What You Made Possible in 2025: A Year of Impact and Innovation

By the Numbers: Momentum You Made Possible

Pictured: Foundation President & CEO, Ron Gallo, pictured top left, poses with supporters of Invest Louisville.

• $9 million deployed in year one through Invest Louisville, supporting for‑profit and nonprofit partners building accessible, affordable housing, creating jobs, and developing properties in communities historically disinvested in.
• Total charitable assets: $937 million, a 9% increase over last September’s balance.
• Through fundholder giving, 12,000 grants were distributed totaling $84.9 million to 3,000+ unique organizations.
• Welcomed 107 new fundholders.

Fostering New Opportunities

Pictured: Foundation fundholders reconnect at the annual Spring Fundholder Luncheon.

• Invested in the launch of 502 Film’s Front Porch Film Lab. A first-of-its-kind in the state of Kentucky, the filmmaker incubator focuses on advancing short-form narrative storytelling in the Louisville region.
• After we shared scholarship recipient Jonah Belance’s story, Rep. Morgan McGarvey honored him with a Congressional Certificate of Recognition for his commitment to helping the community.
• Fundholders joined us at exclusive convenings—the Spring Luncheon, Wine Tasting at Savor, Coffee with Leadership, and Tax Smart Year‑End Giving—to deepen learning and community.
• We launched a new online scholarship search tool to help students connect with our scholarship opportunities, as well as a planned giving site to guide donors and advisors on their charitable next steps, featuring gift planning calculators and a free Estate Planning Guide.
• Launched a pilot grantmaking program, Sparking Change Mini‑Grants, awarding 36 organizations with annual revenues under $250,000, $1,000 grants.

Growing the Next Generation of Philanthropists

Pictured: 2025 nonprofit recipients of the Artemis Fund, Saint George and Americana, at Kentucky Country Day School.

• Through our continued collaboration with Kentucky Country Day School, the Artemis Fund empowers high school students to lead the grantmaking process. Each spring, a new student Board of Trustees learns philanthropy in action, including reviewing proposals, conducting site visits, and awarding grants to local organizations that support youth development.
• We hosted a shadow day and educational workshop on philanthropy with the Louisville Youth Philanthropy Council.

Record‑Breaking Impact from Our Biggest Initiatives

Pictured: 2025 Vogt Award recipients celebrating with Foundation President & CEO Ron Gallo, fund advisor Henry Heuser Jr., and programmatic leadership.

• The 12th annual Give for Good Louisville set records—most dollars, donors, and donations to the most nonprofits ever!
• Give for Good Louisville was nominated by community members and recognized by the Voice Tribune as the Best Louisville Fundraiser.
• The Vogt Invention and Innovation Awards celebrated a 25-year milestone with record‑breaking attendance at Demo Day.

Investing in the Success of Our Community

Pictured: Foundation President & CEO Ron Gallo featured in the center alongside the 2025 Alden Fellows.

• Awarded 483 scholarships, totaling $2.7 million in financial aid from scholarship funds.
• 7 organizations serving LGBTQ+ youth across Kentucky received $20,000 grants through the Charles & Jack Fund for LGBTQ+ Advancement.
• Continued our partnership with Louisville Visual Art for the Bill Fischer Award for Visual Artists, granting $10,000 to local artist Licia Priest.
• We relaunched the Alden Fellows, awarding $10,000 to six nonprofit leaders pursuing transformative professional development.
• We proudly sponsored local events, including:
  • Civitas’ first annual Gayla
  • LUL Gala & Impact Report Luncheon
  • Muhammad Ali Center’s Humanitarian Awards and Daughters of Greatness Breakfast
  • Leadership Louisville Luncheon
  • Louisville Orchestra – Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience
  • Russell Place of Promise Homecoming
  • Midwest/Midsouth Estate Planning Institute
  • Grantmakers of Kentucky – Chaired by Chelsea VanHook, Executive Director of Impact Investing
  • Louisville Story Program’s ‘Joyride’ event
  • La Casita’s annual Circle of Solidarity
  • AFP’s National Philanthropy Day

Coordinating for Collective Good

Pictured: Nonprofit leaders of the Racial Justice Cohort speaking about their experiences at the report launch and reflection event.

• Louisville Coalition of Immigrant Support (LCIS) established a fund at the Community Foundation to enable individuals, foundations, and corporations to make a direct impact efficiently and effectively on 18 immigrant-serving nonprofits. Thanks to our collaborative efforts, LCIS can easily make monthly contributions to the immigrant-serving nonprofits doing the work on the front lines. All of the 18 nonprofits are established IRS-recognized tax-exempt organizations.
• Supported statewide philanthropy through our affiliate organizations: Felix E. Martin Jr. Foundation, Oldham County Community Foundation, Green River Area Community Foundation, Nelson County Community Foundation, Shelby County Community Foundation, and Wilderness Trace Community Foundation.
• Concluded our Racial Justice Cohort programming with a report launch and reflection, and advanced our equity work through a multi‑channel marketing campaign with the (Un)known Project and Parks Alliance of Louisville.
• Worked alongside local and state governments and nonprofits to respond to multiple crises, including:
  • Raising over $160,000 to address historic flooding in our region.
  • Raising $500,000 for local nonprofits filling the gaps made by the delay of SNAP benefits.
  • Driving donors to support recovery efforts from the UPS cargo plane crash.

Collaborating Across Sectors To Create Positive Change

Pictured: Churchill Downs team speaking about their collaboration with the Foundation and uplifting 50 local nonprofits during the new Derby week event, ‘Winsday.’

• In collaboration with Churchill Downs, we transformed Wednesday of Derby week into “Winsday”—a day uplifting and supporting 50 local nonprofits. The celebration continues in 2026, with announcements coming soon!
• We remained a trusted resource for professional advisors—offering insights and continuing‑education credits at our annual advisor seminar and launching a monthly advisor newsletter that provides valuable information, including the latest news from Washington, tax law updates, PLRs, case studies, and timely articles.
• Partnered with local sports teams to inspire generosity, including LouCity & Racing Foundation’s Nonprofit Title Night and the Louisville Bats’ Nonprofit Night.

Thank you to our donors, fundholders, partners, advisors, and nonprofits for standing with us. Together with our incredible team, we’re building a more equitable, vibrant Louisville.

Onward to 2026!