The Felix E. Martin Jr. Foundation offers a Community Grants Program aimed at supporting nonprofit initiatives that benefit the residents of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. The foundation's focus areas include economic development, youth services, substance abuse services, and health/human services. Grants are awarded to support civic, educational, or cultural projects aligned with these priorities. The foundation emphasizes projects with a direct, positive impact on the local community and encourages partnerships with local organizations.

Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) public charities in good standing or projects fiscally sponsored by one, as well as churches, public schools or school districts, and units of government serving Muhlenberg County. However, grants will not be awarded to individuals, faith-based organizations for religious purposes, or governmental units that are seeking to replace public funding responsibilities. Additionally, organizations must uphold anti-discrimination policies regarding race, religion, gender identity, and other protected categories.

To apply, organizations must first contact the Foundation at 270-977-9194 to discuss their project. Following this preliminary conversation, applicants may be invited to complete the Community Grants application. Applications can be submitted via email to FelixMartin@cflouisville.org or by mailing them to the Foundation’s office at 325 W. Main Street, Suite 1110, Louisville, KY 40202.

Grant amounts vary, but requests exceeding $20,000 will likely be reviewed outside the scope of the Community Grants Program and may require a longer approval process. The application must include detailed components such as a project summary, organizational overview, project execution plan, budget, secured funding sources, tax exemption verification, and any supplementary documentation.

The Foundation accepts applications year-round and reviews them quarterly. The deadlines for fiscal year 2025–2026 are July 14, 2025; October 20, 2025; January 20, 2026; and April 27, 2026. All awards will be finalized by June 30, 2026. Grant recipients are required to sign a formal agreement, provide project updates, and submit a final report detailing expenditures and outcomes. Site visits may also occur as part of the follow-up.

Questions can be directed to Meredith Zahirovic, Director of Grants, at 270-977-9194 or meredithz@cflouisville.org. Further information and application materials are available on the Foundation’s website at www.FelixMartinFoundation.org.