Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $28,040,884 (2023)
Total Assets: $683.3 million
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: $2,500 - $10,000+ (varies by programme)
Geographic Focus: Utah (statewide)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.lhm.com/doing-good/
Grants Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Process/Apply?urlkey=lhm
Address: 9350 S 150 E Ste 1000, Sandy, UT 84070-2721
Phone: 801-498-0237
Contact Person: Sarah Lindsey
Email: communications@lhm.com
Employee Nominations: Karol Elkington at kelkington@lhm.com

Overview

The Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation was established in 2007 to continue the philanthropic spirit exemplified by Larry and Gail Miller for future generations. With total assets of $683.3 million and annual giving of over $28 million, the foundation has become one of Utah's most significant philanthropic institutions. The foundation supports programmes that enrich lives and communities across five key focus areas: health and medicine, shelter and food security, education and skill development, jobs and economic self-reliance, and cultural and spiritual enrichment. Recent major commitments include $25 million for a regional arts centre, $22 million for Salt Lake City's Ballpark neighbourhood redevelopment, and the establishment of the $25 million Gail Miller Utah Impact Fund. The foundation particularly prioritises grassroots nonprofits in rural communities across Utah.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The foundation offers four types of grants for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisations, though organisations may apply for only one grant annually.

GO Grants: $2,500 - $10,000 (typically $2,500-$7,500) Small, unrestricted grants available to Utah-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits for any purpose including operating costs, programmes, and capital campaigns. Features a simple, streamlined application process designed to reduce barriers for organisations new to seeking grants. Organisations can receive one GO Grant per year. Fundraising event sponsorships are discouraged. The foundation particularly encourages applications from smaller, newer organisations or those located in rural Utah counties.

Community Support Grants: Amount varies For organisations that have not previously received funding from the foundation, they recommend starting with a GO Grant application first.

Strategic Initiative Grants: Amount varies For larger, strategic partnerships aligned with foundation priorities.

Westside Community Grant: $10,000 - $25,000 (average) Special initiative that has distributed over $500,000 to 38+ nonprofit organisations serving Salt Lake City's west side neighbourhoods including Rose Park, Poplar Grove, and Glendale. These grants address social determinants of health across the foundation's five giving platforms.

Priority Areas

Health and Medicine: Mental health resources (e.g., $850,000 challenge grant to Southern Utah University), healthcare infrastructure, wellness programmes
Shelter and Food Security: Housing, neighbourhood revitalisation, food desert solutions
Education and Skill Development: K-12 education, higher education endowments, leadership development programmes (e.g., Utah Center for Legal Inclusion's PLEDGE Program)
Jobs and Economic Self-Reliance: Workforce development, economic opportunity programmes
Cultural and Spiritual Enrichment: Arts institutions, museums, cultural facilities, spiritual programmes

The foundation shows particular interest in:

Grassroots nonprofits embedded in rural communities
Organisations addressing social determinants of health
Place-based initiatives that create lasting community change
Programmes serving underserved populations, particularly on Salt Lake City's west side

What They Don't Fund

Individuals seeking personal financial aid
Political, labor, or fraternal organisations
Charitable organisations established outside of the U.S.
Organisations whose programmes and impact are focused outside of Utah
Cities, counties, and other municipalities
Fundraising event sponsorships (discouraged in GO Grants)

Governance and Leadership

Gail Miller - Chair and Trustee Gail Miller presides over the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation, continuing the legacy she built with her late husband Larry H. Miller. She is a prominent Utah businesswoman and philanthropist who emphasises that "generosity is not about wealth but about willingness." She has stated: "The real measure is what can be given away," rather than what can be accumulated. On philanthropy, she advises: "It's important to learn how to maximise the use of your money by putting it where it does the most good" and stresses that "meaningful giving requires focus, planning and care."

Steve Miller - Trustee Steve Miller serves on the foundation board and is also chair of the board at the Larry H. Miller Company, continuing the family's business and philanthropic legacy.

