Gilchrist Helps Mid America Museum Take Flight
Aircraft coming to the Mid America Museum of Aviation and Transportation will have a much easier time getting on the taxiway thanks to a grant from the Gilchrist Foundation.
The foundation awarded the local museum two capital campaign grants for $102,624 to help fund gate access, lighting and to resurface the taxiway at its location at the Sioux Gateway Airport.
The Mid America Museum of Aviation & Transportation (MAMAT) is an independent, educational non-profit organization that was established in 1989 in Sioux City to preserve Sioux City’s aviation and transportation history. It displays all phases of aviation and surface transportation, from full-sized airplanes like the Boeing 727-200 and a Vietnam Huey helicopter to surface transportation including vintage automobiles, bicycles and motorcycles. The foundation’s grant will make it easier and safer for the museum to access those displays once taxiway improvements are completed.
Specifically, the improvements include a swing gate that will reduce maintenance and manpower and a lighting project that will install new fixtures and energy-efficient lamps inside the museum’s building, helping to illuminate the 30,000 square-feet of displays and exhibits.
The Gilchrist Foundation’s capital campaigns, like the one the foundation awarded to MAMAT, make significant contributions to worthy renovation or expansion projects that help enhance recipient’s mission. When awarding these capital campaign grants, preference is given to those organizations that will use the dollars to stimulate matching funds. About 55% of the foundation’s total grants are given as endowment and capital campaigns. The foundation also has a pattern of awarding about half of its total grants to the arts, including not only the fine arts, but also cultural and historical groups, like MAMAT.
To take advantage of one of the Gilchrist Foundation’s capital campaign grants, organizations must first request an invitation to apply. These requests can be done either online or via mail. Print and complete this PDF and mail it to:
Security National Bank
601 Pierce St.
Sioux City, IA 51101
If your request to apply is approved, you’ll receive a URL link where you can download, complete and submit your Capital Campaign Application.
The Gilchrist Foundation was first established by Jocelyn Gilchrist of Sioux City to honor her family’s interests in not only the arts, but public broadcasting, disaster relief and wildlife and conservation. After her death, the foundation continued on in her memory and is proud to support the philanthropic interests of the Gilchrist family by supporting worthy Siouxland organizations with missions that align with ours.