Blue Grass Community Foundation (BGCF) (Kentucky)

Deadlines vary according to the fund to which requests are being submitted. Visit the website for upcoming deadlines: http://www.bgcf.org/page27526.cfm.

Located in Lexington, Kentucky, Blue Grass Community Foundation is a nonprofit foundation established in 1967. BGCF's mission is to connect people who give to causes they care about and to the needs of the community by providing philanthropic leadership and support. The Foundation: Currently has over $40 million in assets; Consists of more than 200 separate and individually tracked funds; Provides flexibility to meet a broad range of needs through diverse giving vehicles. Blue Grass Community Foundation is comprised of several different types of funds that award grants in different ways. Their donors have created funds to support designated agencies; to provide scholarships to students who attend various educational institutions; and to recommend grants to various charitable causes. Other donors have established funds that utilize competitive grant making services. These include the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Steele Reese Foundation and The W. Paul and Lucille Little Foundation. These foundations use a donor advised fund at BGCF to support local causes. Additional grants are made through regional funds, such as Clark County Community Foundation and Hudson-Ellis funds in Boyle County. The BGCF's Community Grants Program, made possible by various discretionary and field of interest funds, also provides funding focused on projects that promote self-sufficiency for underserved populations in central Kentucky. Funding is provided for a broad range of purposes including, but not restricted to grants in the areas of health, human services, education, technology (i.e. computer purchase for educational purposes), arts, humanities, recreation, youth programs, handicap services, nutrition, housing, building and renovation, and for projects serving homeless, low-income and at-risk populations.

History of Funds:

The Foundation awards on average over $1 million annually in grants. The total of 2007 grants was $2,255,851. Descriptions of recently funded projects and their amounts can be found at http://www.bgcf.org/page27509.cfm.

Average Award:

Varies

Name: Barbara A. Fischer, Grants Officer

Department: Blue Grass Community Foundation

Street: 250 West Main Street

Suite 1220

City: Lexington

Zip: 40507

Email: bfischer@bgcf.org

Fax: 859-243-0770