Who We Are
Turning Generosity Into Impact
As a community foundation and 501(c)3, we’re centered in, of, and for communities. Through a long and proud history, we aim to be the most trusted source in philanthropy by strengthening our city, its neighborhoods, organizations, businesses, and people. We collaborate with and champion diverse perspectives, because Louisville can only move forward when every one of us has a pathway to prosperity.
Unlike traditional charitable foundations, the focus of our giving efforts is expansive, and that’s because it’s guided by our donors. We simply provide a vehicle for your philanthropy, offer information that empowers you to make informed decisions, and help facilitate the logistics of giving through grantmaking, scholarships, and other charitable funding programs.
Transforming Our Community
Combining responsible investments with real social impact, we work with local partners to advance racial equity and open opportunities for all. That’s why since 1984, together with our neighbors, community investors, and partners, we invest in ideas and approaches with the greatest potential to move us all forward.
In our first year, the Foundation had holdings of just over $1 million, and distributed $90,000 in grants to local charitable, educational, and civic organizations. Today, we manage nearly $800 million in assets in nearly 2,200 charitable funds. In 2022, we were incredibly proud to surpass $1.2 billion in total grants awarded.
For nearly 40 years, we’ve enabled thousands of nonprofits, entrepreneurs, businesses and individuals to prosper through our pivotal funding programs, including the Vogt Awards, financed by the Vogt Invention & Innovation Fund, and our groundbreaking loan program, CFL Impact Capital, to name just a few.
In 1995, we changed our name to the Community Foundation of Louisville, further building our enduring legacy of service. In 2014, we launched Give for Good Louisville, the single biggest day of online giving in our city’s history. Since it began, Give for Good has raised more than $50.6 million for hundreds of local nonprofits.
Amplifying and Advancing Opportunity for All
We believe that persistent challenges demand breakthrough solutions. We seek to create a fair, just, and inclusive society for all. By championing and collaborating with diverse voices and perspectives, our goal is to close divides and open opportunities for more people in more places.
In narrowing our focus on our capacity-building Fund for Louisville program in 2021, 12 exclusively Black-led social change organizations and individuals formed the Racial Justice Cohort. Together, they are navigating systems-level barriers to racial and social equity. This initiative is intended to serve as a model of accessible, inclusive, and transparent grantmaking practices to move toward real social change.
Today, we are actively committed to sharing decision-making, eliminating barriers, and making equity a cornerstone of everything we do. This includes addressing the role of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, immigration status, and other characteristics used to limit peoples’ opportunities in our community. Through your generosity, we can invest in a Louisville where everyone can prosper.
The story of the Community Foundation of Louisville continues to grow – from the many donors who believed in community philanthropy decades ago, to those who share their inspiring stories today, and to countless others who are dedicated to making an impact in our community through charitable giving.
