Gill Foundation
Contact information:
Gill Foundation
2215 Market Street
Denver, CO 80205
Phone: 303-292-4455
Fax: 303-292-2155
Website: http://www.gillfoundation.org
Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado (part of the Gill Foundation)
315 East Costilla Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: 719-473-4455
Fax: 719-473-2254
Website: http://www.gayandlesbianfund.org
Type of foundation: Independent
Types of grants: Project, event sponsorships, impact grants, challenge grants.
Description: The primary work of the Gill Foundation is to support organizations nationwide that advocate for lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender (LGBT) equality. In Colorado, the Foundation provides funding for nonprofits that serve the state's LGBT and HIV/AIDS populations. Approximately 75 percent of the Foundation's work and funding is dedicated to LGBT nonprofits – both national and state organizations that work every day to bring about equality.
The remaining 25 percent of funding is given through the Foundation's Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado which provides financial support to high-impact Colorado nonprofits in four program areas: arts and culture; public participation; healthy families; and public broadcasting. Public broadcasting accounted for six percent of giving in 2009 ($150,000). Most of these "Impact Grants" include a challenge component.
All projects must demonstrate strong alignment with the Foundation's strategic objectives to advance equality and inclusion for all Coloradans. The Foundation also funds event sponsorships, focusing on events that specifically include a fundraising component. The Foundation will not support events that are non-fundraising events.
Sample grants from the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado:
- $50,000 to Public Broadcasting of Colorado (2008).
- $20,000 to Boulder Community Broadcast Association (2008); $17,500 in 2009.
- $15,000 to Community Radio for Northern Colorado (2009).
- $12,500 to Grand Valley Public Radio Company (2008).
- $10,000 to Rocky Mountain Public Broadcasting Network (2008).
- $5,000 to Colorado Public Television (2008).
Sample grants from the Gill Foundation:
- $200,000 to American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (2009).
- $177,000 to GroundSpark, a documentary film production company (2009).
Fit for public broadcasting: Public broadcasting is an explicit priority of the Gill Foundation's Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado.
Eligibility: Applicants for the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado must:
- Be based in Colorado and provide a majority of programming within the state.
- Have 501(c)(3) status.
- Have a Board-approved statement of equality and nondiscrimination stating explicitly and specifically that there will be no discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender expression in employment or service provision.
Grants will not be made for:
- Emergency requests.
- Endowments.
- Individuals.
- Capital campaigns or projects.
- Non-fundraising events.
- Film production or promotion.
Deadline: Letters of inquiry from organizations within Colorado that work on LGBT or HIV/AIDS issues may be submitted any time between January 1 – September 1. Organizations interested in applying for grants from the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado should consult the specific program deadlines. Grants to public media organizations are made on an invitation-only basis.
How to apply: Unsolicited proposals are not accepted by the Gill Foundation (either from organizations within or outside Colorado), other than for the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado. It is acceptable to submit a letter of inquiry.
- Organizations outside of Colorado that wish to apply to the Gill Foundation may submit a brief letter of inquiry outlining their proposed project.
- Organizations within Colorado that serve the LGBT community and/or work on HIV/AIDS issues may submit a brief letter of inquiry to the Gill Foundation.
- Organizations interested in applying for an Impact Grant from the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado should submit a Letter of Interest to the appropriate program. Note that grants to public media organizations are by invitation only.
- Organizations interested in applying for event sponsorship grants must submit applications no less than 120 days (4 months) prior to the start date of the event.
Giving range: $5,000 – $650,000
Assets: $227,445,125 (2008)
Total giving: $10,077,872 (2008)
View 2009 Community Impact Report for the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado.
