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Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$28.0M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.0M

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 program)
  • Geographic Focus: Utah (statewide)

Contact Details

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 programs 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 center, $22 million for Salt Lake City's Ballpark neighborhood redevelopment, and the establishment of the $25 million Gail Miller Utah Impact Fund. The foundation particularly prioritizes grassroots nonprofits in rural communities across Utah.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

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, programs, and capital campaigns. Features a simple, streamlined application process designed to reduce barriers for organizations new to seeking grants. Organizations can receive one GO Grant per year. Fundraising event sponsorships are discouraged. The foundation particularly encourages applications from smaller, newer organizations or those located in rural Utah counties.

Community Support Grants: $15,000 - $20,000 (average) For organizations 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: Amount varies Special initiative that has distributed over $500,000 to 38+ nonprofit organizations serving Salt Lake City's west side neighborhoods including Rose Park, Poplar Grove, and Glendale. These grants address social determinants of health across the foundation's five giving platforms.

Priority Areas

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

The foundation shows particular interest in:

  • Grassroots nonprofits embedded in rural communities
  • Organizations addressing social determinants of health
  • Place-based initiatives that create lasting community change
  • Programs 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 organizations
  • Charitable organizations established outside of the U.S.
  • Organizations whose programs 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 emphasizes 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 maximize 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 chairman 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 organization 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
  • Programs and impact are focused in Utah

Step 3: Submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) through the Grants Portal. For first-time applicants or smaller organizations, 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 [email protected] with a brief nonprofit description and contact information for both the employee and organization.

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

Organizations 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." Organizations 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 programs and impact must be focused within Utah. The foundation does not fund organizations whose work primarily benefits communities outside the state.

Social Determinants of Health: Recent grant initiatives, particularly the Westside Community Grant program, prioritize 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 emphasizes 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 organizations 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 organization serves rural Utah communities, emphasize 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 organizations. Focus on clear, concise communication about your mission and impact.

  • Utah-focused only: Your programs must serve Utah communities exclusively - the foundation will not consider requests for work outside the state, even if your organization 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, programs, or capital campaigns - be honest about where funds are most needed rather than fitting your request into a narrow program category.

  • Consider employee connections: If your organization 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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