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Gill Foundation

Annual Giving
$8.9M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.3M
Decision Time
3mo
Success Rate
5%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $8,856,658 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $190.8 million (2024)
  • Decision Time: 90 days for letter of inquiry review
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $250,000 (typical)
  • Average Grant: $69,737
  • Number of Grants: 127 awards annually (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: National (LGBTQ equality) and Colorado (multiple focus areas)

Contact Details

Website: https://gillfoundation.org/
Email: info@gillfoundation.org
Letter of Inquiry: grantsmanager@annualreports.gillfoundation.org
Phone: 303-292-4455 or 888-530-4455
Address: 1550 Wewatta Street, Denver, CO 80202

Overview

The Gill Foundation was established in 1994 by Tim Gill and is one of the nation's leading funders of efforts to secure full equality for LGBTQ people in the United States. Since its inception, the foundation has invested more than $459 million in programs and nonprofit organizations around the nation, substantially contributing to many of the country's watershed victories for LGBTQ equality. With total assets of $190.8 million (2024) and annual giving of approximately $8.9 million, the foundation operates as an invitation-only funder with focused priorities in Equal Treatment (national LGBTQ advocacy) and A Prosperous Colorado (state-level STEM education, financial services, LGBTQ advocacy, and public broadcasting). In January 2025, founder Tim Gill received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Biden for his visionary work advancing LGBTQ rights and equality.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Equal Treatment (National Focus)

  • Grant Range: Typically $25,000 - $250,000
  • Focus: National LGBTQ equality, advocacy, and policy development
  • Application: Invitation only, though letters of inquiry accepted from non-grantees

A Prosperous Colorado (State Focus)

  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $250,000 (first-time grantees rarely exceed $10,000)
  • Focus: Colorado-specific initiatives across multiple sectors
  • Application: Invitation only, though letters of inquiry accepted from non-grantees

The foundation awards approximately 127 grants annually, with an average grant size of $69,737. The foundation invests approximately one-quarter of its budget in Colorado-based organizations.

Priority Areas

Equal Treatment

  • Advancing nondiscrimination protections and defending civil liberties in court
  • Ensuring equal treatment under the law for LGBTQ people
  • Supporting administrative policy changes
  • Protecting dignity, safety, and healthcare access for LGBTQ individuals
  • Investing in storytelling, research, and increasing LGBTQ visibility
  • Strengthening LGBTQ organizational leadership in underfunded areas
  • Supporting frontline organizations serving LGBTQ communities

A Prosperous Colorado

  • STEM Education: Cultivating critical-thinking skills for the next generation of Colorado leaders
  • Financial Services: Protecting Colorado consumers and building a stronger middle class
  • LGBTQ Advocacy: Securing equal rights and fostering acceptance for LGBTQ Coloradans
  • Public Broadcasting: Supporting community-focused journalism, especially in rural and mountain communities

Recent Strategic Expansion

  • Pro-democracy initiatives ($4.3 million commitment in 2024)
  • Organizations supporting voter participation and civic engagement

What They Don't Fund

The following are explicitly excluded from funding:

  • Endowments
  • Capital projects
  • Pride events
  • Arts and cultural programming
  • Individuals
  • Scholarships
  • Debt relief
  • Lobbying activities
  • Efforts to influence candidate elections
  • Non-501(c)(3) organizations
  • Organizations located outside the United States

Additional Restrictions:

  • Grant requests should not exceed 15% of an organization's total budget or 50% of a project budget
  • First-time grantees rarely receive grants in excess of $10,000
  • Organizations may submit only one letter of inquiry and proposal every 12 months

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Tim Gill, Co-Chair (Founder, software entrepreneur, philanthropist)
  • Scott Miller, Co-Chair
  • Mary Bonauto, Secretary
  • Eliza Byard, Treasurer

Executive Leadership

  • Brad Clark, President & CEO (joined 2015, became CEO January 2018)

Leadership Philosophy

Tim Gill (Founder): "Transformative change, by its very nature, will never be easy. And we cannot depend on judges, lawmakers, or administrations to be catalysts."

Brad Clark (President & CEO): "Only by thinking differently and acting courageously will we ensure not just our own survival, but the survival of those who will undoubtedly need us most in the years to come."

Clark also emphasizes maintaining hope: "I take to heart the words of previous generations – the folks who lived under McCarthyism, fought back at Stonewall, endured the AIDS epidemic, and won the right to marry. Generations before us succeeded in making our lives better. Let's continue the work they began."

Tim Gill and Scott Miller on Brad Clark's leadership: "Brad's bold leadership, stalwart determination, and innovative vision will build upon the remarkable work of the foundation's brilliant team."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis. However, organizations not currently receiving grants may initiate contact through a letter of inquiry.

