Gaughan Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ~$1,800,000 (2024); range $625,000–$1,859,048 in recent years
• Success Rate: Not publicly available (no open application process)
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Gifts documented from $25,000 to $1,500,000+
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Nevada (Las Vegas); also Nebraska (Omaha/Lincoln connections)

---

Contact Details

• Address: 4021 Meadows Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89107
• Phone: (702) 877-6800
• Website: No dedicated public website identified
• EIN: 86-0873950
• IRS/Database Listings:
  • ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/860873950
  • Candid/Foundation Directory: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=GAUG002
  • Cause IQ: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/gaughan-family-foundation,860873950/

---

Overview

The Gaughan Family Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 1997 in Las Vegas, Nevada, by the late John D. "Jackie" Gaughan (1920–2014), a pioneering Las Vegas casino owner who at various points owned or operated over a dozen downtown properties including the El Cortez, Union Plaza, and Showboat. The foundation has since been managed by his son, Michael J. Gaughan, president and prominent Las Vegas gaming entrepreneur (founder of Coast Casinos, current owner of South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa).

With total assets of approximately $18.4 million (2024) and annual charitable disbursements typically ranging from $625,000 to $1,859,000, the foundation is a meaningful regional philanthropic force. It operates as a nonoperating private foundation, meaning it makes direct grants and charitable contributions rather than running its own programs. Its funding reflects strong ties to Catholic higher education, Nevada institutions, and the family's Midwest heritage. There is no public application process; grantmaking is conducted at the discretion of the family trustees.

---

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not publish formal, named grant programs. Grantmaking is carried out on a discretionary basis by the foundation's family leadership. Based on documented grants and public reporting, the following patterns are evident:

• Higher Education: Large gifts ($200,000–$1,500,000+) to universities with family ties, including Creighton University (Omaha, NE), University of San Francisco, UNLV (Lee Business School, football facility), and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
• Catholic K-12 Education: Significant gifts to Catholic schools in Las Vegas (e.g., $800,000 to Bishop Gorman High School in 2023 for the Gaughan Family Student Union).
• Youth and Community: Named support for the John D. "Jackie" Gaughan Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada at UNLV.
• Named Facilities and Endowments: The foundation frequently funds facility construction, renovation, and naming opportunities that honour family members (e.g., Kitty Gaughan Pavilion at Creighton, Jackie D. Gaughan Multicultural Center at UNL).

Documented grants from Form 990-PF filings include:

• University of San Francisco: $200,000 (2023)
• Creighton University American Student Dental Association: $200,000 (2023)
• Bishop Gorman High School: $800,000 (2023)
• UNLV (Michael Gaughan Training Table): $1,500,000 (reported)
• Jackie D. Gaughan Multicultural Center, UNL: Capstone gift (2007, reported total project cost $8.7 million)
• Creighton University Sports Complex renovation: Contribution toward $2.7 million project (2000)

Priority Areas

• Catholic and Jesuit higher education (particularly institutions with family ties: Creighton University, University of San Francisco)
• Nevada higher education (UNLV, including Lee Business School and athletics)
• Catholic K-12 education in Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman High School)
• Youth development (Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada)
• Named building/facility projects that recognise family legacy
• Community organisations in Southern Nevada

What They Don't Fund

No formal exclusions list is published. Based on the foundation's pattern of giving:

• The foundation does not appear to fund national or international organisations outside of institutions with direct family connections
• No evidence of funding for arts, environment, healthcare, or social services outside of the described education and youth focus
• No grants are made through an open competitive process

---

Governance and Leadership

Michael J. Gaughan — President Son of founder Jackie Gaughan. Michael Gaughan built and sold Coast Casinos and currently owns the South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa in Las Vegas. He was a founding member of the UNLV Foundation Board of Trustees and has taught casino management at UNLV. He was inducted into the UNLV Nevada Business Hall of Fame in 2007 and the SBC Sports Betting Hall of Fame in 2023. He is Chairman of Las Vegas Events and serves on the National Finals Rodeo Committee.

