Brightside Foundation Inc
Donor-funded and volunteer driven… for a more beautiful Louisville.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Brightside Foundation and Brightside, Inc. function together as a public/private partnership, merging the resources of Metro Government and those of private citizens, corporations and foundations. This unique public-private partnership contributes to the health and beauty of our community throughout Louisville and Jefferson County, Kentucky through activities including community-wide cleanups to reduce waste and litter and encourage recycling; the creation and maintenance of green spaces and plantings; sustainability efforts to conserve and expand the tree canopy; educational programs that instill values of clean, green and sustainability among our youngest citizens; and high-profile events that raise public awareness and help support Brightside’s mission.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Brown-Forman Legacy Tree Program
Brown-Forman was one of Brightside’s first partners in 1986 and continues to be a community leader committed to environmental stewardship and philanthropy with the Brown-Forman Legacy Tree Program. The program has focused on the neighborhoods surrounding Brown-Forman’s corporate campus including the California, Russell, and other West Louisville neighborhoods.
BrightSite Program
Our mini botanical gardens are located across the metro area. Studies show that green oases, such as these, build civic pride and inspire neighbors to keep the area looking its best. Project BrightSite was started in 1987 with the purpose of taking small parcels of city-owned property and partnering with businesses or other agencies to donate plant material and maintain the newly-landscaped area. That tradition continues today.
Where we work
External reviews

Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Total pounds of debris collected
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Decreasing
Context Notes
While the pandemic limited our ability to engage large groups of volunteers, we were able to engage smaller groups and individuals to collect over 61 tons of litter.
Number of trees planted
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Brown-Forman Legacy Tree Program
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
While we are not back to our pre-pandemic numbers, we planted more trees in 2021 and plan to continue our growth trend in 2022.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Brightside, Inc. is dedicated to uniting people in clean and green activities that beautify and foster pride in our community through volunteerism, planting, sustainability, & education.
Brightside promotes sustainability through long-standing education programs that spread our mission to future generations and prepare for a brighter tomorrow, while our green living program advocates and educates about everyday sustainable living practices. Our BrightSites and planting projects strengthen and support our native ecosystem and tree canopy, while encouraging community involvement, pride in place, and economic development. You can view the community impact of Brightside’s activities on the interactive One Bright City map.
Because our programs are run entirely on privately donated dollars, any donation to the Brightside Foundation is an investment in our community.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Engaging socially responsible businesses, community organizations, and individuals partner with us to sponsor large-scale tree plantings, neighborhood cleanup days, and our educational programming along with creating new opportunities for beautification throughout Louisville and Jefferson County.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Brightside had a long history of beautification efforts and has successfully:
- planted over 7,500 canopy trees
- planted over 2 million daffodil and wildflower bulbs
- worked with corporate sponsors and local government officials to BrightSites throughout the community
- collected over 375,000 tons of trash
- made over 3,800 school presentations reaching close to 90,000 students
- engaged over 31,000 community volunteers in 2019
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Brightside had a long history of beautification efforts and has successfully:
- planted over 7,200 canopy trees
- planted over 2 million daffodil and wildflower bulbs
- worked with corporate sponsors and local government officials to BrightSites throughout the community
- collected over 375,000 tons of trash
- made over 3,800 school presentations reaching close to 90,000 students
- engaged over 31,000 community volunteers in 2019
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Brightside Foundation Inc
Board of directorsas of 1/20/2022
Cynthia Knapek
Leadership Louisville Center
Term: 2018 -
Pat Stallard
Stites & Harbison
Jennifer McGill
Papa John's Pizza
Mike Hext
Waste Management
Jason Larkin
Messer Construction Co.
Gina O'Brien
JCTC
Roy Potts
Chandrika Srinivasan
Hance & Srinivasan
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 11/20/2020GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.