BGCF365 Members Award $30,000 to Local Nonprofits Addressing Housing and Homelessness in Lexington

Members of BGCF365, a giving circle at Blue Grass Community Foundation, awarded $30,000 in grants to three Lexington nonprofits at The Finals, BGCF365’s annual grantmaking event held May 7 at The Melodeon.

Focused on the 2025 grant theme Home Base: Housing Stability and Homelessness Solutions, the event highlighted local efforts to address the growing challenges of housing insecurity in Lexington.

After hearing presentations from three nonprofit finalists, BGCF365 members voted to award the following grants:

First Place ($15,000): Gleanings Housing
Gleanings Housing works to transform vacant or blighted houses into stable homes for low-income families, revitalizing neighborhoods and creating long-term housing solutions one home at a time. Funds from BGCF365 will go toward the cost of framing a new duplex on Florence Avenue, a project that will provide stable, affordable housing for two local families.

Second Place ($10,000): Arbor Youth Services
Arbor Youth is Lexington’s only emergency shelter for unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness, providing safe shelter, transitional housing and comprehensive support for young people ages 18–24. BGCF365 funds will support Arbor Youth’s Rapid Rehousing program, which helps youth with past evictions and utility arrears with housing, financial aid, and intensive case management to help them regain stability, overcome barriers and prevent future homelessness.

Third Place ($5,000): Children’s Law Center
Children’s Law Center advocates for the legal rights of Kentucky children so they can grow up safe and healthy. With BGCF365 funding, CLC will provide direct legal services, legal clinics and community education targeting Fayette County students and their families at risk of homelessness, providing legal representation and education that will empower them to advocate for themselves long after the grant period ends.

“This event is proof of what’s possible when people come together to learn about community needs and take action,” said Lauren Parsons, director of strategic initiatives and communications at Blue Grass Community Foundation. “By pooling small gifts of just a dollar a day, BGCF365 members are making a big impact on critical local issues and making Lexington a better place to live, work and play.”

Since launching in 2017 with an endowed gift from Donna and the late John Hall, BGCF365 has awarded $210,000 to local nonprofits working to improve quality of life in Lexington. The BGCF365 endowment has now grown to more than $600,000, ensuring ongoing impact for years to come.

BGCF365 membership is open to anyone who wants to make a difference by giving $365 a year—just $1 a day. Members participate in hands-on grantmaking, networking events and educational opportunities throughout the year.

Learn more or join today at www.bgcf.org/BGCF365.