General Information
What is the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado?
The Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado was established in 1996 to reflect the fact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Coloradans are committed to Colorado’s great quality of life and its future. We believe that Colorado is made stronger when it welcomes and includes all people regardless of their sexual orientation or gender expression. We rededicate ourselves to this important work everyday by providing nonprofits, civic organizations, government agencies and businesses with the wide variety of resources they need to be successful and inclusive.
Over the years, the fund has invested over $24.8 million in hundreds of high-impact nonprofits that better the quality of life for all Coloradans by providing important arts and culture, civic participation, healthy families, and public broadcasting programs. The fund does not provide funding to organizations that exclusively serve the LGBT population.
The Gay & Lesbian Fund, which is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., is a program of the Gill Foundation and is headed by Mary Lou Makepeace, the Gill Foundation’s vice president for Colorado Programs.
How does the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado get its money?
As a program of the Gill Foundation, the fund receives its yearly budget allocation from the foundation. The Gill Foundation has an endowment and does not solicit contributions.
Grants made by the fund must go to nonprofit organizations that have an IRS 501(c)(3) public charity status and adhere to a nondiscrimination policy inclusive of sexual orientation and gender expression. Grants cannot be used for private or political purposes.