Gill Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Gill Foundation is one of the largest private funders of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT
) equal rights work in the United States. The foundation’s mission is “to secure equal opportunity for all Americans
, regardless of sexual orientation
and gender expression
.”
Based in Denver, Colo, the foundation has three board members: Tim Gill
, Urvashi Vaid
, and John Barabino.
Day-to-day operations are managed by the President and CEO, Tim Sweeney, and the foundation’s staff.
in 1994, two years after the passage of Amendment 2
, a Colorado
ballot initiative denying lesbians
and gay
men equal protection under the law. Through 2010, the foundation had granted more than $118 million to nonprofits sharing its commitment to full equality.
and allies that work every day to bring about equality. Funding to these organizations, including those in Colorado, is provided by the Gill Foundation. Because the Gill Foundation is based in Colorado, the remaining 20 percent of its funding goes to nonprofits in the state that improve the quality of life for all its residents. Funding for these programs is given in the name of the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado
, a program of the Gill Foundation. In its 15-year history, the fund has given more than $27.6 million in grants to Colorado nonprofits.
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
) equal rights work in the United States. The foundation’s mission is “to secure equal opportunity for all Americans
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
, regardless of sexual orientation
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...
and gender expression
Gender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
.”
Based in Denver, Colo, the foundation has three board members: Tim Gill
Tim Gill
Tim Gill is an American computer software entrepreneur and LGBT rights activist.- Background :Gill was born in Hobart, Indiana...
, Urvashi Vaid
Urvashi Vaid
Urvashi Vaid is an American activist who has worked for over 25 years promoting civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons.- Political activism :...
, and John Barabino.
Day-to-day operations are managed by the President and CEO, Tim Sweeney, and the foundation’s staff.
History
The Gill Foundation was founded by Tim GillTim Gill
Tim Gill is an American computer software entrepreneur and LGBT rights activist.- Background :Gill was born in Hobart, Indiana...
in 1994, two years after the passage of Amendment 2
Romer v. Evans
Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620 , is a landmark United States Supreme Court case dealing with civil rights and state laws. It was the first Supreme Court case to deal with LGBT rights since Bowers v...
, a Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
ballot initiative denying lesbians
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
and gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
men equal protection under the law. Through 2010, the foundation had granted more than $118 million to nonprofits sharing its commitment to full equality.
The Gill Foundation Today
About 80 percent of the foundation’s funding is dedicated to national and state LGBT nonprofitsNonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
and allies that work every day to bring about equality. Funding to these organizations, including those in Colorado, is provided by the Gill Foundation. Because the Gill Foundation is based in Colorado, the remaining 20 percent of its funding goes to nonprofits in the state that improve the quality of life for all its residents. Funding for these programs is given in the name of the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado
Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado
The Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado, a program of the Gill Foundation, provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Colorado through four program areas:...
, a program of the Gill Foundation. In its 15-year history, the fund has given more than $27.6 million in grants to Colorado nonprofits.
Leadership
- Tim Sweeney President & CEO
- Lauren Arnold Chief Financial Officer
- Katherine Peck Senior Vice President of Programs
- Chris Cormier Director of Donor and Foundation Relations
- Mary Lou Makepeace Vice President, Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado
- Bobby Clark Vice President, Marketing and Communications
External links
- Gill Foundation — official website
- See 16 YEARS OF FINANCIALS - official website
- See Grantmaking History- official website
- Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado - official website