicated community organizations working in Community & Economic Development, Health & Social Capital, and Agriculture & Natural Resources that are ready to invest in local talent and build digital connectivity will receive the valuable capacity of an American Connection Corps Member(s) throughout a year of service.
Providing financial sponsorship and grants for projects involving Education, Arts and Culture, Economic Development, Civic Culture, Community Development, and Health and Human Services.
Provides K9 working dog, training, and training for handler to public safety agencies, schools, or hospitals that need a K9 but don't have funding.
Support for organizations providing arts-in-education, community education, and agricultural and environmental programs that have demonstrated their ability to dramatically improve the lives and livelihood of people by helping them to become self-sufficient.
Funding for organizations seeking programmatic support for STEM education at all levels.
Grants to support the use of horticulture as a means for community building through school-age and adult educational programs, healthy eating, worker training, horticultural therapy, community gardening, and more.
Funds place keepers, artists, institutions, and storytellers who shine a spotlight on historically overlooked sites, and the communities and stories that surround them in order to help broaden our shared understanding and open new paths to discover what unites us, what makes us unique, and what we can learn from one another.
Funding to: help society thrive by addressing vector-borne disease; strengthen healthcare systems with increased access; address food insecurity and enable healthier outcomes; promote sustainability; reduce, reuse and recycle plastic waste; support environmental conservation; strengthen communities; advance economic and social mobility through equal access to education and housing.
The KY Tourism Development Act (KTDA) Incentive program spports the development, expansion, or renovation of tourism projects in the Commonwealth. The program provides applicants the opportunitiy to recover a percentage of approved costs over a 10-20 year term through the recovery of incremental sales tax generated by the project. Project types include: tourism attractions; theme restaurant destination attractions; entertainment destination centers; and lodging facilities. The Kentucky Tourism Development Act (KTDA) Incentive Program is a state tax incentive (not a traditional grant) that can allow an approved tourism project to recover up to 25% of approved development costs over 10 years through recovery of incremental on-site sales tax generated by the project (some projects may qualify for up to 50% over 20 years). Applications are submitted to the Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet for review and then considered by the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority (KTDFA), which meets monthly (3rd Wednesday); construction cannot begin until after final approval.
Accepts requests for educational programs for healthcare professionals, patients/caregivers, and the general public that cover therapy areas associated with: Cardiovascular - Cardiac Rhythm Management, Electrophysiology, Heart Failure, Structural Heart, Vascular
Supports charitable programs and events serving low-income, indigent, underserved, and/or uninsured populations that relate to therapy areas associated with: Cardiovascular Cardiac Rhythm Management, Electrophysiology, Heart Failure, Structural Heart, Vascular
Support US-based organizations with donated products for indigent patients they have identified. All other costs of the procedure must be donated to qualify. Products can be requested from the following Abbott Divisions: Cardiac Rhythm Management, Electrophysiology, Heart Failure, and Structural Heart.
Provides funding for signage so public properties & historic districts can commemorate their placement on the National Register of Historic Places and share this achievement with their community.
Funding to nonprofit organizations with innovative approaches to addressing current social problems.
Provides financing for the construction, maintenance, improvement and expansion of telephone service and broadband in rural areas.
Provides loan guarantees to eligible lenders to develop essential community facilities (CF) in rural areas. Examples of community facilities include health care facilities, buildings like town halls, and public safety facilities such as firedepartments.
The Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program finances the construction of electric facilities and improvements to electric service in rural areas.
Provides funding to help rural communities extend and improve water and waste disposal facilities. It provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage systems to households and businesses in eligible rural areas.
The Notice. Talk. Act. at School program is a no-cost K-12 training for all school staff to help them notice the signs of a potential mental health concern in a student, talk with the student to support and engage them, and act by connecting the student to available mental health resources.
Notice. Talk. Act.® at School: College Edition is a mental health professional development program for staff, administration and student leaders at universities and colleges to learn how to help in connecting individuals to supportive services at the first sign of distress.