No compensation is reported for foundation officers in IRS filings. The foundation has no full-time employees, consistent with a family-managed private foundation.

Other family members involved in the broader philanthropic legacy include:

• John Gaughan (grandson of Jackie): Led the capstone gift campaign for the Jackie D. Gaughan Multicultural Center at UNL; President and CEO of Las Vegas Dissemination Co.
• Michael Gaughan Jr.: General Manager of JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort; serves on the Folds of Honor Nevada board.
• Brendan Gaughan: Associated with the Brendan Gaughan Celebrity Blackjack Tournament benefiting Speedway Children's Charities.

---

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Gaughan Family Foundation is a private family foundation that makes grants at the discretion of its trustees and family leadership. There is no published grant application portal, guidelines document, or open solicitation process. Grants are directed to organisations with which the Gaughan family has established personal relationships, family or educational connections, or long-standing community ties.

Getting on Their Radar

The following is specific to this funder based on publicly available information:

• Family and institutional connections: The foundation's giving history is closely tied to institutions where family members studied (Creighton University, UNL), worshipped or attended school (Catholic institutions in Las Vegas), or have served on boards (UNLV Foundation Board of Trustees). Organisations connected to these institutions may have a natural pathway.
• UNLV network: Michael Gaughan has been a founding UNLV Foundation Board member and longtime supporter of UNLV athletics and the Lee Business School. Organisations operating within or connected to the UNLV ecosystem may be well-positioned for introductions.
• Bishop Gorman High School network: The family's documented $800,000 gift to Bishop Gorman in 2023 reflects deep ties to Las Vegas's Catholic school community. Organisations with connections to this network may be of interest.
• South Point Hotel/Las Vegas Events: Michael Gaughan is Chairman of Las Vegas Events and operates South Point, a major community-facing Las Vegas venue. Organisations involved in Nevada's events, rodeo, and hospitality sectors have an existing connection point.
• Named legacy opportunities: The foundation has a clear interest in gifts that carry naming rights or memorialise the Gaughan family name. Proposals that include a meaningful naming component for a facility or programme may be of particular interest.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. Decisions are made internally by family trustees.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. This is an invitation-based, discretionary foundation with no open application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable; no formal application process exists.

---

Application Success Factors

As this is a discretionary private family foundation with no public application process, the following strategic considerations apply based on documented funding patterns:

• Family connections are the primary driver: Every documented major gift connects to an institution where a Gaughan family member studied, worked, or has ongoing ties. Creighton (Jackie's alma mater), UNL (John Gaughan's alma mater), UNLV (Michael's board membership and teaching), and Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas Catholic community) are the clearest examples.
• Named facilities and legacy are a recurring theme: The Jackie D. Gaughan Multicultural Center (UNL), Kitty Gaughan Pavilion (Creighton), Gaughan Family Student Union (Bishop Gorman), and Michael Gaughan Training Table (UNLV) all reflect a pattern of major gifts tied to naming opportunities. Proposals with a naming component are well-aligned with this foundation's history.
• Scale of gifts is significant: The foundation makes a relatively small number of large grants (17 grants in one recent year from ~$1.8M total disbursements, averaging approximately $106,000 per grant). Approach with substantial, capital-level projects rather than small operating grants.
• Catholic and Jesuit education is a recurring theme: Jackie Gaughan attended Creighton (Jesuit), Bishop Gorman is a Catholic school, and the University of San Francisco is a Jesuit institution. Organisations with Catholic or Jesuit identity may have stronger alignment.
• Nevada community investment: The foundation is deeply rooted in Southern Nevada. Organisations serving the Las Vegas community, particularly in education, youth development, or community infrastructure, align with the foundation's geographic focus.
• Relationship-first approach: Given the entirely discretionary nature of grantmaking, the path to funding runs through relationships with foundation trustees — primarily Michael Gaughan — rather than through grant applications.

