What Fund for the Arts does

Fund for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts fund and community organization founded in 1949 in Louisville, Kentucky, recognized as one of the two oldest United Arts Funds in the United States. The organization raises and distributes resources to support Greater Louisville's nonprofit arts ecosystem, delivers direct cultural access programs to residents, and operates arts-in-education initiatives across a seven-county service region spanning Bullitt, Jefferson, Oldham, and Shelby counties in Kentucky and Clark, Floyd, and Harrison counties in Indiana. Its core programs include Cultural Pass (free summer access to 150+ arts, culture, science, history, heritage, and nature venues for youth ages 0-21, with new senior 65+ programming), Sustaining Impact Grants (unrestricted operating support for nonprofit arts organizations), 5x5 and Teacher Arts Grants (curriculum-based arts in K-12 schools), Community Event Mini-Grants, the NeXt! Ambassador leadership development program, and a Teaching Artist Directory. Since inception, the organization has raised more than $200 million cumulatively.

The organization runs no proprietary technology platform. Its digital infrastructure comprises a Classy.org donation portal, a GivingFuel checkout page, dedicated iOS/Android Cultural Pass apps using QR-code redemption, an online grant application portal (YourCause Grants), and email/newsletter communications. Fund for the Arts is sustained by a diversified revenue model drawing from individual donations (including named giving societies at $1,949, $5,000, and $10,000 tiers), recurring corporate workplace giving campaigns (200+ companies, 17,500+ donors, primarily via $1-$10/week payroll deduction), government support (Louisville Metro Government, Kentucky Arts Council), and grants from foundations and corporate funders including Humana Foundation, PNC, LG&E and KU Energy, JPMorganChase, the Gheens Foundation, Churchill Downs, Caesars Foundation of Floyd County, Brooke Brown Barzun Foundation, SociableWeaver Foundation, and the Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Foundation.

Governance rests with a volunteer Board of Directors that includes ex-officio representation from the Louisville Metro Office of Arts + Creative Industries, plus executives from PNC and JPMorganChase. Day-to-day operations are managed by an executive team led by Interim President and CEO Brett Shepherd (appointed December 2025, succeeding Andre Kimo Stone Guess, whose departure was announced June 2025 effective June 2026), alongside a CFO/COO and directors covering development, marketing, foundation relations, and community investment. The organization is BBB Wise Giving Alliance certified and operates from a single headquarters at 334 East Broadway, Suite 325, Louisville, with an 11-50 employee staff.

Name

Fund for the Arts

Legal name

Fund for the Arts

Website

https://fundforthearts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fund for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts fund and community organization, founded in 1949 in Louisville, Kentucky, that raises and distributes resources to support Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana nonprofit arts organizations, runs Cultural Pass youth and senior cultural access programs, and delivers arts-in-education and leadership development initiatives across a seven-county region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Arts Fundraising and Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs (BPAGAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Grant Funding & Public/Nonprofit Financing (MPADAAAO), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Arts funding
• Nonprofit grants
• Community arts
• Arts education
• Workplace giving

Headquarters

HQ city

Louisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization raises money from individuals through its annual campaign, including leadership societies (Farnsley Society starting at $1,949, Chairman's Society at $5,000, Society 100 at $10,000) and general individual giving. Donors contribute through the Classy.org platform and direct donation portals.
2. Corporate Giving & Workplace Campaigns: More than 200 companies host workplace campaigns; 17,500+ people give through workplace campaigns, mostly via payroll deduction. Corporate sponsors underwrite events, schools, and neighborhood programs. Corporate benefits include brand visibility and employee engagement.
3. Government Support: Louisville Metro Government and Kentucky Arts Council provide funding support. Louisville Metro Government is a key partner in the Cultural Pass program.
4. Foundation & Nonprofit Grants: Various foundations (Humana Foundation, PNC Bank, Brooke Brown Barzun Foundation, SociableWeaver Foundation, Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Foundation, and others) provide grant support to programs including Cultural Pass.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fund for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit United Arts Fund that raises money annually from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government through workplace giving campaigns and direct donations, then redistributes those funds as grants to nonprofit arts organizations and delivers direct community programs such as Cultural Pass, NeXt! leadership development, and arts-in-education initiatives across the Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana region.

