Micro-Grants Fulfill Specific Community Need
Miss the deadline to qualify for an invitation to apply for funding available during the 2024 Gilchrist Foundation’s grant season? There’s always time to apply for a Micro-Grant.
Each year, the Gilchrist Foundation awards several types of grants to local and area nonprofit organizations, including Project, Capital Campaign and Endowment grants. Each of these three grants requires nonprofit organizations to complete a pre-qualifier, which asks qualifying questions about the funding request. Only those organizations whose answers align with the pre-qualifier are invited to apply for one of the above three grants. The date for requesting an invitation has passed, the deadline was April 1, 2024, but that doesn’t mean funding isn’t still available. Micro-Grants are available year-round.
What’s a Micro-Grant?
The Gilchrist Foundation’s Micro-Grants were created in 2014 as a way for qualifying, tax-exempt organizations to receive a one-time grant for up to $5,000. Micro-Grants allow non-profit groups to receive funding for smaller projects on a one-time basis. Criteria for the award include the opportunity to bring theater, music, art, green spaces, parks, wildlife and conservation efforts into the lives of Siouxland residents. In 2023, the Foundation awarded 27 Micro-Grants to organizations totaling more than $112,000.
In 2023, these grants helped serve a specific purpose for the organizations that received them, whether it was funding programs for the arts, planning music and dance workshops and helping animal rescue, and aligned with the Foundation’s mission.
Big Brothers Big Sisters: Awarded a $5,000 Micro-Grant to help provide opportunities for kids to participate in the arts. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Siouxland creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships to help local youths.
Breathe Bravely: Awarded $2,500 for its sINgSPIRE program. sINgSPIRE is a 10-week program that combats cystic fibrosis through the art of singing, which has both physical and psychological advantages for those living with cystic fibrosis.
Golden Hills RC&D: Awarded $2,500 to help fund an artist in residence program at Waubonsie State Park. Golden Hills Resource Conservation & Development leads community, conservation and cultural initiatives to improve the quality of life for Western Iowans.
Morningside University: Awarded $5,000 to help plant a flower bed outside Roadman Hall. Morningside University is a private, four-year liberal arts college located on 69-acres in Sioux City, Iowa.
Reach Youth and Family Theatre: Awarded $3,000 to purchase two theatrical productions. REACH is a non-profit youth and family performing arts theatre with a mission to provide quality theatrical opportunities in a safe, family-friendly environment. It offers youth acting lessons, as well as performance opportunities in productions and special events.
Sioux City Conservatory of Music: Awarded $5,000 to support the Harmony Project. The Harmony Project is the Conservatory’s community outreach program. A free program, it is an hour long music session hosted by a Conservatory staff member and consisting of up to 10 music clubs with an unlimited number of participants joining the club sessions every day of every week.
Sioux Crew: Awarded $2,500 to fund guest artists, teachers and workshops for hip hop. Sioux Crew is a local hip hop dance group. The dancers perform, compete, battle and showcase their talent.
Vangarde Arts: Awarded $5,000 for the Alley Art Festival. The Alley Art Festival is an annual event that features art in the alleys between 4th and 6th streets and Pierce and Nebraska streets in downtown Sioux City, Iowa. It features art vendors, live music, food trucks and art for kids.
Wet Nose Rescue: Awarded $5,000 for an enclosed dog run and exercise area. Wet Nose Rescue is a Plymouth County Iowa group that raises awareness and funding for a Plymouth County Animal Shelter & Adoption center, to help rescue, house and adopt abused, neglected, abandoned and animals in need of homes.
How to Apply
Micro-Grant requests may be submitted at any time through a streamlined, online application. Micro-Grants will be either accepted or denied within 30 days. The application can also be downloaded and mailed to:
Security National Bank
601 Pierce St.
Sioux City, IA 51101
For more information about the Micro-Grant Project, contact Security National Bank at 712-277-6586 or wealth@snbonline.com
About the Gilchrist Foundation
The Gilchrist Foundation was established by Jocelyn Gilchrist of Sioux City to honor her family and their philanthropic interests. Jocelyn supported the arts, wildlife and conservation, public broadcasting and disaster relief throughout her lifetime both personally and through the Foundation. After her death in 2008, the Gilchrist Foundation continued to support these philanthropic interests.
Today, the mission of the Gilchrist Foundation is to further the philanthropy of its founder and her family with an emphasis on fostering the long-term viability of the charity and enabling special projects rather than supplying current operating funds.
To learn more about the Gilchrist Foundation, contact us today.