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Gilmore Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.3M
Grant Range
$50K - $1.0M

Gilmore Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,275,275 (2023)
  • Average Grant Size: $91,011
  • Grant Range: Varies widely, from tens of thousands to $1 million+
  • Geographic Focus: Tri-county area (Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties, Illinois)
  • Total Assets: $63.3 million (2023)
  • Number of Annual Grants: 25-30 grants per year

Contact Details

Gilmore Foundation
5823 N. Forest Park Drive
Peoria, IL 61614
Phone: (309) 685-0033
Fax: (309) 685-3665
Website: www.gilmorefndn.org

Laura Cullinan, President

Overview

The Gilmore Foundation was established in 2009 by Bob Gilmore, a Peoria native who served as President and CEO of Caterpillar from 1977-1985. Bob Gilmore, a World War II veteran who passed away in 2020 at age 100, created the foundation to benefit the community he loved. Since its inception, the foundation has given over $18 million to support the development and improvement of Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties. The foundation manages over $63 million in assets and distributes approximately $2.3 million annually to local organizations. One of the foundation's signature initiatives is the "Choose Greater Peoria" talent attraction campaign, which launched in 2023 with a minimum funding commitment of $1.6 million over three years. The foundation is led by Laura Cullinan, who serves as President.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Gilmore Foundation does not have structured grant programs with specific funding tiers. Instead, grants are awarded based on organizational need and project scope, ranging from moderate multi-year commitments to major one-time transformational gifts.

Recent Grant Examples:

  • Peoria Riverfront Museum: $1 million commitment for 10th anniversary
  • Illinois Central College: $435,000 for Workforce Equity Initiative
  • South Side Mission: $250,000 for youth ministry expansion
  • Midwest Food Bank: $100,000 one-time gift for food distribution
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters: $90,000 over 3 years for Youth Mentoring Program expansion

Priority Areas

The Foundation focuses on three main areas:

  1. Enhancing Culture: Arts, music, dance, history, and theater programs and facilities
  2. Improving Society:
    • Youth development programs
    • Human services
    • Abuse prevention
    • Education initiatives
    • Shelters and basic needs
  3. Job Creation and Economic Development:
    • Capital improvement projects
    • Infrastructure development
    • Workforce training and development
    • Talent attraction initiatives

The foundation has shown particular interest in projects that enhance the overall livability and economic vitality of the tri-county area, including support for the "Choose Greater Peoria" talent attraction campaign, which has generated over 22.3 million media impressions and 150+ new leads for career opportunities.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation's geographic restrictions are clear: funding is limited to organizations serving Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties in Illinois. Some grants have been made to New York-based organizations, but these appear to be exceptions rather than the norm.

Governance and Leadership

Laura Cullinan, President: Laura Cullinan (also known as Laura Schachtrup Cullinan, JD) serves as President of the Gilmore Foundation. She is actively involved in the Peoria community, serving on the board of the Peoria Riverfront Museum and leading the foundation's strategic initiatives including the Choose Greater Peoria campaign.

Bob Gilmore (1920-2020), Founder: The foundation was established by Bob Gilmore, who had a distinguished career at Caterpillar and deep roots in the Peoria community. His vision continues to guide the foundation's work. For his 100th birthday in 2020, Gilmore and the foundation donated $1 million to five local nonprofit organizations, and he also made a significant estate gift to the Community Foundation of Central Illinois to establish the Gilmore Fund for ongoing community support.

Laura Cullinan on Foundation Priorities: "We're happy to report that Peoria's population has grown for the first time in years; it's up 3.86%." This statement reflects the foundation's focus on community vitality and the measurable impact of their talent attraction initiatives.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Gilmore Foundation does not have a public application process. There is no formal application form, no published deadlines, and no online portal for grant submissions.

According to publicly available information, "NO FORMAL FORM EXISTS for grant applications, and there are no deadlines." Grants appear to be made at the discretion of the foundation's leadership, likely through trustee-initiated relationships and strategic community partnerships.