Letter of Inquiry Process (for non-grantees):

  • Submit via email to: grantsmanager@annualreports.gillfoundation.org
  • Letters can be submitted anytime from January to September
  • Organizations may submit only one letter of inquiry per 12-month period
  • Staff review all letters and determine within 90 days whether to invite a full proposal
  • The foundation will initiate all contact if clarification or additional information is needed
  • A request for a full proposal does not guarantee funding

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
  • Must be located within the United States
  • Must align with the foundation's strategic priorities

Getting on Their Radar

The Gill Foundation identifies potential grantees through strategic research and board discretion, but organizations can increase visibility through:

Letter of Inquiry Email: Organizations not currently receiving grants should submit a concise letter of inquiry to grantsmanager@annualreports.gillfoundation.org outlining their work and alignment with the foundation's priorities.

Network Connections: The foundation's board members and staff are active in LGBTQ advocacy, Colorado nonprofit sectors, and democracy work. Organizations can build relationships by:

  • Connecting with current grantees who may provide referrals
  • Participating in OutGiving if you're a donor contributing $25,000+ annually to LGBTQ causes
  • Engaging with the foundation's leadership at sector conferences and events related to LGBTQ equality, Colorado civic engagement, or democracy initiatives

Strategic Alignment: The foundation emphasizes that they "explore, research, and determine where strategic investments can improve the greatest number of lives." Organizations should clearly demonstrate how their work accelerates progress in the foundation's priority areas.

Decision Timeline

  • Letter of Inquiry Review: 90 days for decision on whether to invite full proposal
  • Overall Process: Timing varies based on invitation cycle and board meeting schedules
  • Communication: The foundation initiates all contact with applicants

Success Rates

The foundation receives requests from hundreds of organizations annually but awards approximately 127 grants per year (based on 2023 data). This suggests the process is highly competitive, with an estimated success rate in the single digits.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may submit only one letter of inquiry and proposal to the Gill Foundation every 12 months. Specific policies for unsuccessful applicants to reapply are not publicly documented; interested organizations should contact the foundation directly for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment is Critical: The Gill Foundation emphasizes targeted, strategic giving. They "explore, research, and determine where strategic investments can improve the greatest number of lives" and "prioritize philanthropic giving in specific areas to accelerate the pace of progress where it's needed most." Organizations must demonstrate clear alignment with Equal Treatment or A Prosperous Colorado priorities.

Recent Funding Examples Demonstrate Priorities:

  • Pro-Democracy Organizations: Galvanize (moderate women voters), Voter Participation Center
  • Journalism: Courier Newsroom, American Independent Radio, Colorado Times Recorder
  • LGBTQ Youth: GenderCool ($500,000 for trans youth support)
  • Faith-Based LGBTQ: New Ways Ministry ($200,000+)
  • Colorado Organizations: Jeffco Schools Foundation, One Colorado Education Fund, Colorado Succeeds, Colorado Public Interest Research Foundation
  • LGBTQ Community Centers: Lambda Community Center (Fort Collins), The Center (Denver), Western Equality (Grand Junction)

Language and Terminology: The foundation uses specific framing that applicants should mirror:

  • "Equal treatment" and "equal opportunity regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity"
  • "Dignity, safety, and healthcare access"
  • "Frontline organizations"
  • "Critical-thinking skills" (for STEM education)
  • "Building a stronger middle class" (for economic opportunity)
  • "Transformative change" and "strategic investments"

Collaborative Approach: The foundation values partnerships with "allied foundations and individuals to fund together and increase our collective impact." Organizations that can demonstrate collaborative approaches or leverage additional funding may be more attractive.

Focus on Impact Over Budget Size: With a $10,000 cap for first-time grantees and a restriction that grants shouldn't exceed 15% of total budget or 50% of project budget, the foundation looks for organizations with diverse funding streams and sustainable operations, not those dependent on single large grants.

Geographic Considerations:

  • National LGBTQ organizations focused on advocacy and policy development in the 28 states where LGBTQ people lack nondiscrimination protections
  • Colorado organizations working in STEM education, financial services, LGBTQ advocacy, or public broadcasting
  • Priority for rural and underserved areas within Colorado

Demonstrating Sustainability: The foundation emphasizes "strengthening LGBTQ organizational leadership" and ensuring "lasting progress," suggesting they value organizations with strong governance, sustainable funding models, and long-term strategic vision.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only model requires proactive outreach: Submit a compelling letter of inquiry to grantsmanager@annualreports.gillfoundation.org demonstrating strategic alignment with Equal Treatment or A Prosperous Colorado priorities
  • Competition is intense: With hundreds of requests and only 127 grants awarded annually, applications must clearly articulate transformative impact and strategic importance
  • First-time grants are modest: Expect $10,000 or less for initial funding; the foundation uses small grants to test relationships before making larger commitments
  • Strategic focus is non-negotiable: The foundation invests in targeted areas to "accelerate the pace of progress where it's needed most"—avoid proposing work outside their explicit priorities
  • Demonstrate collaborative potential: The foundation values partnerships and collective impact; show how your work complements or leverages other funders' investments
  • National vs. Colorado distinction matters: National funding focuses almost exclusively on LGBTQ advocacy and policy, while Colorado funding spans STEM, financial services, journalism, and LGBTQ issues
  • Use their language: Frame your work using terms like "equal treatment," "frontline organizations," "dignity and safety," and "transformative change" to demonstrate alignment

References

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