Kentucky Foundation for Women
A Kentucky-based feminist foundation that supports artists, activists, and organizations using creative expression to advance social change.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
The Kentucky Foundation for Women is a private, independent 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1985 by Louisville author and philanthropist Sallie Bingham. Its work links feminist expression in the arts with practical social change, supporting artists, activists, and organizations whose projects address barriers affecting women and girls. Rather than operating as a commercial brand, KFW functions as a grantmaker, retreat host, publisher, convener, and supporter of cultural activity. The foundation was created with a $10 million philanthropic gift from Bingham, described in the foundation's reference material as the largest endowment given to a women's fund in the United States at that time. Its stated mission is to promote positive social change by supporting varied feminist expression in the arts. KFW's definition of social change encompasses efforts to reduce discrimination and other structural barriers related to age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical ability, economic condition, and geographic origin, as well as projects intended to influence policies, attitudes, behavior, and broader conditions affecting women. Its principal grantmaking has included two annual programs: Artist Enrichment and Arts Meets Activism. Both are artist-centered and feminist in orientation. Applicants are expected to demonstrate artistic quality, explain their commitment to feminism, and show how their work connects artistic practice with social change. Historical awards ranged from $1,000 to $7,500 per project. Between 1985 and 2005, the foundation awarded 1,298 grants to individuals and organizations totaling $7,140,831, according to the cited encyclopedia material. KFW also operates Hopscotch House, a retreat and gathering property located east of Louisville. Purchased in 1987, the property initially hosted the Wolf Pen Writer's Colony and later expanded to serve women artists, feminist groups, activists, arts organizations, social-service organizations, and groups focused on girls' empowerment. The site provides lodging, shared domestic facilities, a library centered on women's literature and reference materials, and separate studio space available to artists by request. It has hosted a wide variety of creative and social-justice activities, including writing residencies, critique groups, quilting and drumming circles, eco-feminist work, and organizational meetings. The foundation's cultural activity has extended beyond grants and residencies. It supported special projects such as the 1987 National Sculpture Conference: Works by Women in Cincinnati, which recognized older American women sculptors. It also acquired the Hot Flash Fan, a collaborative artwork made by more than 50 artists using needlework, knotting, quilting, and painting to explore experiences associated with menopause. The work was later incorporated into KFW's permanent collection. KFW has additionally contributed to literary culture through publication of The American Voice, a feminist literary journal issued in 50 numbers between 1986 and 1999. Edited by Frederick Smock, the journal presented international writers alongside Kentucky authors and helped develop less-established regional voices. Its contributors included established figures such as Joyce Carol Oates and Isabel Allende as well as Kentucky writers and emerging authors. Two works published in the journal received Pushcart Prizes, according to the cited material. Recognition is another part of the foundation's work. The Sallie Bingham Award, established in 1996, honors individuals and groups whose feminist expression in the arts has contributed substantially to improving the lives of Kentucky women. Historical award materials describe a $500 cash prize, a gold-plated ginkgo pin, and a plaque, with the presentation associated with the foundation's annual KFW Day celebration at Hopscotch House. Overall, KFW is positioned as a regional philanthropic institution at the intersection of feminist art, cultural development, artist support, and community organizing.
History
The Kentucky Foundation for Women was founded in 1985 by Sallie Bingham, a Louisville author and philanthropist. Its creation followed a $10 million gift intended to establish a substantial, independent source of support for women and feminist cultural work. From the beginning, the foundation's purpose combined arts philanthropy with social justice: it sought to support artistic expression that could challenge discrimination, expand public understanding, and improve conditions for women. KFW developed grantmaking around two core annual programs, Artist Enrichment and Arts Meets Activism. The programs were designed for individual artists and organizations whose work was feminist, artistically strong, and connected to social change. Historical grant sizes ranged from $1,000 to $7,500 per project. The foundation's account of social change includes removing societal barriers based on factors such as age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical ability, economic condition, and geographic origin. Between 1985 and 2005, KFW reported awarding 1,298 grants totaling $7,140,831 to individuals and organizations. In 1987, KFW purchased Hopscotch House, a Kentucky farmstead approximately 13 miles east of downtown Louisville. The site initially served the Wolf Pen Writer's Colony. During the early 1990s, its use broadened to include women artists and women's groups. It subsequently hosted writers, visual artists, activists, feminist and eco-feminist groups, art critics, quilting and drumming circles, girls' empowerment initiatives, arts organizations, and social-service groups. The house includes bedrooms, a library of women's literature and reference works, shared living and dining areas, a kitchen, outdoor space, and separate studio facilities that can be made available to artists. The foundation also supported individual cultural projects and maintained a collection. In 1987 it provided financial assistance for the National Sculpture Conference: Works by Women in Cincinnati, an event honoring American women sculptors. KFW later acquired the Hot Flash Fan, a collaborative work involving more than 50 artists and combining textile and painted techniques to explore feelings associated with menopause. The project was coordinated by Ann Stewart Anderson, Ada O'Connor, and Judith Myers, with Judy Chicago serving as facilitator, according to the cited reference material. Publishing became another important part of KFW's cultural role. The foundation published The American Voice from 1986 through 1999. The journal appeared in 50 issues and featured international and Kentucky writers, including both established authors and emerging regional voices. Its contributors included Joyce Carol Oates, Isabel Allende, Reynolds Price, Wendell Berry, James Still, Sena Jeter Naslund, Aleda Shirley, Barbara Kingsolver, Naomi Wallace, and George Ella Lyon. Two stories published in the journal received Pushcart Prizes. In 1996, KFW established the Sallie Bingham Award. The award recognizes individuals and groups whose feminist expression in the arts has contributed to improving the lives of Kentucky women. Historical descriptions identify a $500 cash award, a gold-plated ginkgo pin, and a plaque, presented in connection with the annual KFW Day gathering at Hopscotch House. Through these activities, the foundation developed an institutional model broader than conventional grantmaking. It funded projects, provided physical space, published literature, preserved collaborative art, recognized community contributions, and created connections among artists and activists. Its documented work is primarily Kentucky-focused, although its publishing and artistic relationships have included national and international participants. The available reference material does not provide a detailed account of current leadership, current grant amounts, or the foundation's present operating scale.
