Nonprofit Giving Back Guide
VOICE-TRIBUNE
Louisville is filled with organizations doing meaningful work every day—feeding families, supporting the arts, protecting animals, uplifting youth, and strengthening our neighborhoods. This Giving Back Guide is here to make it easy to find and support the causes that matter most to you.
Here are some of our favorite local nonprofits that welcome your donations and depend on community support to keep their missions alive. Whether you give a little or a lot, every contribution helps build a stronger, kinder Louisville—one gift at a time.
The Shapin-Nicolas Art Project (SNAP) Foundation is a 501c3 organization that supports visual arts professionals in Kentucky through financial investment and exhibition opportunities at onsite galleries showcasing permanent and rotating collections. SNAP is dedicated to fostering creative excellence and expanding access to the arts within our community. Our mission focuses on providing the necessary resources and platforms for artists to thrive, ensuring that cultural projects reach the widest possible audience. By maintaining a professional standard of stewardship, we translate every contribution into tangible support for local creators.
Ongoing contributions sustain our core programming, which serves a diverse network of beneficiaries each year. With an annual operating budget of over $600,000, your support ensures we can maintain our momentum and expand our reach into new neighborhoods.
Just outside Louisville in Crestwood, Kentucky, Yew Dell Botanical Gardens offers 60 acres of horticultural discovery, education and inspiration. Once the private estate of renowned plantsman Theodore Klein and his wife, Martha Lee, Yew Dell has grown from a family farm into a nationally recognized public garden. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it welcomes visitors year-round to explore beautiful display gardens, woodland trails, historic architecture and innovative plant research.
As a nonprofit organization, Yew Dell’s mission is to spark a passion for plants and gardening through accessible science and inspiring beauty. From seasonal displays and family-friendly events to hands-on workshops and educational programs, there are opportunities for visitors of all ages and experience levels to connect with the natural world.
Community support makes this work possible. Annual fund gifts, tribute benches and planned gifts help sustain Yew Dell’s gardens, educational programs and horticultural research. Memberships also support daily operations while providing free admission, discounts and reciprocal benefits at gardens nationwide.
Volunteers play an important role, too. Whether working in the gardens and natural areas, helping with events or lending a hand in the office, volunteers share their time and talents to help Yew Dell thrive.
Learn more, become a member or support Yew Dell’s mission at yewdellgardens.org.
A LEGACY OF SERVICE SINCE 1890
The Woman’s Club of Louisville is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in March of 1890.
In recent years since the pandemic, The Woman’s Club of Louisville has given close to half a million dollars to groups and those in need, with a focus on women and children in our community. It takes a lot to maintain our historic building and still be able to give back to the community. Thank you for clicking the QR code to make a donation to help further our cause.
Since 1890, the Woman’s Club has maintained its mission to promote and support civic improvements; champion the education, and philanthropic needs of our community — especially for women and children; and cultivating the fine arts in Louisville.
OUR COMMUNITY IMPACT
• Developed playgrounds in underserved neighborhoods
• Co-founded the Louisville Deaf Oral School
• Supported educational, artistic, civic, and philanthropic programs
• Helped establish the Louisville Legal Aid and Protective Society
OUR SHARED VISION
Our shared vision is simple - TO CREATE POSITIVE IMPACT through our shared spirit of giving. For generations, our members have transformed compassion into action, creating a legacy that continues to shape Louisville today. NOW our historic clubhouse - which has stood in continuous service to our members and mission requires critical preservation to remain safe, accessible, and functional for the next 100 years of service to us and our community.
Waterfront Botanical Gardens is built from a story of transformation. On land once used as a landfill, the Gardens have taken root as one of Louisville’s most inspiring examples of what vision, generosity, and community partnership can achieve. Today, this growing urban oasis invites visitors to wander, learn, gather, celebrate, and reconnect with the natural world, all in full view of the downtown Louisville skyline.
Every garden path, educational program, and new phase of development reflects a commitment to creating a world-class destination that enriches Louisville’s quality of life. Through botanical excellence, accessible programming, environmental stewardship, and meaningful visitor experiences, Waterfront Botanical Gardens welcomes all to discover beauty, inspiration, and connection.
As the Gardens continue to grow, philanthropy remains the catalyst that turns vision into reality. Generous supporters have helped transform an overlooked landscape into a thriving cultural and environmental asset, making possible new gardens, educational opportunities, community events, and spaces where future generations will create lasting memories. Each gift helps expand access to nature and ensure that this extraordinary place continues to flourish.
