Woodland Farm Foundation Inc.

Woodland Farm Foundation Inc. is a tightly held family private foundation established in December 2018, headquartered at 2894 Highway 1611, Russell Springs, Kentucky — the seat of Russell County. The governing board is composed entirely of members of the Adams and Costa family network: President John Adams, Vice President Cheryl Palonis Adams, Treasurer Alicia Joy Fletcher, Secretary Jessica Miller Costa, and Directors Cate Palonis Adams and Andrew Charles Costa. None of the officers draw compensation, reflecting the foundation’s character as a personal philanthropic expression rather than an institutionalized grant program.

The foundation’s primary stated mission — delivering the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to Russell County children — defines its anchor commitment: free monthly books to children ages 0–5, building early literacy in a rural Kentucky county. Its formal program statement cites promotion of agriculture education through 4-H, FFA, and the College of Agriculture. In practice, giving has expanded to include arts education, library programming, school enrichment, scholarship support, and scientific infrastructure, all concentrated within Russell County and immediately adjacent communities.

The single most critical fact for any grant seeker: this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. IRS 990 disclosures formally document that contributions are made only to preselected charitable organizations. There is no published RFP, no open grant cycle, and no online application portal. Organizations cannot self-nominate; they must be invited.

The relationship pathway runs through authentic community presence in Russell County. The Adams family appears deeply embedded in local civic and agricultural life. Existing grantees — the Russell County Public Library, Artworks Community Arts Education Center, Friends of RCPL, Western Kentucky University agriculture programs, and the National Hay Association — represent the most likely referral channels into the foundation’s network. A warm introduction from a trusted community figure carries far more weight than any formal pitch.

The 2024 addition of two paid employees — Brian Young ($82,542) and Mason Stogsdill ($67,500) — represents the foundation’s first compensated staff after six years of all-volunteer governance, signaling a possible shift toward more structured operations. Organizations seeking to enter this funder’s universe should prioritize sustained community impact in Russell County, documented youth outcomes, and patient relationship cultivation over any short-term application strategy.

Woodland Farm Foundation Inc. has distributed charitable funds in every year since its founding in 2018, with annual total giving (encompassing both external grants paid to third parties and direct charitable activities) as follows:

• FY2019: $18,780 total giving ($5,200 in grants paid to external organizations)
• FY2020: $142,497 total giving ($124,300 in grants paid)
• FY2021: $161,763 total giving ($139,054 in grants paid)
• FY2022: $171,099 total giving ($144,760 in grants paid)
• FY2023: $129,080 total giving ($26,557 in grants paid)
• FY2024 (estimated from third-party database records): approximately $1.05–$1.1M in total charitable disbursements

The FY2022 fiscal year marked a defining inflection point: a single $20,041,703 contribution expanded total assets from approximately $3.25M to $22.76M — a sevenfold increase. Net investment income has since become the dominant revenue driver, reaching $843,199 in FY2023. Current total assets stand at $25.4M, reflecting continued investment accumulation.

Analysis of the foundation’s documented grantee record yields a median single-year grant of approximately $33,130, an average of $36,190, and per-grant amounts ranging from $1,557 (meteorological equipment for KY Mesonet WKU) to $179,000 cumulative across three awards to the Russell County Public Library. In FY2024, the largest single grant reached $267,000 — roughly 60% above the prior per-grantee cumulative record.

By program area (cumulative external grants through FY2023 from filed 990s): - Childhood literacy / Dolly Parton Imagination Library: approximately 40% of external grant dollars - Arts education (Artworks Community Arts Education Center): approximately 28% - Library support (Friends of RCPL): approximately 25% - Agriculture education and scholarships (WKU, National Hay Association): approximately 4% - Sports, weather infrastructure, COVID relief, and miscellaneous: approximately 3%

Geographic concentration is extreme: 13 of 15 documented external grants (87%) went to Kentucky organizations, all serving Russell County or adjacent Pulaski County. The remaining 2 grants (13%) went to Ohio-based recipients. A typical grantee receives 1–3 grants across multiple years, suggesting the foundation values ongoing relationships over one-time awards.

