Brightside Foundation Inc

Donor-funded and volunteer driven… for a more beautiful Louisville.

LOUISVILLE, KY   |  www.brightsidefoundation.com

Mission

Brightside Foundation works hand-in-hand with Brightside, Inc. to solicit and oversee privately-raised funds in support of the environmentally focused activities of Brightside Inc. Through its fiduciary role, the Foundation ensures that donated funds are used as the donor intended.

Ruling year info

2014

Foundation Director

Michelle Black White

Main address

PO BOX 70362

LOUISVILLE, KY 40270 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

45-0948896

NTEE code info

Environmental Beautification (C50)

Pollution Abatement and Control Services (C20)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

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

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

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.

Population(s) Served

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.

Population(s) Served

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

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

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

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.

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.

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

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

Brightside Foundation Inc
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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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

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Brightside Foundation Inc

Board of directors
as of 1/20/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

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

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • 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

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 11/20/2020

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
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 11/20/2020

GuideStar 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

Data
  • 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.
Policies and processes
  • 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.