THE GINKGO FOUNDATION... is a nonprofit advancing environmental stewardship and community enrichment through programs inspired by the Ginkgo tree’s resilience and longevity across generations. The Foundation supports public initiatives including events, education, and arts.

Ginkgo Galore™ operates under The Ginkgo Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit in KY. EIN: 41-3612882.

THE GINKGO FOUNDATION (TGF) was organized informally in November of 2026 as an "umbrella" fiscal agent for a number of existing (or forming) nonprofit startups. One of those startup programs was the GINKGO GALORE Arts + Music Festival (slated for Oct 24, 2026).

On January 14, 2026, TGF received its IRS EIN and on January 21, 2026 TGF registered its KY ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION. In mid-spring, THG partnered with the Lexington Arts League to produce a juried cash prize art "Gallery Ginkgo" contest and juried artisan vendor tent program within the wider GINKGO GALORE festival.

A related startup program within TGF is THE GRAND GINKGO awareness campaign to recognize, protect, and celebrate the historic (and forgotten) ginkgo tree. THE GRAND GINKGO is 14' in circumference; 95 feet tall; and dates to the mid 19th century. According to David Leonard, tree arborist and ginkgo historian, it represents one of the top 3 examples in the state. Truly historic.

THE GRAND GINKGO is located on acreage slated for residential/commercial development. Located at 4145 HARRODSBURG RD (Fayette County) the acreage is presently ZONED R-1D AND R-1T PER THE CONDITION ZONING AMENDMENT #2007-12 CZ.

THE GRAND GINKGO campaign has benefited from a Lexington-Fayette Urban Development Board Grant to raise awareness of the threatened Kentucy treasure. Part of this will involve neighborhood organization, a petition drive, and other community outreach efforts. An added program (proposed here) is a focused art competition and mini-event series to celebrate the tree and others like it in the region.

Initial dialogue is also underway with THE BLUEGRASS TRUST to designate the tree (and other historic examples like it) as protected--with the same status as a historic home.

• Cultural/Multi-Arts
• Public Art

The SAVE THE GRAND GINKGO AWARENESS THROUGH ART campaign is a public awareness, arts, and placemaking initiative designed to introduce one of Kentucky's most extraordinary surviving landmarks to a wider audience while building community support for its long-term preservation.

THE GINKGO FOUNDATION, INC (TGF) requests $15,000 to support the SAVE THE GRAND GINKGO AWARENESS THROUGH ART campaign.

The campaign centers on The Grand Ginkgo, located at 4145 Harrodsburg Road in Lexington, Kentucky. Standing in excess of 95 feet tall with a 14-foot circumference, the tree is believed to be among the top 3 oldest and largest ginkgo trees in Kentucky.

Rather than simply asking people to save a tree, the campaign invites the public to celebrate and experience it through art, storytelling, education, and community engagement.

The project will launch with a professionally coordinated awareness campaign featuring signage, photography, video storytelling, public relations, social media, and a dedicated website highlighting the tree's history, significance, and preservation vision.

A regional Call to Art will invite artists to create original works inspired by The Grand Ginkgo and its themes of resilience, beauty, memory, and hope. Selected works will be featured in a public exhibition accompanied by artist talks and educational programming.

Throughout the campaign, a series of public events will encourage visitors to experience the tree through guided walks, plein air painting, photography outings, family discovery days, lectures by arborists and historians, storytelling programs, and seasonal celebrations beneath its canopy.

Programming will take place in Lexington. Activities will be hosted at (or near) The Grand Ginkgo site and in partnership with organizations including The Henry Clay Ashland Estate, Lexington Art League, The Bluegrass Trust, the Kentucky Arborists' Association, and other organizations committed to conservation, history, arts, and placemaking.

Additionally, the project will pursue strategic collaboration with regional partners advancing the Bluegrass Bikeway and Pedestrian Master Plan. A planned segment currently terminates near the Ramsey's Restaurant overpass, just a short distance from The Grand Ginkgo, presenting a unique opportunity to explore future connectivity between the trail network and the tree.

The long-term vision is not simply to create another park, but to thoughtfully integrate The Grand Ginkgo into the surrounding property's future development. By working collaboratively with the property owner, neighborhood stakeholders, and community partners, the project seeks to protect this irreplaceable landmark while enhancing neighborhood green space, expanding public access, and advancing development goals through a shared vision that benefits both the community and the landowner.

Beyond a single season of activities, SAVE THE GRAND GINKGO seeks to establish the tree as one of Kentucky's signature natural landmarks while building public support for its permanent preservation. By combining art, education, environmental stewardship, and community partnerships, the campaign will celebrate Kentucky's natural heritage, inspire conservation, and create a lasting model for protecting remarkable trees through public engagement.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

The Ginkgo Foundation will oversee all aspects of project implementation, coordinating partners, artists, volunteers, consultants, and community organizations. Responsibilities include project planning, marketing and public relations, artist recruitment, event production, financial management, and grant reporting in collaboration with partnering organizations.