Product overview

Fund for the Arts operates as a unified platform combining grant programs, access initiatives, and community engagement. The core offerings include: Cultural Pass providing free youth access to over 150 venues; multiple grant programs (Sustaining Impact Grants, 5x5/TAG, Community Event Mini-Grants); the NeXt! Ambassador leadership development program; the Teaching Artist Directory connecting artists with community partners; Arts Scoop newsletter for opportunities; and an Online Resource Center. These programs work together to generate resources, invest in, and support local arts, artists, and organizations across Greater Louisville.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grant Programs Comprehensive grant programs including Sustaining Impact Grants for nonprofit arts organizations, 5x5 grants and Teacher Arts Grants (TAG) for K-12 educators, Community Event Mini-Grants ($500–$5,000) for neighborhood events, Event Artist Application roster, and a Teaching Artists and Organizations Directory. Administered through the online grant portal (YourCause Grants) and reviewed by community volunteer panels.
• Cultural Pass Free access program providing youth ages 0-21 with free admission to over 150 arts, culture, science, history, heritage, and nature activities across Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana during summer months. Delivered via a dedicated iOS/Android app and affiliated regional library partner network.
• NeXt! Ambassador Program Leadership development program sponsored by Stock Yards Bank & Trust that prepares emerging professionals for volunteer leadership roles within the Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana arts community through immersive training and board placement. Free for all participants.
• Teaching Artist Directory Searchable directory connecting community partners with teaching artists and arts organizations for programs in schools and community centers across Louisville and Southern Indiana.
• Monthly Newsletter Monthly e-newsletter providing updates on Fund for the Arts efforts in the arts ecosystem.
• Arts Scoop Newsletter Bi-weekly newsletter providing opportunities for artists, arts and culture administrators, and creatives including grants, calls for artists, training, and professional development resources.
• Online Resource Center Resource hub providing access to FFTA Grant Resources, Funding Resources Outside of Fund for the Arts, and Professional Development Resources for artists.
• Workplace Giving Campaigns Annual workplace giving campaigns run at 200+ employer companies, enabling 17,500+ employees to contribute to the arts fund via payroll deduction at $1–$10 per week. Fund for the Arts provides campaign materials, engagement activities, and professional development opportunities to corporate partners.
• Event Artist Application Roster Application roster for artists seeking to perform at Fund for the Arts community events, connected to the Teaching Artist Directory and Community Event Mini-Grant program.
• Volunteer Grant Review Panel Community volunteer program enabling residents to serve on grant review panels that evaluate and make award recommendations for Fund for the Arts grant programs.
• Arts Impact Initiatives Three major initiatives: Arts in Institutions (Sustaining Impact Grants for nonprofit arts organizations), Arts in Learning (curriculum-based arts programs in schools), and Arts in Neighborhoods (multigenerational, multi-disciplinary residencies and events in Louisville neighborhoods).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $200 million raised since 1949, directly and indirectly benefiting millions of people and scores of organizations.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and supporting.

• Kentucky Arts CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKentucky Arts Council is shown as a supporting partner on the Fund for the Arts website, alongside Metro Louisville, indicating a foundational government partnership for arts funding and regional coordination.
• Metro Louisville (Louisville Metro Government)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLouisville Metro Government is a key co-presenter of the Cultural Pass program and provides funding support. The Office of Arts + Creative Industries has an ex-officio board seat on the Fund for the Arts Board.
• Stock Yards Bank & TrustflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerStock Yards Bank & Trust is the presenting sponsor of the NeXt! Ambassador Leadership Development program, which prepares emerging professionals for volunteer board roles in the arts community. The program is free for all participants thanks to this sponsorship.
• Arts & Culture Alliance (ACA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACA serves as a primary liaison to engage arts and culture organizations in all aspects of the Imagine Greater Louisville 2025 plan implementation. ACA is also a co-presenter of Cultural Pass.
• Kentuckiana Cultural ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKentuckiana Cultural Consortium is a co-presenter of Cultural Pass and a member of the Cultural Pass steering committee, representing the Southern Indiana arts and cultural community.
• Louisville Free Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLouisville Free Public Library is a key partner in the Cultural Pass program, providing library cards that serve as eligibility for the pass and hosting the Summer Reading Kick-Off event.
• Courier-JournalsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia sponsor of 2026 Cultural Pass, providing editorial coverage and promotional support for the free youth cultural access program.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Arts Council of Indianapolis: Arts Council of Indianapolis is a local arts council funding arts organizations and community programs through grants and partnerships, mirroring Fund for the Arts' role in Greater Louisville.
• ArtsBoston: ArtsBoston is a Greater Boston arts service organization and grantmaker supporting cultural organizations and audience access, comparable in nonprofit arts intermediation to Fund for the Arts.
• ArtsWave: ArtsWave is Greater Cincinnati's local arts agency and community campaign, running a similar united arts fund model with workplace giving, grants to arts organizations, and community programs — the most direct structural parallel to Fund for the Arts.
• Houston Arts Alliance: Houston Arts Alliance is the city's local arts agency and grantmaker that funds cultural programming and artists, structurally similar to Fund for the Arts' combination of grantmaking and community programming.
• Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council: Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council is a local arts agency providing grantmaking, capacity-building, and advocacy for regional arts organizations — directly comparable in role and scope to Fund for the Arts.
• United Arts Council of Greater Charlotte: United Arts Council of Greater Charlotte is a regional united arts fund that distributes grants to arts and cultural organizations, comparable in structure and campaign-driven fundraising to Fund for the Arts.
• United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF): UPAF is a Milwaukee-based united arts fund running workplace giving campaigns and distributing grants to performing arts organizations, comparable in fundraising mechanics and grantmaking focus to Fund for the Arts.
• ArtsFund: ArtsFund is the Seattle-area united arts fund raising money through workplace campaigns and corporate giving and granting to arts organizations — directly analogous in business model and operating scope to Fund for the Arts.

Broad incumbents

• Americans for the Arts: Americans for the Arts is a national nonprofit advancing the arts at the federal, state, and local level, providing research, advocacy, and capacity-building that overlaps with Fund for the Arts' community ecosystem role.
• Mid-America Arts Alliance: Mid-America Arts Alliance is a regional nonprofit arts service organization serving six states (including Kentucky) through grantmaking and programs — a broader regional peer to Fund for the Arts' local scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fund-for-the-arts

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fund for the Arts