Endow Kentucky Tax Credit

Did you know?

By making a gift to a new or existing permanent endowment fund at the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, you may qualify for a state tax credit in addition to your Federal tax  deduction. This is a tax-wise way to create a lasting legacy and support Kentucky charities, counties or communities forever.

How It Works

• Apply for the tax credit through the Kentucky Department of Revenue. The application and details are available below. (Or, send us your application by June 30, and we’ll apply on your behalf and walk you through the process.)
• Make a gift to a qualified endowment fund at the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky. A complete list of endowed funds is available below.
• Receive a tax credit after your gift is confirmed—up to the amount approved in your application.
  • Example:  A gift of $1,000 can reduce your state tax bill by $200.

Why Give?

Your donation supports local, permanent endowment funds that fuel long-term solutions in our region—whether in education, regional leadership, economic development, or community resilience. With your support, we invest in Appalachian Kentucky’s future for generations to come.

Application Instructions

• Sections A-D
  • Enter your demographic information.
• Section E
  • The application date should be on or after July 1.
• Section F
  • Enter the amount of your intended gift to an endowed fund (maximum gift permitted is $50,000).
• Section G
  • The amount entered here is equal to 20% of the amount of the intended endowment gift (Ex. If your intended gift is $5,000, enter $1,000 here.)
• Section H-I
  • The Foundation has pre-filled this section for your convenience.
• Section J
  • Enter the name of the endowment fund that your intended gift will support. Print and sign your name below this section.
• Starting July 1, applications for the Kentucky Department of Revenue are open for submission. Through June 30, you have the option to send your completed application to Brenna Wallhausser at brenna@appalachianky.org to be submitted on your behalf. We strongly encourage that you send your application prior to June 23 if possible, but June 30 is the official cut-off date. You can also submit the completed and signed form starting July 1 directly to DORTaxCredits@ky.gov.

Application Link

Click the button below to find this year’s Endow KY application.

Application timeline

Applications for the 2025 cycle open July 1, and credits are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until the $1 million cap is reached—often within days. If you’re interested, we strongly encourage you to prepare now.

We would be honored to assist you in taking advantage of this opportunity. Our CEO, Kristin, is chair of the Endow Kentucky Commission and loves to help the Foundation’s donors leverage this benefit. Our whole team is available to guide you through the process.

Approval timeline

Approval notifications are typically sent from the Kentucky Department of Revenue within three weeks after July 1.

donation information

To qualify for the tax credit under the Endow Kentucky program, there is no minimum contribution required, but the maximum allowable contribution is $50,000. It is crucial not to send your gift with your application; instead, wait for approval first. Once approved, your Endow Kentucky gift must be made within 30 days. Send your donation check to the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, specifying the endowment fund in the memo line. Contributions can be made using various assets like publicly traded securities, life insurance policies, IRA qualified charitable distributions, and real estate. While you can donate to multiple endowment funds, the tax credit is capped at $50,000.

Eligible endowment funds can be found by clicking the button below.