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Pathways to Prosperity is Park Community Credit Union Foundation’s annual competitive grant opportunity for nonprofits in Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Since launching in 2023, the program has awarded $272,960 to 25 organizations, supporting projects that align with Park Community Foundation's three core impact areas: education, financial wellbeing, and thriving communities.
The story:
Demonstrating its deep commitment to community impact, the Park Community Credit Union Foundation has awarded $97,960 in grants to 10 nonprofit organizations through its annual Pathways to Prosperity program.
While the financial investment is significant, Park Community Foundation emphasizes that its commitment goes far beyond writing a check. Park Community Credit Union employees actively volunteer with grantees throughout the year and provide free financial education seminars to the communities those nonprofits serve.
A Trust-Based Philanthropy Model
At the heart of Pathways to Prosperity is a trust-based philanthropy approach, designed to shift traditional power dynamics between funders and nonprofits.
Park Community Foundation recognizes that nonprofit leaders are closest to community challenges and best positioned to determine how resources should be used. To support that philosophy, the application process is intentionally streamlined, reducing administrative burden and making funding more accessible.
In Kentucky, 74% of the nonprofits have an annual budget of less than $500,000. Many of these grassroots organizations are deeply embedded in their communities but lack the capacity for lengthy grant applications and complex reporting requirements.
Grant applications are reviewed and scored by a committee of Park employees and members before finalists are recommended to Park Community Foundation's board for approval — a process that also strengthens internal engagement with the Foundation’s mission.
According to Shannon Kisselbaugh, Executive Director of Park Community Credit Union Foundation:
“When we choose to lead with trust, we empower our nonprofit partners to focus on what they do best: creating opportunities for individuals and families to thrive. At Park Community Credit Union Foundation, we believe the most meaningful impact happens when philanthropy is fueled by authentic relationships, respect, and a shared commitment to building a more vibrant community.”
The 2025 Pathways to Prosperity grant recipients are:
Berea College Brushy Fork Leadership Institute - The Pathways to Leadership Program is a six-month leadership development program empowering individuals who have faced significant hardships.
Black Birth Justice - The Healthy Beginnings Connect Us program supports families through health services, doula and midwife care, cohort-based education, and essential infant care resources.
I Would Rather Be Reading - The Educate and Elevate: Building Academic & Financial Futures program fosters academic and personal growth by teaching financial literacy to students and families in South Louisville.
Jubilee Jobs of Lexington - The Skills Lab project provides job seekers with access to digital tools, personalized coaching, and career-building resources.
Louisville Outreach for the Unsheltered - The 1801 Resource Center in the Portland neighborhood provides hygiene access, care management, and essential services for individuals experiencing housing insecurity.
My Redemption Incorporated - The Money Moves: Building Financial Futures program is a 12-week trauma-informed program that equips underserved youth with essential financial literacy skills.
New Opportunity School for Women - An immersive residential and online program that empowers women to build confidence, develop job and life skills, and access education and employment opportunities.
Seedleaf - The Growing Green Futures: Workforce and Financial Empowerment Through Urban Agriculture program focuses on workforce development, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and economic equity.
Somali Community of Louisville - The Future Ready program provides workshops for Somali and other African youth in personal finance and career and college readiness.
Weathering Storms - The Empowering Families through Mental Health and Financial Wellness Program provides workshops to support the mental health and financial stability of underserved individuals and families.
People Helping People in Action
Through Pathways to Prosperity, the Park Community Credit Union Foundation continues to bring the credit union philosophy of people helping people to life. By pairing strategic grantmaking with volunteerism, transparency, and trust-based practices, Park Community Foundation is not only funding impact — it is helping build stronger nonprofit partners and more vibrant communities across Kentucky and Southern Indiana.
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