- 2005
Twenty-year anniversary documented
[2]A contemporary feature reviewed KFW's first two decades of feminist arts philanthropy and activism support.
- 1996
Sallie Bingham Award established
[1]KFW introduced an annual recognition for feminist artistic and community contributions benefiting Kentucky women.
- 1990
Hopscotch House expands its audience
[1]During the early 1990s, the retreat property became available to a wider range of women artists and women's organizations.
- 1987
Hopscotch House acquired
[1]KFW purchased Hopscotch House east of Louisville, creating a retreat and meeting site for artists, activists, and organizations.
- 1987
Support for National Sculpture Conference: Works by Women
[1]The foundation provided financial support for a Cincinnati conference honoring American women sculptors.
- 1986
The American Voice begins publication
[1]KFW began publishing the feminist literary journal The American Voice, which later reached 50 issues and featured international, national, and Kentucky writers.
- 1985
Foundation established
[1]Sallie Bingham founded the Kentucky Foundation for Women with a $10 million philanthropic gift and a mission centered on feminist expression in the arts and positive social change.
Products and positioning
A regional feminist philanthropy and arts-support organization that uses grants, retreats, publishing, awards, and alliances to connect creative practice with social justice for women and girls.
Grant program
Artist Enrichment
An artist-centered grant program supporting feminist creative work. Historical descriptions indicate that applicants were expected to demonstrate high artistic quality and articulate a connection between feminist practice and social change. Awards historically ranged from $1,000 to $7,500 per project.
Grant program
Arts Meets Activism
A grant program for projects that connect artistic activity with activism and community change. Applicants were expected to explain their feminist commitments and the relationship between their creative work and efforts to improve conditions for women.
Artist retreat and convening facility · 1987
Hopscotch House
A retreat property east of Louisville providing lodging, shared facilities, a women's literature library, and studio space. It has hosted women artists, writers, activists, feminist groups, arts organizations, social-service organizations, and girls' empowerment groups.
Literary journal · 1986
The American Voice
A feminist literary journal published by KFW from 1986 to 1999. Across 50 issues, it presented established and emerging writers from Kentucky, the United States, and other countries, and two published stories received Pushcart Prizes.
Arts and social-change award · 1996
Sallie Bingham Award
An award recognizing individuals and groups whose feminist expression in the arts has made an outstanding contribution to changing the lives of Kentucky women. Historical descriptions include a cash prize, a ginkgo pin, and a plaque.
Brand decisions
1996
Create an annual feminist arts recognition programOtherBackground
The foundation sought to recognize artistic and community contributions that advanced the lives of women in Kentucky.
Action taken
KFW established the Sallie Bingham Award, associated with its annual KFW Day celebration.
Aftermath
Recipients were historically given a $500 cash award, a gold-plated ginkgo pin, and a plaque.
Historical award amount. $500 (Award established in 1996; historical description)
1987
Acquire a dedicated retreat and convening siteStrategyBackground
The foundation sought to provide artists and women's organizations with time, space, and community infrastructure in addition to financial grants.
Action taken
KFW purchased Hopscotch House east of Louisville and developed it as a retreat center, initially for writers and later for a broad range of artists, activists, and organizations.
Aftermath
The property became a recurring venue for artistic residencies, feminist organizing, social-justice work, and community gatherings.
1986
Launch a feminist literary journalStrategyBackground
KFW expanded its support for feminist expression beyond direct grants by creating a publishing platform for established and emerging writers.
Action taken
The foundation began publishing The American Voice, a journal that continued through 1999.
Aftermath
The journal published 50 issues, supported Kentucky and international writers, and included work that later received Pushcart Prizes.
Recent events
- 2005
KFW marks two decades of feminist arts philanthropy[2]
Other
A feature marking the foundation's twentieth anniversary described its grantmaking and broader role in supporting feminist artists and activists.
- 1996
Sallie Bingham Award is introduced[1]
Other
The foundation created an award recognizing people and groups whose feminist artistic expression had made an outstanding contribution to the lives of Kentucky women.
- 1987
Hopscotch House becomes a foundation retreat property[1]
Other
The foundation purchased Hopscotch House east of Louisville. It was first used by the Wolf Pen Writer's Colony and later opened to a broader range of women artists, activists, and community organizations.
- 1986
The American Voice publishes feminist and regional literature[1]
Campaign
KFW published the literary journal The American Voice, which ran for 50 issues through 1999 and combined international, nationally recognized, and Kentucky-based writers.
- 1985
Kentucky Foundation for Women is established with a major endowment[1]
Other
Sallie Bingham established the foundation with a $10 million philanthropic gift, creating an independent institution focused on feminist expression in the arts and positive social change.
Sources3 sources
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