Gary E Milgard Family Foundation-Lori

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,300,210 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 12-16 weeks for LOI response; 3-4 months total process
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $800,000
• Geographic Focus: Primarily California, Oregon, Utah, and Washington
• Total Assets: $56,338,219 (2023)

Contact Details

Tacoma Office: 1701 Commerce St., Tacoma, WA 98402 Phone: (253) 274-0121

Los Angeles Office: 10635 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 240, Los Angeles, CA 90025 Phone: (424) 320-9524

Website: www.garymilgardfamilyfoundation.org

Application Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=milgardfamilyfoundation

Overview

The Gary E Milgard Family Foundation-Lori is one of four foundations created in 2016 when the original Gary E. Milgard Family Foundation (established in 2000) reorganized to represent the individual passions and interests of the Milgard family members. The foundation honors the legacy of Gary and Carol Milgard, whose success with Milgard Windows (founded in 1958 in Tacoma) enabled significant philanthropic contributions. Led by Lori Milgard as President, the foundation focuses on education, human services, and philanthropy across multiple states. With assets exceeding $56 million and annual giving of approximately $2.3 million, the foundation made 28 grants in 2023, demonstrating a commitment to meaningful community impact.

Funding Priorities

Foundation Structure

The Gary E Milgard Family Foundation-Lori operates as part of a four-foundation structure. Applicants complete an eligibility quiz to determine which foundation(s) their request should be directed to:

Ruth Foundation: Animal welfare and marine life preservation (primarily Pierce County, WA), plus select homelessness initiatives

Whisper Foundation: Pierce County, WA organizations improving quality of life in underserved communities (grants over $50,000)

Windows of Hope Foundation: Pierce County, WA community betterment (grants $1,000-$50,000). Focus areas:

• Social service programs (42%)
• Education (27%)
• Youth programs (18%)
• Health and wellness (6%)
• Community programs (5%)
• Military support (2%)

Skylight Foundation: Greater Los Angeles, CA community organizations supporting well-managed programs in social services, education, health and wellness, and youth programs

Priority Areas

The Gary E Milgard Family Foundation-Lori primarily funds:

• Education
• Human Services
• Philanthropy and Voluntarism
• Youth development programs
• Health and wellness initiatives
• Senior services
• Homelessness support
• Social service programs

Recent Grant Examples

2023 grants included significant support for Boys & Girls Clubs:

• Boys & Girls Club of W San Gabriel Valley: $800,000 for Kindness Is Free/Rose Parade program
• Boys & Girls Club of W San Gabriel Valley: $355,000 for Thanks Giving/Kindness program
• Boys & Girls Club of W San Gabriel Valley: $160,000 for Kindness Back to School Engagement
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme: $175,000 for Kindness Is Free Program
• Boys & Girls Club of Malibu: Grant for Kindness Is Free Program/Campaign

What They Don't Fund

• Non-501(c)3 organizations
• Annual events, galas, or fundraising activities
• Sectarian religious activities
• Political lobbying activities
• Organizations that discriminate

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team:

• Lori Milgard - President (one of three children of Gary and Carol Milgard)
• Lindsay Trapp - Vice President
• Scott Ehlers - Treasurer
• Christine Zemanek - Secretary

The foundation represents Lori Milgard's individual passions while preserving the family values established by Gary and Carol Milgard. The family's commitment to community service stems from their business success with Milgard Windows, which became the largest window manufacturer in the Western United States before being sold to Masco Corporation in 2001.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation uses a two-stage online application process:

Stage 1: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

1. Create an account in the online grant portal
2. Complete the eligibility quiz to determine which foundation(s) your request should be directed to (questions cover state of operation, focus area, amount requested, and Pierce County service area)
3. Submit LOI providing general information about your organization, funding request, and alignment with funding priorities
4. Applications can be saved and returned to at any time

Stage 2: Full Application

• Only invited applicants who receive LOI approval proceed to this stage
• Applicants receive email notification to complete the full application
• Access the application through the grant portal dashboard

