LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Community Foundation of Louisville this week announced total grant funding for 2021 in the amount of $64 million. More than 11,000 grants were distributed from the Foundation and its charitable fundholders to vital community programs and services, many of which went toward economic relief efforts due to the pandemic, and social change initiatives. Seventy-eight percent of the funds stayed local, directly benefiting nonprofit organizations based in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.Key grant funding areas include arts, culture and humanities, $7.6 million; education, $10.9 million; health and human services, $25.6 million; community and environment, $9.6 million; and religion, $10.2 million.The Louisville region has been in the national spotlight in the aftermath of the murders of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and others. As a result, the Community Foundation and its donors have renewed their commitment to social justice and breaking down systemic barriers to inequality.
More than $450,000 in grant funding went to civil rights, social action and advocacy efforts, benefiting organizations such as Showing Up for Racial Justice Education Fund and the National Redistricting Foundation. More than $1.2 million went toward community improvement organizations, including the Black Community Development Corp. and the Louisville Association for Community Economics.The arts were some of the hardest hit by the Covid-19 shutdowns. Recovery from loss of patron revenue and annual donor support is ongoing, with support from the Community Foundation playing a major role. Total grants in this area amounted to $6.3 million, with recipients including Louisville Orchestra, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Speed Art Museum and Fund for the Arts.In addition, in response to the tornados that devasted Western Kentucky in December, the Community Foundation has awarded 251 grants in the amount of $2.5 million to 75 organizations in support of relief efforts.
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