George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation
Contact information:
15 W. South Temple, Suite 1701
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Phone: 801-246-5340
Fax: 801-350-3510
E-mail: gseg@gseccles.org
Website: www.gsecclesfoundation.org
Type of foundation: Independent
Types of grants: Annual, capital, equipment, general/operating support, matching/challenge support, program-related investments/loans, program, research, scholarships.
Description: Throughout their lives, George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles were committed to supporting important community needs in Utah. To ensure that their philanthropic work would continue beyond their lifetimes, they established the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation in 1960. The Foundation became active following the death of Mr. Eccles in 1982, and now it is the most visible and lasting legacy of Mr. and Mrs. Eccles, carrying on their charitable vision by enriching educational, medical, cultural and societal opportunities throughout Utah. The Foundation makes grants in the areas of:
- Arts and Culture: Grants support the visual and performing arts, strengthen the humanities and arts-related education programs, provide affordable access for all Utahans to events and performances, enhance artistic elements in communities and nurture a new generation of artists throughout Utah.
- Community: Grants support organizations that provide social services and humanitarian aid to help people in need, including low-income populations, the homeless and hungry, the physically or mentally challenged, and the young and the elderly who may require special assistance, as well as those offering community enrichment for all citizens.
- Education: Grants support higher education in Utah, scholarships, faculty and facilities.
- Health Care: Grants support health care services and information in Utah's urban and rural areas, including grants for equipment, facilities and program support for those involved in medical diagnosis, treatment and education, disease prevention, the promotion of healthy lifestyles and the development of creative new ways to address health care challenges.
- Preservation and Conservation: Grants support environmental and historic preservation.
Sample grants:
- $600,000 to University of Utah, KUED Eccles Broadcast Center, Salt Lake City, UT to convert to high definition digital television and for production equipment, infrastructure/master control, digital asset management, data casting and local digital production fund (2007).
- $125,000 to Sundance Institute, Park City, UT for Screenwriter and Filmmakers Laboratories (2004).
- $100,000 to Performing Arts Coalition, Salt Lake City, UT to underwrite flagship programs: The Best of the World Festival Film Series, Master Documentary Filmmaker Series and The Call of the Doc Workshop (2003).
- $83,913 to Salt Lake City Film Center and Artists Collaborative, Salt Lake City, UT for in-kind gift of stock for Filmmaker Residencies, Mini Festival/Series and Best of the World (Docs and Drama) (2005).
- $15,000 to KBYU Channel 11 Television, Provo, UT to support Willie and Martin: Rescue at the Sweetwater documentary production (2006).
- $15,000 to KRCL-FM Listeners Community Radio of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT for equipment for Digital Conversion (2005).
Fit for public broadcasting: The Foundation's media related giving appears to be focused on film production, equipment conversion and religious education. The Foundation has made 43 grants for media related projects over the past seven years, totaling more than $3.37 million.
Eligibility: Eligibility information is available online. Giving primarily in the intermountain area, particularly UT. No grants to individuals or for endowment funds, contingencies, deficits, debt reduction, conferences, seminars or medical research.
Deadline(s): None
How to apply: Eligible organizations should request a grant application form via e-mail or U.S. mail. Application form required. Request an application form here. Application requirements are listed online. Note that applicants are required to include at least two letters of support for their organization and project with the completed grant application form.
Giving range: The average gift for arts/media projects is approximately $80,000. The Foundation has made gifts as high as $9.1 million.
Assets: $370,281,312 (2008)
Total giving: $28,850,992 (2008)