Decision Timeline

• LOI Review: 12-16 weeks for response
• Total Process: 3-4 months from initial submission to decision
• LOI Review: Ongoing/rolling basis
• Note: New application submittals typically close by mid-November each year

Application Schedule

• No strict deadlines - LOI submissions accepted on a rolling basis
• Applications reviewed ongoing throughout the year
• Response times may vary based on request volume

Reapplication Policy

• Organizations can generally apply once per calendar year
• Declined LOI applicants can contact the foundation office for feedback
• May be invited to reapply in the following year based on foundation guidance
• Organizations can apply to multiple foundations (Ruth, Skylight, Whisper, Windows of Hope) for the same proposal if eligible for multiple foundations

Post-Award Requirements

• Complete terms and conditions form upon grant award
• Submit online grant reports at 6-month and 12-month intervals
• Public recognition should thank "the Gary Milgard Family, unless otherwise specified"

Access Codes

• Pre-approved organizations may receive access codes
• Access codes are one-time use and foundation-specific

Application Success Factors

Grant Size and Focus Alignment

The foundation has demonstrated willingness to make substantial grants ($800,000 maximum observed) for well-aligned programs, particularly multi-year initiatives. The "Kindness Is Free" program support for Boys & Girls Clubs shows preference for:

• Programs with clear community impact
• Multi-location or scalable initiatives
• Organizations with strong management

Geographic Consideration

Use the eligibility quiz strategically:

• Pierce County, WA organizations requesting under $50,000 → Windows of Hope Foundation
• Pierce County, WA organizations requesting over $50,000 serving underserved communities → Whisper Foundation
• Pierce County, WA organizations focused on animal welfare/marine life → Ruth Foundation
• Greater Los Angeles, CA organizations → Skylight Foundation

General Operating Support

The foundation funds "general operating support, workforce develop program, women's shelter expansion, wish program, wellness ctr, summer swim, wallis house, vehicle purchase, and tutori," indicating openness to both operational and program-specific funding.

Strong Management

The foundations explicitly seek "well managed programs and projects," suggesting importance of:

• Demonstrated organizational capacity
• Clear program outcomes
• Financial stability and reporting capability

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Use the eligibility quiz to ensure your request is directed to the appropriate foundation(s) - you can apply to multiple if eligible
• Allow 3-4 months for the complete application process, with typical close by mid-November
• Focus on impact - the foundation seeks programs with "direct, meaningful impact" on communities served
• Demonstrate strong management - organizational capacity and well-managed programs are explicitly valued
• Consider grant size strategically - Pierce County organizations should note the $50,000 threshold between Windows of Hope and Whisper Foundation
• General operating support is available - don't limit requests to project-specific funding
• Plan for multi-year relationships - generally one application per calendar year suggests building relationships over time
• Contact the foundation for feedback if declined - they offer guidance for potential reapplication

References

1. Gary E Milgard Family Foundation website - "About Us" (https://www.garymilgardfamilyfoundation.org/about-us/) - Accessed January 2026
2. Gary E Milgard Family Foundation website - "Apply" (https://www.garymilgardfamilyfoundation.org/apply/) - Accessed January 2026
3. Gary E Milgard Family Foundation website - "FAQ" (https://www.garymilgardfamilyfoundation.org/apply/faq/) - Accessed January 2026
4. Gary E Milgard Family Foundation website - "Windows of Hope Foundation" (https://www.garymilgardfamilyfoundation.org/foundations/windows-of-hope-foundation/) - Accessed January 2026
5. Gary E Milgard Family Foundation website - "Foundations" (https://www.garymilgardfamilyfoundation.org/foundations/) - Accessed January 2026
6. Cause IQ - Gary E Milgard Family Foundation-Lori Profile (https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/gary-e-milgard-family-foundation-lori,811344384/) - Accessed January 2026
7. Instrumentl - Gary E Milgard Family Foundation Lori 990 Report (https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/gary-e-milgard-family-foundation-lori) - Accessed January 2026
8. Milgard Windows - "About MILGARD" (https://www.milgard.com/about) - Accessed January 2026