Gail Miller shared that even during the 2008-2009 economic crisis, she maintained their giving commitment: "We couldn't give at the level that we did before, but we did not stop giving." Her philosophy reflects: "We have opportunities beyond our capacities when we accept the role of sharing what we have with others."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the foundation's online Grants Portal at https://www.grantinterface.com/Process/Apply?urlkey=lhm.

Step 1: Review the foundation's giving guidelines and restrictions on the "Foundation" tab at www.lhm.com/doing-good.

Step 2: Ensure your organisation meets eligibility requirements:

Currently designated and registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service
Request falls within one of the five programmatic areas
Programmes and impact are focused in Utah

Step 3: Submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) through the Grants Portal. For first-time applicants or smaller organisations, consider applying for a GO Grant rather than a larger Community Support Grant.

Employee Nomination Path: Larry H. Miller Company employees may nominate qualified nonprofits by contacting Karol Elkington at kelkington@lhm.com with a brief nonprofit description and contact information for both the employee and organisation.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Applicants should expect communication through the grants portal regarding their application status.

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose application success rates or the number of applications received versus grants awarded.

Reapplication Policy

Organisations can receive one GO Grant per year. The foundation's reapplication policy for declined applications is not explicitly stated in public materials.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Foundation Priorities: Successful applicants demonstrate clear alignment with one or more of the five giving platforms: health and medicine, shelter and food security, education and skill development, jobs and economic self-reliance, or cultural and spiritual enrichment.

Rural and Grassroots Focus: The foundation explicitly states it is "particularly interested in locating and fostering growth of grassroots nonprofits embedded in rural communities." Organisations that are "smaller, newer or located in rural Utah counties are of particular interest" as the foundation seeks to foster philanthropic growth and innovation in these underserved areas.

Utah Impact: All programmes and impact must be focused within Utah. The foundation does not fund organisations whose work primarily benefits communities outside the state.

Social Determinants of Health: Recent grant initiatives, particularly the Westside Community Grant programme, prioritise projects addressing social determinants of health - fundamental factors that affect quality of life and wellbeing in communities.

Recent Funded Projects Include:

Utah Center for Legal Inclusion's PLEDGE Program working with K-12, undergraduate, and law students
Pacific Heritage Academy (Westside Community Grant recipient)
Southern Utah University mental health resources ($850,000 challenge grant)
Antelope Island Learning Center and Utah Water Ways for water conservation ($2.2 million)
San Juan Junior Livestock Rodeo in Blanding
Uintah Basin Medical Center in Roosevelt

Foundation Philosophy: Applications that reflect Gail Miller's philosophy of strategic, thoughtful giving are likely to resonate. She emphasises that giving should create "lasting change through education, health care, arts and culture, or community development" and that "the impact made when those resources are invested in people, in ideas, in shared dreams for a better tomorrow" is what truly matters.

Start Small: For organisations that have never received a grant from the foundation, they explicitly recommend applying for a GO Grant first rather than larger Community Support Grants, showing a preference for building relationships progressively.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Start with GO Grants if you're new: The foundation explicitly recommends first-time applicants begin with smaller GO Grants ($2,500-$10,000) rather than larger Community Support Grants, allowing you to build a relationship with the foundation.
Rural advantage: If your organisation serves rural Utah communities, emphasise this strongly - the foundation is actively seeking to foster growth of grassroots nonprofits in underserved rural areas.
Keep it simple for GO Grants: The GO Grant application is intentionally streamlined to reduce barriers for smaller or newer organisations. Focus on clear, concise communication about your mission and impact.
Utah-focused only: Your programmes must serve Utah communities exclusively - the foundation will not consider requests for work outside the state, even if your organisation is based in Utah.
Address root causes: The foundation's recent emphasis on social determinants of health suggests they value approaches that address underlying community needs rather than just symptoms.
Unrestricted funding available: GO Grants are unrestricted and can be used for operating costs, programmes, or capital campaigns - be honest about where funds are most needed rather than fitting your request into a narrow programme category.
Consider employee connections: If your organisation has relationships with Larry H. Miller Company employees, the employee nomination pathway provides an alternative entry point for consideration.

References

All sources accessed December 2024.

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