Community Foundation of Louisville Announces $64 Million in Grant Awards
In partnership with its more than 2,000 donors, the Foundation invests in the arts, disaster relief, social justice, community improvement, education and more, bolstering area nonprofits in the wake of continuing economic and social challenges
(LOUISVILLE, KY) — The Community Foundation of Louisville this week announced total grant funding for 2021 in the amount of $64 million. More than 11,000 grants were distributed from the Foundation and its charitable fundholders to vital community programs and services, many of which went toward economic relief efforts due to the pandemic, and social change initiatives. Seventy-eight percent of the funds stayed local, directly benefiting nonprofit organizations based in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.
Key grant funding areas include: arts, culture and humanities, $7.6 million; education, $10.9 million; health and human services, $25.6 million; community and environment, $9.6 million; and religion, $10.2 million.
“The Community Foundation is proud to help create lasting and transformational community impact through strategic grantmaking,” says Ron Gallo, President and CEO. “Thanks to the collective wisdom of our donors and the staff and board of the Foundation – we have our fingers on the pulse of the community’s most critical needs. As a result, last year, we were able to deepen our focus on racial and social equity, as well as those facing economic instability brought on by the challenges of the pandemic. Together with our donors we are catalyzing human and financial resources to create meaningful and measurable progress for all.”
The Louisville region has been the national spotlight in the aftermath of the murders of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and others. As a result, the Community Foundation and its donors have renewed their commitment to social justice and breaking down systemic barriers to inequality. More than $450,000 in grant funding went to civil rights, social action and advocacy efforts, benefiting organizations such as Showing Up for Racial Justice Education Fund and the National Redistricting Foundation. More than $1.2 million went toward community improvement organizations, including the Black Community Development Corp. and the Louisville Association for Community Economics.
The arts were some of the hardest hit by the Covid-19 shutdowns. Recovery from loss of patron revenue and annual donor support is ongoing, with support from the Community Foundation playing a major role. Total grants in this area amounted to $6.3 million, with recipients including Louisville Orchestra, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Speed Art Museum and Fund for the Arts.
“At Fund for the Arts we believe that art is a right not a privilege, because art is a fundamental expression of the human condition. Art promotes individual, collective and community well-being and provides a balm for healing. Investment, support and funding for arts is a necessary and essential part of a healthy and thriving community, says Andre Kimo Stone Guess, President and CEO of the Fund for the Arts. “We thank the Community Foundation for their continued support of our efforts and the entire arts community in our city.”
In addition, in response to the tornados that devasted Western Kentucky in December, the Community Foundation has awarded 251 grants in the amount of $2.5 million to 75 organizations in support of relief efforts.
For more information about 2021 grants, funding opportunities or to schedule interviews, contact Jan Walther, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, at janw@cflouisville.org or 502.648.0761.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF LOUISVILLE
As a catalyst for human, social and financial capital to create meaningful and measurable progress for all, the Community Foundation of Louisville connects donors, nonprofits and civic partners to create a greater Louisville where every one of us can prosper. Founded in 1984, the Community Foundation is one of the largest charitable foundations in Kentucky with more than $800 million in assets and more than 2,300 charitable funds. Each fund has its own charitable purpose as defined by its donors. In 2021, distributions from these funds made over 11,700 grants totaling over $64 million, approximately 78% of which stayed in Kentucky and Southern Indiana to support area nonprofits. www.cflouisville.org.