Galashiels Fund
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation accepts no unsolicited requests and gives only to organisations it has preselected, so a cold approach is unlikely to succeed.
- Its stated interests are music organisations, libertarian advocacy, and theatre and music education, so only work in those areas is a sensible fit.
- Most of its grants to organisations fall between $125,000 and $2,800,000, and half of its 38 grants are $1,000,000 or less, so any request should be sized with those figures in mind, though the largest grant was $5,000,000 and that band is not a ceiling.
- Repeat giving is strong, with 87% of grant dollars to organisations in the filing going to organisations it had also funded in one of the two filings before it, so the foundation appears relationship-led and a small charity is better served by seeking an introduction through an existing connection than by applying cold.
Overview
Galashiels Fund is a US private foundation based in Sarasota, FL.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (insidephilanthropy.com), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Galashiels Fund supports music organisations and libertarian-oriented advocacy organisations. Carol Colburn Grigor characterises Keith W. Colburn’s giving as varied and largely under the radar, identifying theatre and music education as its main focus. The filings record annual support as the dominant grant purpose, alongside some endowment and annual support. Grant rows also record support to a range of charitable organisations. The filing says contributions go only to preselected charitable organisations and unsolicited requests are not accepted by the foundation.
Themes
- Music organisations
- Libertarian advocacy
- Theatre and music education
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Virginia, Illinois, Indiana, District of Columbia and California.
How to apply
Contributions are made only to preselected charitable organisations; unsolicited requests are not accepted, so no public application route is described.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 87% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 38 grants to organisations were $1,000,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
3 other states: 6%
- The largest single recipient received 29% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 87% of grant dollars went to organisations Galashiels Fund had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 12 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $1M (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Institute for Justice · Annual support$5,000,0002024 tax year
- World Bicycle Relief · Annual support$2,209,2502024 tax year
- Challenged Athletes Foundation · Endowment and annual support$2,100,0002024 tax year
- Holy Family Ministries · Endowment and annual support$1,300,0002024 tax year
- Cristo Ray Jesuit High School · Annual support$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Greater Education Opportunities Foundation · Annual support$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Cato Institute · Annual support$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Wild Tomorrow Fund · Annual support$756,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Keith W Colburn — President / Treasurer / Director
- Betsy P Colburn — Vice President / Director
- Andrea K Mayes — Assistant Treasurer
- David T Bradford — Secretary / Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $20,069,017 | $13,645,000 | $234,730,088 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $20,037,537 | $16,082,000 | $233,524,217 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $18,483,634 | $15,090,250 | $239,549,788 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Galashiels Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Sarasota, FL
Applying to Galashiels Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Sarasota, FL