THE GHEENS FOUNDATION
+1.502.584.4650
The Gheens Foundation
401 West Main Street Louisville KY 40202
Philanthropy Guidelines
The Foundation will distribute approximately 5% of the average fair value of its non-charitable use assets annually to qualifying organizations located in the Metro Louisville area: Bullitt, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble counties (KY); Clark, Floyd, Harrison and Washington counties (IN); and to the Bayou Community Foundation for qualifying organizations in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes in Louisiana.
First-time applicants must have received more than $50,000 in gross unrestricted revenue per its most recent Form 990 or an average of $50,000 for its past three consecutive years.
The minimum grant application request amount is $10,000.
Organizations may apply once every 12 months, provided any previously approved grants have been fully paid.
Qualifying organizations include IRC 501( c )(3) organizations in good standing with the IRS and the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and certain Louisville Metro government-related entities without a separate 501( c )(3) status, such as Jefferson County Public Schools.
Public school districts and governmental entities should contact the Foundation office to obtain access to the portal.
The Foundation does not make grants to the following:
- Endowments
- Foundations, except those that solely support a single qualifying organization, such as a university.
- “Churches” (congregations, conventions, associations)
- Hospitals, primary care facilities or medical research
- Nursing homes, convalescent homes, senior living and retirement communities, long-term care facilities and other such geriatric organizations
- Private kindergartens, nursery schools, preschools, early admissions schools or high schools
- Private elementary or middle schools, except those whose sole mission is to (a) students with learning differences or (b) schools with 100% of the student body qualifying for free/reduced lunch.
- Student financial aid, including scholarships, grants, loans or work study funds
- Individuals
- Political entities
- Fund-raising entities / Sponsorships