WHAS Crusade for Children Grants

Grant Requirements

WHAS Crusade for Children grants are made to non-profit agencies, schools and hospitals that help children with special needs up to age 18. The term “special needs” is defined as physical, mental, emotional and medical needs.

Grants are for direct services only.
No grants are made to individuals or families.
Grants are made for specific programs or equipment that provide direct benefit to special needs children and are not general operating grants.
No grants are made for administrative needs.
Agencies serving special needs children from Kentucky and southern Indiana are eligible to receive grants. The Crusade must have financial support from a county before grants can be made to a school, hospital or agency located in that county. Consideration is given to facilities that serve children from many counties.

Application Process & Timeline

Applications for FY 2022-23 will open on October 7, 2021 and close on January 7, 2022 at 5:00 p.m., EST.
New Applicants: Access to online Grant Applications is by invitation only. To request an invitation, a non-profit agency, school or hospital should send an email or letter (email or letterhead should be sent/signed by the agency director or school superintendent) to the WHAS Crusade for Children at the address listed below.
Former Grant Recipients: All agencies that received a grant this year are notified about applying for next year.
Winter/Spring: Agencies that qualify are scheduled for a grant hearing with the Crusade Advisory Panel (listed below). Every agency requesting funds must meet with the panel to explain their grant needs and to answer questions.
June: Final grant determinations are made after Crusade Weekend.
July 1st (or earlier): Emails notifying agencies of grant awards sent
Sept. 1 – Aug. 31: Grant funds are expendable.

WHAS Crusade for Children
Grant Application
520 W. Chestnut St.
Louisville, KY 40202

You can also send an email:
Janene Hickerson
Grants Manager
To e-mail Janene, click here

Application support material
Applicants must provide the following support materials with their grant application:

Current IRS 990
Current independent audit
Current board member list
IRS determination letter
Current annual report

For additional questions about the WHAS Crusade for Children grant process, please call Grants Manager Janene Hickerson at (502) 582-7522 or send an email by clicking here.

2021 WHAS Crusade for Children Grants

2020 WHAS Crusade for Children Grants

2019 WHAS Crusade for Children Grants

2018 WHAS Crusade for Children Grants

2017 WHAS Crusade for Children Grants

2016 WHAS Crusade for Children Grants

Advisory Panel

Every year there are more grant applications than available funds. The WHAS Crusade for Children Advisory Panel must determine the best use of the donated funds to serve the largest number of children with special needs. The panel consists of interdenominational clergy who give many hours of their time to the grant process. Many of the clergy appear on the weekly television/radio program Moral Side of the News.

The current panel members are:

Rev. Harriett Akins-Banman
Centenary United Methodist Church
New Albany, Indiana

Dr. Charles Burton
Second Baptist Church
Taylorsville, Kentucky

Rev. Clay Calloway
West Louisville Ministers Coalition
Louisville, Kentucky

Rev. Jason Crosby
Crescent Hill Baptist Church
Louisville, Kentucky

Dr. Greg Earwood
Retired – Baptist Seminary of Kentucky
Georgetown, Kentucky

Fr. Joe Graffis, Chair
Archdiocese of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky

Rev. Dr. Kilen Gray
Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Louisville, Kentucky

Rev. David Harkleroad
South Point Church
New Albany, Indiana

Rev. Sally McClain
Retired – Edenside Christian Church
Louisville, Kentucky

Rabbi Stanley Miles
Louisville Melton School
Louisville, Kentucky

Rabbi Emerita Gaylia Rooks
The Temple
Louisville, Kentucky