Waterfront Botanical Gardens is more than a beautiful destination. It is a living legacy shaped by those who believe in investing in Louisville’s future. Like the Gardens themselves, that legacy continues to grow season after season, inspiring wonder, fostering community, and demonstrating the impact that philanthropy can have when people unite around a shared vision.
Discover more and help the Gardens grow for generations to come at waterfrontgardens.org/support.
There’s No Place Like This Place.
At the YMCA of Greater Louisville, we believe everyone deserves a place to belong, grow, and thrive.
Every day, across our community, the Y is making that belief a reality.
We’re the place where a child discovers the confidence to jump into the pool for the first time, a teen finds a mentor who sees possibilities they haven’t yet imagined, where an older adult finds friendship, purpose, and a reason to keep moving, and a family facing difficult circumstances finds compassion, encouragement, and hope.
The Y is more than a collection of programs and services. It’s a community of people lifting one another up through access, belonging, choices, and opportunity. It’s a promise that no one should be left on the sidelines because of their circumstances. That promise comes to life through generous people like you.
Your support helps open doors for children who need a safe place to learn and play. It creates opportunities for young people to discover their strengths and build brighter futures. It connects neighbors, supports families, and ensures that the life-changing benefits of the Y reach those who need them most.
When you give to the YMCA of Greater Louisville, you’re doing more than supporting an organization. You’re investing in people, strengthening our community, and creating possibilities that extend far beyond our walls.
Because when everyone has the opportunity to thrive, our entire community grows stronger.
Everyone has a place here.
Together, we can make sure the Y is truly For All.
Your Orchestra. Your Community. Your Future.
The Louisville Orchestra is more than a stage and a season of concerts. It’s a vital part of our community, creating extraordinary artistic experiences, inspiring the next generation, and bringing people together across Kentucky.
And your support makes it possible.
Every year, the Louisville Orchestra introduces thousands of students to live music, many for the first time. Our Making MUSIC program reaches approximately 8,000 students, while Friday Field Trips welcomes more than 10,000 young people to experience the excitement of a live orchestra.
Beyond the classroom, we’re breaking down barriers to the arts. Through Once Upon an Orchestra, families enjoy free, interactive performances at local libraries. Music Without Borders brings concerts directly into Louisville neighborhoods, and our In Harmony Commonwealth Tour has reached more than 57,000 Kentuckians through free performances and community experiences.
Your gift creates tangible opportunities. Just $250 can bring a professional musician into a classroom. $500 can provide transportation for students to attend a concert. $1,000 can give an entire elementary school an unforgettable orchestral experience.
Your generosity also sustains exceptional musicians, groundbreaking performances, and bold artistic collaborations that make Louisville a vibrant cultural destination.
When you give to the Louisville Orchestra, you’re not simply supporting concerts. You’re investing in education, accessibility, creativity, and the future of our community.
This is your orchestra. Help us build what’s next. DONATE TODAY
Louisville Visual Art: More Art for More People in More Places
For more than a century, Louisville Visual Art (LVA) has helped shape Louisville’s art scene. Our mission is to contribute to a thriving, creative, and engaged community through youth art education, support for professional and emerging artists, and art in public spaces. Our vision is that everyone in Greater Louisville has the opportunity to engage in or encounter art.
Youth Art Education. Creative thinking is a path to any career, and art education instills it. Through Children’s Fine Art Classes and community outreach, LVA teaches creative problem solving and critical thinking, and connects young people to opportunities in the arts.
Artist Support & Development. LVA hires local artists as instructors, muralists, and program leaders, commissions and purchases their work, and offers exhibition opportunities, helping artists of all career levels build sustainable careers.
Public Art & Community Building. Art supports not just living but thriving. Through murals, permanent installations, and community partnerships, LVA places art in neighborhoods, building belonging and a stronger sense of place.
Our doors are open, and we meet people in their spaces. By reducing financial, linguistic, physical, and geographic barriers, and through neighborhood-based outreach and class locations across the region, LVA works to make art a public good, not a luxury.
Give the gift of art this season. Your donation puts art supplies in a child’s hands, pays a local artist for their work, and brings art to a neighborhood that needs it. Give today at louisvillevisualart.org.
