← Back to US Funders Directory

Michael E. McGoldrick Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.3M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.2M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,305,211 (FY2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $200,000
  • Geographic Focus: USA with emphasis on Colorado (61% of grants)

Contact Details

Overview

The Michael E. McGoldrick Charitable Foundation (The MEM Foundation) is a private family foundation established in 2021 following the death of Michael McGoldrick, honoring his legacy of philanthropy and mentorship. With approximately $10.2 million in assets as of FY2024, the foundation has disbursed $2.3 million annually through 54 organizational grants and a competitive scholarship program. As a spend-down foundation with an intended lifespan of approximately 10 years, the MEM Foundation aims to make significant impact quickly, focusing on arts and culture, education, environmental conservation, and human rights initiatives. The foundation operates from Carbondale, Colorado, with a strong commitment to supporting Colorado nonprofits while also funding national and international organizations aligned with its mission.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Organizational Grants: $1,000 - $200,000 (median $30,000) - Invitation-only grants to preselected charitable organizations
  • McGoldrick Scholars Program: $25,000/year for 4 years ($100,000 total) - Competitive scholarships for Colorado and Washington high school seniors

Priority Areas

  • Arts and Culture (33% of grants in 2024)
  • Education (26% of grants)
  • Environmental Conservation (15% of grants)
  • Human Rights (13% of grants)
  • Peace, Justice and Rule of Law (9% of grants)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation's Form 990-PF explicitly states they "only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations and do not accept unsolicited applications for funds."

Governance and Leadership

Ron Speaker - CEO and Founder: Met Michael McGoldrick as a summer intern at Janus Capital Group in 1986, becoming his lifelong mentee. Speaker founded the foundation upon McGoldrick's death to honor his mentor's legacy.

Sara Peterson - Secretary

Board Members:

  • Terry Galpin-Plattner
  • Bill Gruenberg
  • Bryan Morgan

Speaker emphasizes the foundation's commitment to rapid impact: "We're committed to making a significant impact quickly, to honor Michael's legacy and support the next generation of leaders and innovators."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process for organizational grants. All grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to preselected organizations. The foundation explicitly states in its IRS Form 990-PF that it "does not accept unsolicited applications for funds."

The McGoldrick Scholars Program does have a public application process:

  • Application portal: www.memscholars.org
  • Deadline: October 15 annually
  • Awards announced: March of following year
  • Eligibility: Colorado/Washington high school seniors, min. 3.5 GPA, min. 28 ACT/1200 SAT, family AGI ≤$150,000

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed for organizational grants. Scholarship decisions are announced in March following October application deadline.

Success Rates

Not applicable for organizational grants (invitation-only). Scholarship program awards 3-4 scholars annually from competitive applicant pool.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable for organizational grants. Scholarship program is one-time award for high school seniors.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's actual funding patterns and leadership statements:

  • Colorado Connection Critical: 61% of 2024 grants went to Colorado organizations, particularly in the Roaring Fork Valley region where the foundation is based
  • Alignment with McGoldrick's Legacy: Organizations that demonstrate mentorship, education, and community leadership reflect the founder's values
  • Diverse Impact Areas: Recent grantees span from local arts (Carbondale Arts, Thunder River Theatre) to international human rights (Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch)
  • Range of Organization Sizes: Funds both small local groups ($1,000 grants) and major institutions ($200,000 to Economic Literacy Colorado)
  • Spend-Down Urgency: As a foundation intending to distribute all assets within ~10 years, they seek high-impact opportunities

For the scholarship program, Ron Speaker notes: "We're not just looking for 4.0 GPA students. We want those who are active in their communities, demonstrating leadership and creativity."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process - relationship building and visibility in Colorado nonprofit community essential
  • Spend-down foundation with ~10-year timeline creates urgency in giving and potential openness to new relationships
  • Strong Colorado preference - 33 of 54 grants in 2024 went to Colorado organizations
  • Wide grant range allows support for both small community groups and major initiatives
  • Focus areas are broad but consistently include arts/culture, education, environment, and human rights
  • Scholarship program offers separate opportunity for direct student support with public application
  • Personal connection to founder's legacy of mentorship and community leadership may influence grant decisions

References

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Join the Launch ListLearn More
← Back to US Funders Directory