Gilchrist’s 2025 Grant Season is Approaching Fast: Request for Invitations are Due April 1, 2025
The Gilchrist Foundation is one of the most prolific supporters of nonprofit initiatives in the Sioux City area. Each year, contributions from the Foundation help charities enhance their missions and provide much-needed community programs and services that benefit tens of thousands of Siouxlanders. In 2024, the Foundation awarded more than $2 million to nonprofit organizations for projects ranging from music, arts and the theater; wildlife and conservation; and disaster relief.
The Foundation has supported local art and music programs, like providing funds for school instruments, and sponsoring huge events like Art Splash and Saturday in the Park. Its efforts to protect wildlife and our environment have facilitated the purchase of gear to track wildlife and land to expand valuable natural prairies. And organizations that quickly respond to natural disasters, like the American Red Cross, continually receive support from the Foundation.
The application process for these impactful grants begins soon. April 1, 2025, is the deadline for nonprofit organizations to submit a Request for Invitation to see if they qualify to apply for a grant in 2025. Once a Request for Invitation is granted, the deadline for applications for the 2025 grants is June 27, 2025.
Understanding the Grant Process
The Gilchrist Foundation provides four distinct types of grants: Project, Capital Campaign, Endowment and Micro-Grants. Each serves a unique role in supporting nonprofit initiatives, with its own specific application.
Step 1: Request an Invitation.
Grants from the Gilchrist Foundation are only available to nonprofits that have been invited to apply. To begin, organizations must complete the Grant Request Pre-Qualifier, which evaluates the funding request based on the Foundation’s interests. If the request aligns with the Foundation’s mission, the organization will be directed to submit a Request for Invitation. This form can be completed online or downloaded as a PDF and mailed to:
Security National Bank
601 Pierce St
Sioux City, IA 51101
All Request for Invitations must be submitted by April 1, 2025.
Step 2: Submit a Grant Application.
Once a Request for Invitation is approved, organizations will receive a link to access, complete and submit an application for one of the following grant types: Project Grant, Capital Campaign or Endowment.
Project Grant: his grant is designed to support the expansion of an existing program or help launch a new initiative. The Foundation’s involvement is intended to be temporary, with the expectation that the program will eventually become self-sustaining. It is not meant to provide long-term operational funding. In 2024, 27 Project Grants were awarded, totaling nearly $900,000.
Capital Campaign: This grant supports significant renovations or expansions that strengthen an organization’s mission. Preference is given to projects that use Foundation funds to leverage additional matching funds, such as a 1:1 Challenge match. These awards help nonprofits accelerate their fundraising efforts. In 2024, four challenge matches were awarded, amounting to $525,000.
Endowment: Endowment grants help organizations establish or grow sustainable financial reserves while ensuring strong board participation. The Foundation aims to be a key contributor to an endowment without becoming its primary source of funding. As with Capital Campaigns, preference is given to challenge matches that encourage additional contributions.
All grant applications must be submitted by June 27, 2025.
Year-Round Micro-Grants
The Gilchrist Foundation’s Micro-Grants, created in 2014, provide a one-time funding for up to $5,000 for qualifying tax-exempt organizations that promote the arts, wildlife or conservation. These grants enable nonprofits to complete smaller-scale projects without requiring long-term financial commitments. Eligible initiatives include projects that bring music, theater, art, green spaces, parks, wildlife preservation and conservation efforts to the Siouxland community. In 2024, the Foundation awarded 33 Micro-Grants, totaling nearly $135,000.
About the Gilchrist Foundation
The Gilchrist Foundation was founded by Jocelyn Gilchrist of Sioux City to honor her family’s philanthropic legacy. Throughout her life, Jocelyn championed the arts, wildlife conservation, public broadcasting and disaster relief, supporting these causes both personally and through the Foundation. Since her passing in 2008, the Foundation has carried on with her vision.
Today, the Gilchrist Foundation remains committed to advancing its founder’s charitable mission, prioritizing initiatives that foster long-term sustainability and special projects rather than ongoing operational expenses.
To learn more about the Gilchrist Foundation, contact us today.