Mission
Twisted Pink is dedicated to providing hope and connection to those impacted by breast cancer, funding bold breakthroughs in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) research, and raising awareness of stage IV disease.
Impact & Story
While traditional pink ribbon campaigns celebrate awareness, Twisted Pink shifts the spotlight toward action and extending lives. Founded in Louisville, Kentucky, by breast cancer survivor Caroline Johnson, the organization addresses a crucial gap: while thousands live with metastatic breast cancer—which currently has no cure— only a fraction of overall breast cancer funding historically goes to stage IV research.
Twisted Pink believes that the pink ribbon no longer fully reflects what all breast cancer patients endure and that meaningful change requires direct investment in life-saving science. To date, the non-profit has funneled over $2 million directly into cutting-edge metastatic breast cancer research initiatives across premier medical institutions. These grants empower top scientists to discover innovative treatments, slow disease progression, and ultimately work toward a cure.
In addition to funding scientific breakthroughs, Twisted Pink supports patients directly through community connections and programs like “Boxes of Hope,” which deliver comfort, encouragement, and trusted resources to individuals undergoing active cancer treatment. By uniting research funding with compassionate patient support, Twisted Pink ensures no one walks their diagnosis alone while actively building a future where stage IV breast cancer becomes a manageable condition rather than a terminal diagnosis.
For more than 35 years, The Healing Place has provided a path to recovery for individuals struggling with substance use disorder. Through a unique peer-driven model, we offer services at no cost to participants, removing financial barriers that often stand between people and the help they need.
Our comprehensive continuum of care includes emergency shelter, detoxification support, residential recovery programming, workforce development, and long-term recovery resources. At The Healing Place, individuals are surrounded by a community that understands their journey because many of our staff and peer mentors have walked the same path themselves.
Every day, men and women come to The Healing Place seeking hope, healing, and a fresh start. Through evidence-based practices, peer support, and a culture of accountability and compassion, participants gain the tools needed to rebuild their lives, reconnect with family, secure employment, and become contributing members of our community.
The Healing Place serves thousands of individuals annually and is committed to breaking the cycle of addiction, homelessness, and despair. Recovery is possible, and every success story begins with someone willing to take the first step.
Your support helps provide life-changing services, safe shelter, recovery resources, and opportunities for productive living. Together, we can empower more individuals to find lasting recovery and build healthier futures for themselves, their families, and our community.
For more than 130 years, Norton Children’s Hospital has served as Kentucky’s only full service, free-standing hospital created “Just for Kids,” treating all families regardless of their ability to pay. Norton Children’s serves over 215,000 children each year from all over our region.
The Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation raises funds exclusively for Norton Children’s Hospital, Norton Children’s Medical Center, and pediatric services at Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital. Funds are raised to support programs, equipment, new technologies, clinical research, child advocacy, and health education for patients, families, medical staff and the community.
The generosity of our community and corporate support plays a vital role in helping Norton Children’s provide innovative care, enhanced facilities, and meaningful programs that benefit patients and families. Reimbursement from insurance may cover the cost of providing care, but it does not cover the purchase of new equipment; hospital upgrades; or services for families, such as art and music therapy and our facility dog program. With your help, we can continue to give everyone the lifesaving care they need and make all members of our community healthier.
For more information, or to make a donation, visit www.HelpNortonChildrens.com.
Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana treats what chemotherapy and radiation can’t – the fear, helplessness and hopelessness that often come with a cancer diagnosis. Since 2007, we’ve offered a place where people can connect with others who understand what they’re going through, find comfort, and regain a sense of control in the face of cancer.
We offer more than 180 programs each month at four locations. All our programs - support groups, educational workshops, healthy lifestyle activities, social events, and special assistance for a rapidly growing number of pediatric families – are free. We encourage members to live their lives with laughter, hope, purpose, and style, even while cancer is a part of it.
As we expand to serve more families living with pediatric cancer, as well as people in Southern Indiana, West Louisville, and throughout Kentucky, community support is more vital than ever. You can make a difference:
Spread the word. Tell your friends, family, and coworkers that Gilda’s Club is here for anyone impacted by cancer. Share our story on social media or invite someone to visit.
Donate. Every dollar helps sustain and grow our free programs. Your generosity ensures emotional and social support remains accessible to all.
Volunteer. From greeting participants and helping with events to sharing special skills, volunteers are the heart of our mission.
Together, we can build a stronger, more compassionate community – one where everyone facing cancer knows they are not alone, where community is stronger than cancer.