Organizations interested in funding should contact the foundation directly:

  • Phone: (309) 685-0033
  • Address: 5823 N. Forest Park Drive, Peoria, IL 61614

Getting on Their Radar

The Gilmore Foundation identifies funding opportunities through strategic community engagement rather than responding to unsolicited proposals. Based on their funding patterns, here are specific ways organizations have connected with the foundation:

Community Leadership Networks: The foundation works closely with the Greater Peoria Leadership Council, which it formed to provide thought leadership and accountability for economic development initiatives. Organizations connected to this network or similar business and civic leadership groups appear to have stronger relationships with the foundation.

Choose Greater Peoria Initiative: The foundation collaborates with "25+ business and city leaders" through this talent attraction campaign. Organizations involved in workforce development, talent retention, or economic development initiatives aligned with this campaign may find natural connection points.

Strategic Partnerships: Recent grants suggest the foundation identifies needs through partnerships with established community institutions (Peoria Riverfront Museum, Illinois Central College, Midwest Food Bank) and organizations aligned with their three core focus areas.

Direct Contact: Given the lack of a formal application process, direct outreach to Laura Cullinan at the foundation may be appropriate for organizations with projects clearly aligned with the foundation's stated priorities in the tri-county area.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis without published application cycles or decision timelines.

Success Rates

With 25-30 grants awarded annually from approximately $2.3 million in total giving, the foundation maintains a focused portfolio of grantees. Success rates for unsolicited applications cannot be determined as the foundation does not accept formal applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the absence of a formal application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the Gilmore Foundation operates through invitation and relationship-based grantmaking, the following factors appear most relevant based on their actual funding patterns:

Geographic Alignment is Essential: All public grants focus on Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties. Organizations outside this tri-county area should not expect funding.

Strategic Community Impact: The foundation favors projects with measurable community-wide benefits. Recent grants support:

  • Infrastructure and capital projects (museum facilities, workforce training centers)
  • Multi-year programmatic initiatives (youth mentoring expansion, workforce equity programs)
  • Emergency community needs (food security, COVID-19 relief)

Economic Development Connection: The foundation's core initiative around job creation and talent attraction suggests that projects demonstrating workforce development, business attraction, or economic vitality components may be particularly compelling.

Collaboration and Leverage: The Choose Greater Peoria campaign demonstrates the foundation's interest in collaborative efforts with business and civic leaders. Projects that leverage multiple funding sources or partnerships may align with this approach.

Established Track Record: Recent grantees include well-established institutions (Illinois Central College, Peoria Riverfront Museum, Midwest Food Bank, Big Brothers Big Sisters), suggesting the foundation prefers working with organizations that have demonstrated community impact and operational stability.

Scale and Ambition: Grant amounts ranging from $90,000 to $1 million indicate the foundation is willing to make significant investments in transformational projects, not just small programmatic grants.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Unsolicited Applications: The Gilmore Foundation does not accept formal grant applications. Funding decisions are made through trustee discretion and established relationships. Organizations should focus on relationship-building and direct outreach rather than preparing grant proposals.

  • Tri-County Focus Only: All funding is restricted to organizations serving Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties in Illinois. Geographic alignment is non-negotiable.

  • Think Big and Strategic: With an average grant size of $91,011 and recent awards ranging up to $1 million, the foundation makes substantial investments in high-impact projects. Small requests may not align with their funding approach.

  • Economic Development Matters: Job creation, workforce development, and talent attraction are core priorities. Projects that can demonstrate connection to economic vitality—even if primarily focused on arts, education, or human services—may be more competitive.

  • Build Community Leadership Connections: The foundation works closely with business leaders, civic organizations, and established institutions. Networking within Peoria's business and nonprofit leadership circles may create pathways to foundation relationships.

  • Multi-Year Commitments Are Possible: Recent grants include multi-year funding commitments (e.g., $90,000 over three years to Big Brothers Big Sisters), indicating the foundation is willing to provide sustained support for proven initiatives.

  • Be Patient and Strategic: Without deadlines or formal cycles, timing is unpredictable. Organizations should focus on building authentic relationships and demonstrating community impact over time rather than expecting quick funding decisions.

References

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