What Gill Foundation does

Gill Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) philanthropic foundation established in 1994 by software entrepreneur Tim Gill and headquartered in Denver, Colorado. The foundation's mission is to secure full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans, with a dual programmatic structure: (1) national-level funding through the 'Equal Treatment' priority — supporting legal advocacy, nondiscrimination protections, public education, and organizational capacity-building for LGBTQ nonprofits — and (2) Colorado-specific funding through 'A Prosperous Colorado' — investing in STEM education, financial services protection, LGBTQ advocacy, and public broadcasting. Since inception, the foundation has deployed more than $475 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, making it one of the largest U.S. private funders focused on LGBTQ equality.

Gill Foundation does not operate a technology product or commercial revenue model; it is funded by Tim Gill's endowment and generates resources through investment returns. Grant-making is restricted to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations within the United States and operates strictly by invitation — unsolicited proposals are not accepted. The foundation also runs the OutGiving network and biennial conference (since 1996), which convenes LGBTQ and allied donors contributing $25,000 or more annually to coordinate strategic philanthropy. Notable grantees and partners have included GLAD Law, GLSEN, Movement Advancement Project, Freedom for All Americans Education Fund, the U.S. Chamber Foundation, the White House (Pride Month engagements in 2023 and 2024), and Colorado community institutions including Food Bank of the Rockies and History Colorado.

The foundation is governed by a board co-chaired by Tim Gill and Scott Miller (former U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein), and includes senior legal and movement figures such as Mary Bonauto (who argued Obergefell v. Hodges before the Supreme Court) and Eliza Byard (former Executive Director of GLSEN). In April 2025, the foundation announced Kate Kendell — formerly Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights for 23 years — as its new CEO effective May 7, 2025, succeeding Brad Clark.

Name

Gill Foundation

Legal name

Gill Foundation

Website

https://gillfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gill Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) philanthropic foundation established in 1994 that has deployed over $475 million in grants to advance LGBTQ equality nationally and support Colorado communities, serving nonprofit grantees and the OutGiving donor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Grant-Making Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

Keywords

• LGBTQ philanthropy
• Grant-making foundation
• Nonprofit advocacy funding
• Equality advocacy grants
• Community impact grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Endowment & Grant-Making: Gill Foundation operates as a private philanthropy foundation funded by Tim Gill's endowment. Since its inception in 1994, the foundation has invested more than $475 million in programs and nonprofit organizations around the nation. Revenue is generated from investment returns on the endowment, not from selling products or services. The foundation makes grants to advance LGBTQ equality and support Colorado communities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Gill Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) philanthropic foundation that makes grants exclusively to U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations by invitation only. Grants support national LGBTQ equality efforts (Equal Treatment priority) and Colorado community priorities (A Prosperous Colorado priority: STEM education, financial services, LGBTQ advocacy, public broadcasting), and the foundation convenes the biennial OutGiving Conference and donor network for LGBTQ and allied philanthropists.

Product overview

Gill Foundation is a philanthropic organization focused on advancing equality for LGBTQ Americans and supporting Colorado communities. The foundation's primary offerings include grant-making programs for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, the biennial OutGiving Conference for LGBTQ and allied donors, and funding initiatives across three main priority areas: Equal Treatment (national LGBTQ equality efforts), A Prosperous Colorado (state-level initiatives in STEM education, financial services, LGBTQ advocacy, and public broadcasting). The foundation does not offer technology products or software services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OutGiving: A network of LGBTQ and allied donors that brings together philanthropists and institutional funders to advance equality through strategic philanthropy. Includes a biennial invitation-only conference.

