About
Founded in 1984, the Community Foundation of Louisville mobilizes people, networks, and capital to spark meaningful change in and beyond Louisville. Just as our name signifies, here, community comes first. With over $874 million in assets, over 2,200 charitable funds, and collaborations with hundreds of local partners, we connect real investments with relevant causes. The Foundation has addressed and continues to address a wide range of community needs. The key priorities of the Foundation’s mission are to remove barriers to accessing capital and resources and to open opportunities for all. Working with neighbors, changemakers, and community investors, we’re inspiring greater generosity to move us all forward.
Catalyze impact:
We believe everyone has the potential to drive change in their community. With broad investment expertise and deep local knowledge, we support community causes that advance equity and open opportunity for all.
Connect people to relevant causes:
We build bridges between changemakers, and community causes to create real and lasting impact right here in Louisville. By connecting a wide range of resources and relationships, we can offer flexible options for community investors to contribute when and how they feel most comfortable —and to achieve meaningful progress.
Collaborate for transformation:
Through the mobilizing of thousands of funds and other grantmaking initiatives, we’re able to provide support and partnership to hundreds of local organizations and individuals that do the important work of amplifying impact in Louisville and beyond.
Champion community voices:
As a community foundation, we’re centered in, of, and for communities. We collaborate with and champion diverse perspectives, because Louisville can only move forward when every one of us has a pathway to prosperity.
Community Foundation Assets as of December 31, 2023
Community Foundation Blog
From One Application to Endless Possibilities: Dr. Shumake’s Scholarship Story
Written by Christina Miller Every dream deserves a fair shot, and that’s exactly what the Foundation’s General Scholarship Application is designed to give. With one application, students are matched to nearly… Continue Reading »
Invest Louisville rises to meet needs for Option to Success Inc. program
Photo credit: Option to Success; Pictured: Photos from Option to Success grand opening of their RISE campus. In 2025, an organization called Option to Success Inc. (OTS) sought to purchase a mixed-use property … Continue Reading »
Philanthropy Insights: Educational Access and Literacy
Written by Dionne Griffiths, CAP® Charitable giving research shows that education continues to be an important priority in national and local donor giving trends, and it ranked number one in our January 2025 Com… Continue Reading »