The campaign will be led by TGF President Devin D. Marks, who brings more than 30 years of experience leading nonprofit initiatives, producing community events, building strategic partnerships, directing public awareness campaigns, and securing sponsorships. The Foundation will leverage significant volunteer leadership, in-kind support, and community partnerships to maximize the impact of grant funding.

The SAVE THE GRAND GINKGO AWARENESS THROUGH ART campaign will strengthen environmental stewardship, celebrate Kentucky's natural and cultural heritage, and create new opportunities for community engagement through art, education, and public programming. The project will encourage residents and visitors to discover one of Kentucky's most remarkable living landmarks while supporting local artists, nonprofits, and businesses through collaborative events and exhibitions.

Long-term, the campaign will build public support for permanently preserving The Grand Ginkgo as a community asset, enhancing neighborhood green space, expanding heritage tourism, and exploring future connections to the regional Bluegrass Bikeway and Pedestrian Master Plan. The result will be a lasting destination that enriches quality of life, inspires conservation, and creates a stronger sense of place for generations to come.

The Ginkgo Foundation employs a multi-channel communications strategy to build awareness, engage the public, and expand participation across Central Kentucky. Marketing efforts include a dedicated website, e-newsletters, social media, print materials, digital advertising, media relations, photography, video storytelling, interpretive signage, and community presentations. Consistent branding emphasizes TGF's mission of celebrating and preserving remarkable ginkgo trees through environmental stewardship, education, arts, and placemaking.

To reach new and diverse audiences, the Foundation partners with regional organizations including VisitLEX, Visit Jessamine, The Henry Clay Ashland Estate, Lexington Art League, The Bluegrass Trust, the Kentucky Arborists' Association, neighborhood associations, schools, and environmental organizations. Traditional media outreach will include press releases, feature stories, television, radio, podcasts, and community calendars.

The SAVE THE GRAND GINKGO AWARENESS THROUGH ART campaign will engage families, neighborhood residents, artists, students, educators, environmental advocates, arborists, preservationists, photographers, history enthusiasts, and outdoor recreation users. It will also attract visitors seeking authentic heritage, arts, and nature-based experiences throughout Central Kentucky.

Outreach will focus on regional arts organizations, conservation groups, schools, civic organizations, neighborhood associations, and heritage tourism audiences, connecting diverse communities through environmental stewardship, creativity, and public engagement.

The SAVE THE GRAND GINKGO AWARENESS THROUGH ART campaign will engage artists of diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and experience levels through an open regional Call to Art. Visual artists, photographers, sculptors, fiber artists, writers, musicians, and plein air painters will be invited to interpret The Grand Ginkgo through their own creative perspectives. Selected artists will exhibit their work, participate in public programs, and interact with visitors through demonstrations, talks, and workshops. Partnerships with organizations such as the Lexington Art League and other regional arts organizations will expand outreach and encourage participation from emerging, established, and historically underrepresented artists across Central Kentucky.

The Ginkgo Foundation will collaborate with a diverse network of arts, environmental, historic preservation, tourism, and community organizations. Arts partners include the Lexington Art League and local artist groups supporting the Call to Art, exhibitions, and public programming. Non-arts partners include The Henry Clay Ashland Estate, The Bluegrass Trust, the Kentucky Arborists' Association, VisitLEX, neighborhood organizations, educators, and conservation groups.

These collaborations will expand audience reach, provide program expertise, leverage in-kind resources, and strengthen the campaign's long-term impact through shared promotion, educational programming, and community engagement.

The Ginkgo Foundation's mission is to advance environmental stewardship, historic preservation, education, and community engagement through the celebration and preservation of remarkable ginkgo trees. The SAVE THE GRAND GINKGO AWARENESS THROUGH ART campaign directly advances that mission by using the arts as a catalyst for conservation, education, and public participation. Through artist commissions, exhibitions, storytelling, and community events, the project will increase awareness of Kentucky's oldest and largest ginkgo tree, inspire environmental stewardship, support regional artists, and foster partnerships that strengthen cultural tourism and community pride.

Project success will be evaluated using both quantitative and qualitative measures. Metrics will include participation at events, artist submissions, exhibition attendance, volunteer engagement, media coverage, social media reach, website traffic, partner participation, and audience surveys. Feedback from artists, partners, volunteers, and attendees will help assess program quality, accessibility, educational value, and community impact.

Project activities will be documented through professional photography, videography, media coverage, artist portfolios, event records, attendance data, surveys, and digital analytics. The Ginkgo Foundation will review outcomes against project goals, evaluate the effectiveness of partnerships and public engagement, and use findings to strengthen future programming and long-term preservation efforts surrounding The Grand Ginkgo.

• GRANT-DOC-FILE-LexArts-SAVE-THE-GRAND-GINKGO-2027-program.pdf
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