---

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Gaughan Family Foundation is a private, family-directed foundation with no public application process; grants are made entirely at trustee discretion based on personal relationships and family ties.
• Annual giving is substantial — approximately $1.8 million in 2024, with total assets of $18.4 million — and grants tend to be large (six-figure and above), making this a significant potential funder for capital projects.
• Funding is concentrated in Catholic/Jesuit higher education (Creighton, University of San Francisco), Nevada higher education (UNLV), Catholic K-12 education in Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman), and youth development (Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada).
• Named facility and legacy giving is a dominant pattern; proposals that include a meaningful naming opportunity for the Gaughan family are most likely to resonate.
• The path to funding runs through personal relationships with Michael Gaughan and other family members, particularly via UNLV, Bishop Gorman, and Las Vegas community networks.
• There is no website, no published guidelines, and no formal contact method for grant enquiries. Direct relationship-building with foundation leadership is the only viable route.
• The foundation has a strong Nebraska connection (Jackie Gaughan was an Omaha native; grandson John Gaughan attended UNL), so organisations linked to Nebraska institutions — particularly Creighton University or UNL — may find a receptive audience.

---

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer — Gaughan Family Foundation (EIN: 86-0873950) https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/860873950 Accessed: February 2026. Source for financial data (assets, revenue, charitable disbursements 2022–2024), officer names, and filing dates.

2. Cause IQ — Gaughan Family Foundation https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/gaughan-family-foundation,860873950/ Accessed: February 2026. Source for number of grants, notable grant recipients (University of San Francisco $200,000; Creighton University American Student Dental Association $200,000), and contact details.

3. Candid / Foundation Directory Online — Gaughan Family Foundation https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=GAUG002 Accessed: February 2026. Confirms grantmaker classification.

4. Vegas Inc / Las Vegas Sun — "Bishop Gorman High celebrates opening of new $16 million student union" https://lasvegassun.com/news/2025/jan/07/bishop-gorman-high-celebrates-opening-of-new-16-mi/ Accessed: February 2026. Source for $800,000 Gaughan Family Foundation donation to Bishop Gorman High School (2023) and details of the Gaughan Family Student Union.

5. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Newsroom — "Gaughan family provides capstone gift for UNL Multicultural Center" https://newsroom.unl.edu/releases/2007/04/13/Gaughan+family+provides+capstone+gift+for+UNL+Multicultural+Center Accessed: February 2026. Source for the Jackie D. Gaughan Multicultural Center gift, family member details (John Gaughan), and quotes from Jackie and John Gaughan.

6. Grokipedia — Michael Gaughan (businessman) https://grokipedia.com/page/Michael_Gaughan_(businessman) Accessed: February 2026. Source for Michael Gaughan's philanthropic profile, UNLV Training Table gift ($1.5 million), Lee Business School support, Bishop Gorman involvement, and family connections.

7. Grokipedia — Jackie Gaughan https://grokipedia.com/page/Jackie_Gaughan Accessed: February 2026. Source for foundation founding history, Jackie Gaughan's biography, Creighton University connection, and broad philanthropic legacy.

8. UNLV — Michael Gaughan People Profile https://www.unlv.edu/people/michael-gaughan Accessed: February 2026. Confirms UNLV Foundation Board membership.

9. Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame — Michael Gaughan https://www.snshf.com/hall-of-famers/michael-gaughan Accessed: February 2026. Additional background on Michael Gaughan's community involvement.

10. Nevada Business Magazine — "Cox Innovation Lab unveiled at Jackie Gaughan Boys & Girls Club" https://nevadabusiness.com/2024/11/cox-innovation-lab-unveiled-at-jackie-gaughan-boys-girls-club/ Accessed: February 2026. Confirms the Jackie Gaughan Boys & Girls Club naming and location at UNLV campus.

11. Vegas Inc Directory — Gaughan Family Foundation https://vegasinc.lasvegassun.com/places/gaughan-family-foundation/ Accessed: February 2026. Source for address: 4021 Meadows Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89107.