Visit us at gck.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
For more than seventy-five years, Boys & Girls Haven has supported youth and families in Kentucky through a multifaceted continuum of care. We are trauma-informed caretakers providing five core services:
RESIDENTIAL FOSTER CARE - Cottage-style housing providing a safe healing environment for foster youth in need of more intensive services.
SUPERVISED INDEPENDENT LIVING - Staffed and supervised apartment-style living assists youth in their transition from foster care to adulthood.
INDEPENDENT LIVING - Our scattered-site Independent Living program allows young adults to pursue education and a career path in an apartment in the community paired with a supportive environment on the journey from foster care to adulthood.
ANIMAL-ASSISTED HEALING - The program utilizes horses, pigs, dogs, and other animals in the healing process for foster youth. Our approach empowers kids to develop practical skills on their healing journey.
HAVEN FAMILY COUNSELING - We address the behavioral and emotional needs of children, adults, and families. We provide intensive therapy and case management, both in home and at our outpatient office.
Our mission is to provide comprehensive services to shelter, heal, and empower youth while offering critical support to individuals and families - and now is the perfect time to give. Thanks to an anonymous donor, every donation to BGH through the end of 2026 will be matched up to $10,000. This special opportunity means your support will go twice as far as BGH provides critical programs and services to our community. Make your donation today, double your impact, and change a child’s life!
Kentucky Opera brings artists, audiences, and stories together through the power of live performance. Each season, the company presents fully staged productions, intimate musical experiences, and community events that welcome longtime opera lovers and the simply curious. Its work extends beyond the theater through education, partnerships, and public programs that bring people together through a shared love of live music. You don’t need opera expertise, just a willingness to be moved, surprised or swept up in a great story.
As Kentucky Opera approaches its 75th anniversary season, community support will help ensure that opera remains a vibrant part of Louisville’s cultural life for generations to come. Attend a performance and bring a friend who has never experienced opera before. Purchase a subscription or single ticket, participate in special events, and follow and share Kentucky Opera’s work through social media and email. Businesses and community organizations can support the company through sponsorships, partnerships, and group ticket opportunities.
Financial contributions are also essential. Ticket revenue covers only part of the cost of producing opera, from engaging singers, musicians, and creative teams to building sets and costumes. Donations of every size help Kentucky Opera create ambitious productions, support artists, expand community engagement, and make the art form accessible to more people.
By attending, giving, sharing and participating, you help Kentucky Opera continue telling powerful stories, creating memorable experiences and contributing to the cultural vitality of Louisville and the region.
The magic may happen onstage, but it takes a community to make it possible.
One in four people in the Greater Louisville region live in poverty. An additional 154,000 people live above the poverty level but still struggle to make ends meet. These are people we see every day: baristas, servers, cooks, delivery drivers, bank tellers, and more.
Imagine working full time and still not having enough. What would you do if you couldn’t afford rent and groceries?
That’s where Metro United Way’s Hardship to Hope effort comes in. We are asking our community to help us lift our neighbors from hardship to hope by raising $75 million by 2030 to ensure all kids and families have what they need.
Our efforts to help families focus on supporting thriving kids, strong households, and an equitable community. We provide academic supports including free school supplies and critical mentorship and scholarships, free childhood development screenings, training and resources for early childhood educators and those helping school-aged youth, free financial coaching and tax preparation services, emergency home repairs, help for first-time homebuyers, thousands of kits containing basic needs essentials like healthy food, cleaning supplies, school supplies, and diapers, and much more. We also tackle issues facing families by advocating for better policies at the local, state, and national levels.
From basic needs support to policy changes to equity-driven strategies, Metro United Way works to create a better community for every person in every neighborhood. Please consider a donation to aid us in these crucial efforts. Learn more about our work and donate today.
Historic Locust Grove serves as a cultural generator that connects authentic experiences across time and place. We preserve and interpret the historic landscape and buildings of Locust Grove, the final home of Louisville’s founder George Rogers Clark, and tell the stories of all the individuals who lived and worked here, both free and enslaved, cultivating a deeper understanding of the present through a richer understanding of the past.
At Locust Grove, we are more than a house — we are a place where community gathers, where stories unfold, and where action meets purpose. Guided by our four pillars — History, Arts, Civics, and Land — we engage with our community via our educational programs, preservation efforts, and cultural experiences which create meaningful connections across generations.
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