Kentucky Law Justice and Legal Services Grants

This funding initiative provides financial support to community-based organizations, local and tribal governments in eight southeastern states to address environmental justice issues and promote healthier environments.

This grant provides professional-grade electric lawn equipment to non-profit organizations in Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky, to promote sustainability and improve air quality by replacing gas-powered tools.

This funding program provides financial support to community-based organizations that empower youth aged 12 to 20 through established, youth-led urban greening initiatives focused on social and environmental justice in select states.

This grant provides a $6,000 honorarium to a Kentucky writer selected as poet laureate, supporting their efforts to promote the literary arts in the state over a two-year term.

The Community Foundation of Louisville’s Vogt Invention & Innovation Awards offers entrepreneurs in the Louisville region a unique and exciting opportunity to take their businesses to the next level. Donor Name: Community Foundation of Louisville State: Indiana, Kentucky County: Selected Counties Type of Grant: Awards and Prizes Deadline: 05/28/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Funding Information Each year, up to six early-stage businesses receive $25,000. Eligibility Criteria If you do NOT meet these criteria, please visit Amplify Louisville for access to other business startup assistance: The business is a for-profit entity. The business is headquartered in the 13-county Louisville Metro area (MSA): Indiana – Clark, Floyd, Washington, Scott and Harrison counties Kentucky – Bullitt, Henry, Jefferson, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer  and Trimble counties The business is registered with either the Indiana or Kentucky Secretary of State and in good standing (business can be organized in another state, e.g.: Delaware). The business is beyond the concept/idea stage and has an early prototype of the technology. The business is developing an innovation-led product or service. The Vogt Awards define innovation as a new idea or the invention of a new product or service that creates customer demand. The business is in the early stages, with customer revenue less than $250,000/year to date. The business has a lifetime funding maximum of $500,000 (this includes grants, investments, and loans but excludes founders’ personal investments). Applications will be given stronger consideration by the Selection Committee if these aspects are included and well-described in a founder’s application: The business is leveraging technology, making use of new advances in technology for the purpose of better serving customers, gaining a competitive advantage, and/or evolving the marketplace. The business is leveraging technology in a new, unique, or original way to develop a new product or service. The product or service being developed has a protectable advantage (intellectual asset) in the market. The business is developing a business model that is scalable — revenue has the potential to grow quickly, along with improving profitability. The product or service being developed doesn’t require a long regulatory approval cycle (for example, companies working on a new drug may be excluded). For more information, visit Community Foundation of Louisville.

This grant provides financial support ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to small businesses owned by minorities, women, and veterans in Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties in Northern Kentucky, helping them with various business improvement expenses.

The 501vc® Investment Fund is seeking to invest $200,000 to $300,000 in early-stage climate tech startups in the Greater Midwest region, focusing on sectors like advanced materials, renewable energy, and agriculture technologies.

The Neighborhood Stormwater Quality Projects Incentive Grant Program is to assist property owners, businesses, and organizations in the implementation of projects that serve to improve water quality through innovation and education throughout Fayette County. Donor Name: Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government State: Kentucky County: Fayette County (KY) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/03/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: The Incentive Grant Program is funded by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) Water Quality Management Fee (WQMF) and is administered by the Division of Water Quality (DWQ). The main goal of the Incentive Grant Program is the improvement of surface water quality in Fayette County. To accomplish this goal, the program provides financial assistance for projects that meet the following objectives: Improve water quality in the impaired streams through pollutant reduction or other means; Address stormwater concerns on existing, developing, or redeveloping parcels; Reduce stormwater runoff and flooding; or Provide public or private education related to these items. Funding Information Projects may be funded up to $120,000 with a required 20% cost share of total project cost in cash or in-kind donation. The maximum grant award is $45,000. Grant Period July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025. Eligible Expenses  Eligible expenses must be project-specific invoiced or cash expenditures. Examples include: Materials and Supplies Rental Equipment Consulting Fees Construction Costs Teacher Stipends Permitting Fees. Eligible Projects  Projects must fulfill at least one of the following goals: Install a feature that serves to improve water quality; Involve citizens in activities to improve water quality, reduce water pollution etc.; Educate citizens about water quality and stormwater-related issues; Install a feature that serves to reduce stormwater runoff. Innovative project ideas are encouraged. Potential project ideas include, but are not limited to: Storm drain marking; Stream cleaning; Planting of trees along a stream; Fencing off creeks in agricultural areas; Tree canopy establishment / expansion Installation of rain barrels at neighborhood homes; Installation of a local rain garden; Neighborhood targeted seminar and/or brochures on how to reduce stormwater pollution, such as proper use of lawn chemicals, etc.; Retention pond enhancement for water quality. Who is eligible to apply for funding? All Fayette County neighborhood, community, and homeowner associations that are incorporated with the Commonwealth of Kentucky and have a roster of elected officers are eligible to apply. For more information, visit LFUCG.

