Louisville's People
The Louisville's People action area centers around supporting ways we express, experience, develop and honor humanity. Areas of investment can include: the arts, public spaces, schools, museums, education, and leadership development and retention.
Racial Justice Cohort
The inception of the Racial Justice Cohort began with the Community Foundation of Louisville shifting its grantmaking process for the very first time to a trust-based philanthropy model. Reflecting upon the policies that created barriers for Black- and Brown-led organizations receiving grant funds, the Foundation enlisted community members who came together to design the intent, approach, and selection process for the cohort. In June 2021, 12 Black-led social change organizations accepted an invitation to form the Racial Justice Cohort (RJC), each receiving $40,000 renewable, multi-year, unrestricted grants. The RJC has flourished,
fostering collaboration amongst the cohort to provide much needed resources to Louisville’s Black, Brown, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.
Learn more.
Alden Fellows
The Community Foundation of Louisville believes that Louisville’s nonprofit organizations are strengthened when more nonprofit leaders have access to high quality professional development opportunities. In support of such work, the Foundation selects five leaders as Alden Fellows. By invitation, nonprofit executive directors, presidents, and CEOs are asked to develop a plan for their personal and professional growth which will elevate their work as a leader, benefit their organization, and impact the community. Fellowships of $7,000 are awarded to individuals who exhibit a unique curiosity, a commitment to the Louisville community, and a sincere interest in exploring their full leadership potential.
Bill Fischer Award for Visual Arts
The Bill Fischer Award for Visual Artists is designed to make a meaningful impact on the career of a visual artist residing in the Louisville Metro Area. Recipients of the Fischer Prize must show a commitment to experimentation and the creative use of materials and techniques, and a commitment to pursuing a career as a professional working visual artist.
The Bill Fischer Award for Visual Artists is funded by the Artist Bill Fischer Foundation for Working Artists at the Community Foundation of Louisville. Louisville Visual Art serves as the administrative partner to the project and competition process. Recipients of the Fischer Prize must show a commitment to experimentation and the creative use of materials and techniques, and a commitment to pursuing a career as a professional working visual artist.
Hadley Creatives
In 2018, the Hadley Creatives initiative was created to empower Louisville’s creative sector through a comprehensive 6-month professional development program. The COVID-19 pandemic drastically impacted the creative support. Consequently, arts organizations have been forced to restructure and pivot. The Foundation is currently working with former Hadley Creatives artists and arts organizations to determine the best way for the Hadley Creatives initiative to support local artists. We remain committed to cultivating a supportive community of diverse, multi-disciplinary creatives committed to professional best practices, career planning and advocacy. The Hadley Creatives is funded by the George & Mary Alice Hadley Fund at the Community Foundation of Louisville.
55,000 Degrees
From 2010 to 2020, the 55,000 Degrees partnership led efforts to help Louisville’s residents earn tens of thousands of postsecondary degrees. While 55,000 Degrees is no longer in operation, its mission lives on through a culture of learning through data and of collaborating across sectors.
Questions about how we work with our community?
