Application Process Now Open For 2019 Grant Cycle
The Gilchrist Foundation’s mission is to carry out the philanthropy established by the Gilchrist family. Each year we award nonprofit organizations - in the areas of wildlife and conservation, arts and public broadcasting and disaster relief - with nearly $2 million in grant funds. The 2019 grant cycle process is now open. It just takes a couple steps to apply and it all begins with a Request for Invitation.
Request For Invitation
The Gilchrist Foundation does not accept any unsolicited applications for funds but makes grants to pre-selected charities that have been invited to apply; this is the first step in our grant application process. Any organization looking to apply for our project grants, endowment grants or capital campaigns must apply for an invite. This process helps us ensure our missions align and gives us a brief description of your planned grant request.
New this year, the Request for Invitation form is due April 1, 2019. The selection committee will meet in April and notify those who have been selected to apply, by early May. The Request for Invitation form is available for download on our website.
Apply For Funding
If your Request for Invitation is approved, you may then start the application process for our grants; this is the second step of the process. All of the application forms are available on our website. The forms are due by Friday, June 28, 2019. If approved, you will be informed by July 19, 2019.
Project Grant Application: Project grants allow recipients to enhance existing or offer new programs that will further the mission and outreach of the organization. With these grants, we expect that our support will be temporary, and the program will become self-sustaining. It’s not our intention to have our support become a permanent budget line item.
Endowment Grant Application: Endowment grants promote viable endowments with healthy board participation. Our goal is to be a significant contributor, without being the main supporter of the endowment. Challenges which offer our Foundation’s funds as matches to other funds, receive preference.
Capital Campaign Application: Capital campaign grants make a significant contribution to worthy renovation or expansion projects that will enhance the mission of the recipient charity. As with endowment grants, preference is given to those organizations that will use our funds to stimulate matching funds.
The Gilchrist Foundation was established by Jocelyn Gilchrist of Sioux City to honor her family. Her father, William Gilchrist, was an influential part of the livestock industry in the early and mid-1900s. The wealth accumulated throughout his life is used to support the family’s special interests, including wildlife and conservation, the Arts and public broadcasting, and disaster relief. After Jocelyn’s death, the Foundation continued in her memory and is proud to support the philanthropic interests of the Gilchrist family. We encourage organizations that meet our