The South Arts is accepting applications for its In These Mountains (ITM) initiative to support the projects that promote sharing, teaching, learning, preserving, documenting, and supporting the continuity of the folk arts and traditional culture of Central Appalachia. Donor Name: South Arts State: Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee County: Selected Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: South Arts has prioritise the following: South Arts is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. They strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-led and LGBTQIA+-led organizations, and organizations led by people with disabilities. They will prioritize applications that feature BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ traditional artists and traditional artists with disabilities. South Arts is committed to funding traditional arts projects in rural communities (with populations under 50,000). This funding program is open to a wide variety of organizations, including community cultural organizations, schools/colleges/universities, libraries, museums, performing arts presenters, community festival organizations, faith-based organizations, etc. Organizations must be located within and serve at least one Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) county in Kentucky, North Carolina, or Tennessee. Funding Information Grants are awarded in the amount of $10,000. Project Period October 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025. Eligiblity Criteria Nonprofit organizations and educational organizations located in Appalachian Regional Commission counties in Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee are eligible. Organizations must have not-for-profit, tax-exempt status, or be an official unit of local, county, or state government. Educational institutions (schools, school systems, colleges, and universities) are eligible. South Arts does not accept applications from fiscal agents for this grant program. All applicants must have a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN). Organizations that have failed to submit final reports for any previous South Arts grants by the time of this application will not be considered for funding in this grant cycle. Organizations that fail to properly acknowledge South Arts’ support in programs and press materials will not be considered for additional funding. Eligible organizations must be located within and serve at least one of the following Appalachian Regional Commission counties: Kentucky: Adair, Bath, Bell, Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Edmonson, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Garrard, Green, Greenup, Harlan, Hart, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln, McCreary, Madison, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Metcalfe, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Russell, Wayne, Whitley, and Wolfe. North Carolina: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Davie, Forsyth, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, McDowell, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, and Yancey. Tennessee: Anderson, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Cannon, Carter, Claiborne, Clay, Cocke, Coffee, Cumberland, De Kalb, Fentress, Franklin, Grainger, Greene, Grundy, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hawkins, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence, Lewis, Loudon, McMinn, Macon, Marion, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Overton, Pickett, Polk, Putnam, Rhea, Roane, Scott, Sequatchie, Sevier, Smith, Sullivan, Unicoi, Union, Van Buren, Warren, Washington, and White. For more information, visit South Arts.

The Blue Grass Community Foundation is accepting applications for its 2024 Early Childhood Education Literacy Grant. Donor Name: Blue Grass Community Foundation State: Kentucky County: Selected Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/21/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: With funding from the MacAdam Early Childhood and Literacy Fund, Blue Grass Community Foundation seeks to increase equitable access to quality pre-K education, early childhood care programs, and/or literacy programs for students in Central Kentucky. BGCF has the goal of narrowing the achievement gap by supporting those organizations/programs specifically serving low-income students, students of color, English Language Learners (ELL), and students with special needs. Qualified charitable organizations serving Central Kentucky are eligible to submit grant proposals that focus on early childhood teaching and learning; professional development for early childhood educators; parent engagement; and literacy-specific programs for learners of all ages, including adults. Proposals for project support and general operating support will be considered. Funding Information Grant awards will range from $2,500 to $10,000, with the option of renewal for one additional year. Grant Period August 2024 – July 31, 2025. Eligibility Criteria  Applicant organization is located in or providing services to residents of Central Kentucky (counties limited to Anderson, Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Harrison, Jessamine, Madison, Montgomery, Scott and/or Woodford Counties). Applicant organization is classified as a nonprofit charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code; has a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) designation; or is a publicly supported organization such as a school district, municipality, or government agency. Applicant organization does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, citizenship status, creed, religion, religious affiliation, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status or any other protected status under applicable law. An organization with religious affiliation will be considered for funding only if the project for which it seeks support attempts to address the needs of the wider community without regard to religious beliefs. Applicant organization does not have any overdue final reports for any previous grants funded by the Community Foundation. For more information, visit BGCF.

This scholarship provides financial assistance to high-achieving graduating high school seniors from specific counties in Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky who plan to pursue higher education.

This grant provides financial support to Black entrepreneurs who are positively impacting their communities, helping them grow and sustain their businesses.

This grant recognizes and supports young entrepreneurs and new business owners who demonstrate trustworthiness and positively impact their communities through ethical business practices.

This program provides financial support to individual Black, Indigenous, and People of Color artists in Greater Cincinnati to create and showcase projects that explore themes of truth and innovation related to social justice and equity in July 2025.