Products and services

• Equal Treatment Grant Program Invitation-only grant funding for U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits working on national LGBTQ legal protections, public education, cultural change, and organizational sustainability. Invests in areas including nondiscrimination protections, conversion-therapy bans, and marriage-equality enforcement.
• A Prosperous Colorado Grant Program Invitation-only grant funding for Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits across four priority areas: STEM Education, Financial Services (anti-predatory lending), LGBTQ Advocacy, and Public Broadcasting. Invested $77 million in Colorado since inception, including over $1 million in COVID relief grants in 2020.
• OutGiving Conference and Donor Network Invitation-only network and biennial conference convening LGBTQ and allied philanthropists contributing $25,000 or more annually to advance LGBTQ equality through collective strategic giving. Builds relationships, shares strategies, and deepens commitment to equality.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5.6 million meals provided to Coloradans during COVID-19 pandemic
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• Colorado Healing FundmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2022Donated $100,000 to support victims' families, survivors, and the community affected by the Club Q tragedy in Colorado Springs. Colorado Healing Fund was established in 2018 as a collaboration between victim advocates and local leaders.
• Freedom for All Americans Education FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2021Gill Foundation announced a $1 million grant to support a coordinated public education campaign to combat anti-LGBTQ discrimination. This partnership advances federal nondiscrimination efforts as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect all LGBTQ Americans.
• GenderCoolsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Gill Foundation granted $500,000 to GenderCool to help transgender youth. This supports the foundation's commitment to transgender youth facing distinct anti-LGBTQ attacks.
• Stonewall InnmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2020Provided $250,000 lifeline to the Stonewall Inn to ensure it remains the nation's first LGBTQ historic landmark and national monument through and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Site of the iconic Stonewall Riots.
• Movement Advancement Project (MAP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2020Partnership to survey the field on a quarterly basis to understand and assess the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on LGBTQ organizations. Survey results informed the foundation's financial resiliency program.
• Fiscal Management AssociatessupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2020Launched a financial resiliency program with Fiscal Management Associates for critical LGBTQ movement organizations. Offering includes individualized financial analysis, action planning, coaching, and new systems for financial forecasting and multi-year budgeting.
• Food Bank of the RockiesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Gill Foundation donated $500,000 to Food Bank of the Rockies, which reaches nearly 60% of Colorado's food-insecure population. Combined with Care and Share, provided over 3 million well-balanced meals to Coloradans in need.
• Care and Share Food Bank for Southern ColoradomajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Gill Foundation donated $150,000 to Care and Share, which reaches 22% of Colorado's food-insecure population. Partnership helped address 50% increase in assistance requests during COVID-19 pandemic.
• Project Angel HeartsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Gill Foundation donated $50,000 to Project Angel Heart to deliver meals to some of the most vulnerable Coloradans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Julius' BarsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Made $20,000 contribution to Julius' Bar, the oldest gay bar in New York City and site of the 1966 Mattachine Society 'sip-in' that challenged discriminatory policies.
• Colorado COVID Relief FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Donated $100,000 to the Fund to help fuel the first round of grants to nonprofits working in prevention, impact, and recovery. Foundation staff served on executive committee and community voices committee.
• One Colorado Education FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScott Miller helped launch the One Colorado Education Fund, which has supported efforts to preserve and share Colorado's LGBTQ history through partnerships with History Colorado.
• History ColoradosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with History Colorado to preserve and share Colorado's LGBTQ history. Scott Miller's work with One Colorado Education Fund supports this statewide, cross-community initiative.
• U.S. Chamber FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGill Foundation and U.S. Chamber Foundation announced the 'Inclusion Incorporated' Initiative to advance LGBTQ inclusion in the workplace.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Arcus Foundation: Arcus Foundation is one of the largest U.S. private foundations focused exclusively on LGBTQ rights and social justice, making it the closest direct peer to Gill Foundation in mission, scale, and grantmaking approach.
• Tides Foundation: Tides Foundation is a major U.S. philanthropic partner and funder of LGBTQ equality, progressive social movements, and policy advocacy, operating a comparable donor-advised and grantmaking model with similar movement-building orientation.
• Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund: The Haas Jr. Fund is a private family foundation with substantial commitment to LGBTQ rights and equality, particularly through its Haas Initiative, making it a direct peer in LGBTQ-focused grantmaking strategy.
• Human Rights Campaign Foundation: HRC Foundation is the educational and advocacy arm of the nation's largest LGBTQ civil rights organization; while more advocacy-driven than purely grantmaking, it is a peer in shaping LGBTQ equality strategy and partnerships.

Emerging players

• Freedom for All Americans Education Fund: Freedom for All Americans is a bipartisan campaign to secure full federal nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ Americans. Gill Foundation granted it $1M, making it a key strategic partner and emerging peer in federal advocacy.
• Movement Advancement Project (MAP): MAP is a think tank providing research and analytics for the LGBTQ movement. Gill Foundation partnered with MAP during COVID-19 to survey the field, making it a strategically aligned peer in the LGBTQ advocacy ecosystem.

Regional players

• Rose Community Foundation: Rose Community Foundation is a Denver-based community foundation focused on Jewish community, aging, child and family services, and education. It is a regional peer to Gill Foundation's Colorado-specific grantmaking in Greater Denver.
• The Colorado Trust: The Colorado Trust is a statewide foundation focused on health and health equity in Colorado. It is a regional peer in deploying philanthropic capital to Colorado-based nonprofits, with overlapping grantees in Colorado's social services ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Ford Foundation: Ford Foundation is one of the largest U.S. foundations with significant commitments to social justice, including LGBTQ equality. It is a broad incumbent peer given its scale and overlapping progressive grantmaking priorities.
• Open Society Foundations: Open Society Foundations is a global private foundation with substantial commitments to human rights, including LGBTQ equality. It is a broad incumbent peer given its scale, geographic reach, and overlap in human rights grantmaking.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gillfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gill Foundation