The Gilchrist Foundation Awards For 2019 – 2020

This year the Gilchrist Foundation awarded more than $1.8 million in grants to Siouxland nonprofits with ties to the arts and public broadcasting, wildlife and conservation and disaster relief. These nonprofits were invited to submit applications for the foundation’s endowment and capital campaign grants and project grants during the annual grant cycle of April to mid-July. The foundation also awards micro-grants of a maximum of $5,000 throughout the year.

Here are some of our newest recipients for 2019 - 2020.

Council on Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence was awarded a micro grant of $2,500 for its Children’s Area project. The Council on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence is a private, nonprofit agency that is dedicated to helping victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and homicide become empowered in their quest for dignity and self-respect.

Siouxland Center for Active Generations was awarded a micro grant of $4,500 for its arts and crafts room lighting and online instruction and materials project. Since 1972, the Siouxland Center for Active Generations has been offering programming in the areas of health, fitness, general well-being, recreation, education and finance for its 1,100 members. 

Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation was awarded a micro grant of $5,000 to build a pit latrine on its 160-acre property, which is to become part of the Waubonsie State Park. The INHF mission is to save Iowa’s wild places.

The Salvation Army was awarded $15,000 to help with efforts with flood relief for the Sioux City Corps. Helping with disaster relief is one of the ways the Salvation Army helps with need in Siouxland. In addition to providing food and materials, it also ministers to those in dealing with disasters by offering emotional support, physical comfort and prayer and spiritual counseling.

The Miracle League of Sioux City was given a $5,000 micro grant for the addition of metal, powder-coated corn stalks at the Miracle League baseball field. Sioux City’s Miracle League complex is the largest of its kind worldwide. Located in the Riverside Park area, the park includes a rubber-surfaced baseball field which hosted the 2019 Miracle League All-Star Celebration.

MidAmerica Museum of Aviation & Transportation was awarded a 1:3 challenge match of $3,007.67 to help raise funds to resurface its taxiway. The MAMAT was established in 1989 to create a museum in Sioux City to preserve the area’s rich aviation and transportation history.

Siouxland Community Foundation was awarded a $5,000 micro grant to help One Siouxland bring the Looking for America art exhibit project to Sioux City. The exhibit, that seeks to understand what it means to be an American, visited Siouxland on September 29, 2019 as part of an initial six-city tour.

City of Ponca was awarded a $40,000 project grant to aid in renovations to Chief Standing Bear Park.

City of Sioux City Parks & Rec Department was awarded a $100,000 project grant for the redevelopment of Chris Larsen Park.

Ducks Unlimited was awarded a $40,000 project grant for the expansion of Little Sioux Park for wildlife and people. The park is located two miles southwest of Correctionville, Iowa and features two campgrounds on a 10-acre lake.

Friends of Sioux City Police Department was awarded a $75,000 project grant for its work creating and celebrating kindness through the arts.

Harrison County Conservation Board was given a $50,000 project grant for its Willow Lake Nature Center. The center has natural history displays and live animals like turtles and snakes.

Sioux City Community Theatre was awarded a $24,000 project grant for stage lighting and technology upgrades. SCCT has provided quality, live theatrical production in Siouxland since 1948.

Sioux City Public Library Foundation was awarded a capital campaign of $50,000 for renovations to its Morningside branch.

United Way of Siouxland was awarded a project grant of $20,287 for the Siouxland Recovery Fund for the Hornick Health & Recovery Project. About two-thirds of the homes in the community were affected by flooding along with the surrounding rural areas.

South Sioux City Community Foundation was awarded a $20,000 project grant for walkways for the Scenic Park soccer and rugby fields.

Little Sioux Valley Conservation Association was awarded a micro grant for $4,716 to provide environmental education along the Glacial Trail Scenic Byway. The Glacial Trail Scenic Byway is a 36-mile loop drive that travels through the rural towns of Peterson and Linn Grove.

City of Moorhead was awarded a $5,000 micro grant for the Moorhead Cultural Center for Cultural Center repairs.

Better Ponca Foundation, Inc. was awarded a $3,750 micro grant for hiring a downtown street scape architect.

Siouxland Tennis Association, Inc. was awarded a 1:1 challenge match of $10,000 for help in building an indoor tennis facility. The facility is located on Riverview Drive in Scenic Park in South Sioux City.

Loess Hills Alliance was awarded a $5,000 micro grant to purchase a utility terrain vehicle and a tow-behind trailer. The mission of the Loess Hills Alliance is to protect the natural and cultural resources of Iowa’s Loess Hills.

These are just some of the many grants the Gilchrist Foundation awarded in 2019. You can see the full list of awards recipients here.

The Gilchrist Foundation was established by Jocelyn Gilchrist in December 1998 to honor her family and further their interests. After Jocelyn’s death, the Foundation continued in her memory and is proud to support the philanthropic interests of the Gilchrist family. Organizations designed to aid in disaster recovery are encouraged to apply for funding through the Gilchrist Foundation. Learn more about our grant applications.