250 Lou Grants

The 250 Lou Grants program is administered by the Louisville America 250KY Committee, a local initiative tied to the national America 250 commemoration. This effort aims to celebrate and honor the 250th anniversary of the United States by focusing on Louisville’s unique historical, cultural, and social contributions. The Committee envisions bringing the community together through programs that highlight local heritage, foster civic pride, and strengthen community connections. As part of this commemorative effort, the Committee offers financial support through the 250 Lou Grants program to help nonprofit organizations develop and present community-based events and programs that align with the mission and vision of the Louisville America 250KY Committee. The purpose of the grant is to fund events that engage Louisville Metro (Jefferson County) residents and reflect the city’s diverse history and identity. Eligible projects may include cultural, historical, or educational programming, performances, exhibitions, or public events that are scheduled to occur no later than June 30, 2026. The grants aim to promote inclusion, inspire civic engagement, and foster a deeper connection to Louisville’s past and future role in the American story. All projects must advance the Committee’s objectives to inspire connection, broaden participation, and celebrate the city’s unique place in the national narrative. Funding may be used for a broad array of event-related costs, including artist stipends, venue rentals, production services, outreach materials, accessibility accommodations, and event insurance. Specific categories of allowable expenses include program materials, graphic design, live streaming services, printed educational handouts, and translation services to ensure public access. However, certain expenses are ineligible for reimbursement, such as personnel costs, alcohol, training, prizes, general operating expenses, and travel costs, including those incurred by performers or presenters. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations, specifically those classified as 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) civic leagues and neighborhood associations. Applicants must be in good standing with several government entities, including the IRS, the Kentucky Secretary of State, the Louisville Metro Revenue Commission, and Louisville Metro grant programs. Projects must be located within Louisville Metro (Jefferson County), Kentucky, and grantees will be required to submit both an activity report and a financial report with supporting documentation by July 2026. The grant program opened on February 2, 2026, and the deadline to apply is February 28, 2026. Applications must be submitted during this window; there is no indication that the program is recurring or that it will accept rolling applications. Awards will be up to $5,000 per project, with the total number of awards not specified. While no matching funds are required, grantees must provide detailed documentation of all expenditures. The program contact for this opportunity is Savannah Darr, Historic Preservation Officer with the Louisville Metro Office of Planning, who may be reached via email for further inquiries. The Committee’s website, https://250louky.com, offers more information about the America 250KY initiative and provides contextual background for organizations interested in participating. All proposed projects should be designed to take place in Louisville Metro and must align with the larger goals of civic reflection and celebration of the city’s contributions to the nation’s development over the past 250 years.