Woodland Farm Foundation Inc. holds the largest asset base among its identified peer set of similarly classified private foundations in the agricultural and Human Services category:

With $25.4M in total assets, Woodland Farm Foundation leads its peer cohort by approximately 6% over the next closest foundation (Zoology Foundation at Crooked Willow Farms at $23.9M) and by nearly 2.6x over the median peer asset size of $9.8M. Despite this asset advantage, the foundation’s historical annual giving represented less than 1% of assets in FY2019–2023 — well below the IRS-mandated 5% minimum distribution requirement. FY2024 data suggests a significant correction, with estimated distributions of ~$1.1M representing roughly 4.3% of assets.

None of the peer foundations publish websites or open application portals, indicating that the private, invitation-only grantmaking model is the norm rather than the exception in this rural family foundation category. Organizations pursuing any peer in this cohort should approach relationship cultivation as the primary strategy.

No press releases, news coverage, or official announcements were found for Woodland Farm Foundation Inc. in 2025 or 2026 through searches across ProPublica, CauseIQ, Grantmakers.io, Charity Navigator, Instrumentl, and general news databases. The foundation maintains a minimal public presence consistent with its family governance structure and invitation-only grantmaking model.

The most significant development on record is the FY2022 receipt of a $20,041,703 single contribution — the largest in the foundation’s history — which grew total assets from $3.25M to $22.76M. By FY2023, assets had reached $24.2M, and current filings show $25.4M, reflecting ongoing investment income accumulation of $843,199 net in FY2023.

Third-party database records for FY2024 document a dramatic acceleration in giving: total charitable disbursements of approximately $1.05–$1.1M, compared to $129,080 in FY2023. Major FY2024 recipients include the Russell County Public Library ($267,000 for Dolly Parton Imagination Library programming reaching 900+ children), Russell County Schools ($93,000+ for science camps, marching band equipment, and playground infrastructure), and Artworks Community Arts Education Center ($61,000+ for arts education expansion serving 160+ youth in Russell County.

The most notable structural change is the addition of two paid employees, Brian Young ($82,542 annual compensation) and Mason Stogsdill ($67,500), appearing for the first time in FY2024 filings. This represents the foundation’s first compensated staff after six years of all-volunteer governance. Whether this signals a move toward a more systematic or open grantmaking model in 2025–2026 is not yet confirmed, but the operational investment is notable.

Critical context for all grant seekers: Woodland Farm Foundation Inc. formally documents in its IRS 990 disclosures that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. This is not a temporary policy or informal preference — it is the foundation’s standing practice. The following guidance is for organizations seeking to position themselves for a future invitation, not for submitting materials today.

Establish authentic Russell County roots first. Every documented grantee serves Russell County, KY or immediately adjacent communities. No out-of-geography or urban organization appears in the grantee record. Physical presence, community credibility, and local partnerships in Russell County are prerequisites to any funding relationship — not just nice-to-haves.

Align explicitly with three fundable priorities. The foundation’s grant record reveals three durable themes: (1) early childhood literacy, particularly programming for ages 0–5 aligned with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library model; (2) youth arts education providing access to underserved students in Russell County; and (3) agriculture education through structured programs such as 4-H, FFA, WKU extension, or National Hay Association scholarships. Organizations outside these lanes have minimal funding precedent.

Build relationships through existing grantees. The Russell County Public Library, Artworks Community Arts Education Center, Friends of RCPL, Western Kentucky University agriculture programs, and the National Hay Association are the documented community partners operating within the foundation’s orbit. Collaborative programming, board cross-pollination, or co-sponsorship with these organizations builds credibility inside the Adams-Costa network.

Document measurable community impact. Funded programs cite specific reach metrics — 900+ children through the Imagination Library, 160+ youth through Artworks. Prepare outcome data demonstrating comparable community penetration in Russell County before any relationship conversation. Anecdotal narratives will not differentiate your organization in a close-knit community network.

Plan for a 12–36 month cultivation window. With no formal review cycle, no application portal, and family-driven decision-making, the path from initial relationship to a first grant typically requires years of demonstrated commitment. Operational longevity and consistent local presence are more persuasive than any single materials package.

Do not cold-approach via phone or mail. The foundation’s contact phone (270-866-5525) is on public record, but unsolicited solicitation calls risk permanently closing doors in a small community where reputations are well-known.