Jim Gilmore JR Foundation
Kalamazoo, MI · EIN 36-3584018. Reported 144 grants totalling $1,560,594 to 90 organizations across tax years 2022-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Jim Gilmore JR Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $5,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $2,000 and $15,000; the smallest was $100 and the largest $85,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo Cultural Center | Kalamazoo, MI | $115,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Community Healing Center | Kalamazoo, MI | $110,057 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition | Kalamazoo, MI | $90,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Kalamazoo County Defender | Kalamazoo, MI | $85,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bronson Health Foundation | Kalamazoo, MI | $84,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Ascension Borgess Foundation | Kalamazoo, MI | $65,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| First Congregational Church | Kalamazoo, MI | $65,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Downtown Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo, MI | $63,680 | 2 | 1 | 2022 |
| Special Days Camps | Ann Arbor, MI | $57,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Catholic Schools of Grtr Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo, MI | $50,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Center for Public Justice | Washington, DC | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo, MI | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Boys & Girls Club | Kalamazoo, MI | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes | Kalamazoo, MI | $32,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Milestone Senior Services | Kalamazoo, MI | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Huron River Watershed Council | Ann Arbor, MI | $26,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Kalamazoo College | Kalamazoo, MI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| YWCA | Kalamazoo, MI | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Bright Promise Fund for Urban Christian Education | Chicago, IL | $21,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Gryphon Place | Kalamazoo, MI | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Heritage Community of Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo, MI | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| St Lukes Espiscopal Church | Ferndale, MI | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Stulburg Internatational String Competion | Kalamazoo, MI | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Farmers Alley Theatre | Kalamazoo, MI | $17,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Western Michigan University Foundation | Kalamazoo, MI | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Guardian Finance & Advocacy Serv | Battle Creek, MI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Kalamazoo in Bloom | Kalamazoo, MI | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Kalamazoo Nature Center | Kalamazoo, MI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Kvcc Foundation | Kalamazoo, MI | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Lending Hands of Michigan | Portage, MI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The University of Michigan Law Schl | Ann Arbor, MI | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| VFW Post 827 | Kalamazoo, MI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services | Kentwood, MI | $14,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Bike Friendly Kalamazoo | Portage, MI | $12,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center | Augusta, MI | $11,025 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Tko Premier Sc | Kalamazoo, MI | $11,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Alano Club of Kalamaozo | Kalamazoo, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Cleveland Clinic | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries | Kalamazoo, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra | Kalamazoo, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ministry W Community | Kalamazoo, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Wellspringcori Terry & Dancers | Kalamazoo, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| West Michigan Cancer Center | Kalamazoo, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Friends With Disabilities | Kalamazoo, MI | $9,917 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Sos Community Services | Ypsilanti, MI | $9,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Crescendo Academy of Music | Kalamazoo, MI | $7,529 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters | Kalamazoo, MI | $7,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The William George Agency | Springfield, MI | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Boulder County Arts Alliance Inc | Boulder, CO | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Open Doors | Kalamazoo, MI | $6,238 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Akpe Charitable Fund | Lafayette, CO | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ocean Conservation Education | Tavernier, FL | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership | Kalamazoo, MI | $5,598 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ann Arbor Art Center | Ann Arbor, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Children's Foundation | Detroit, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cranbrook Educational Community | Bloomfield Hills, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Guardian Finance & Advocacy Services | Battle Creek, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Safe Place | Battle Creek, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Fathers Against Distracted Driving | Portage, MI | $4,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Calvary Baptist Church | Ithaca, NY | $3,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Ali Forney Center Inc | New York, NY | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Catholic Charities of Tompkins Cty | Ithaca, NY | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Kids Without Cancer | Detroit, MI | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Missional Chaplains | Kalamazoo, MI | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Paul Smith's College | Paul Smiths, NY | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Saint Joseph Catholic Church | Kalamazoo, MI | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Second Wind Cottages | Newfield, NY | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Sciencenter | Ithaca, NY | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Gilmore Car Museum | Hickory Corners, MI | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Our Place in Paradise | Tavernier, FL | $2,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Peo International | Des Moines, IA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Aacorn Farm Inc | Kalamazoo, MI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Covenant Academies Foundation | Kalamazoo, MI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Gull Lake Community Schools | Richland, MI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ithaca Community Recovery | Ithaca, NY | $1,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Outfront Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo, MI | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Salvation Army of Ithaca | Ithaca, NY | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Folds of Honor Foundation | Grand Haven, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Guides Trust Foundation | Islamorada, FL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Irish American Partnership | Boston, MA | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Lawrence Academy | Groton, MA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lawrence Academy | Southfield, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Pleasant Grove Cemetery Association | Long Valley, NJ | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance | Kalamazoo, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| History Center in Tompkins County | Ithaca, NY | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bethany Reformed Church | Kalamazoo, MI | $150 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| First Bapist Church of Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo, MI | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| First United Methodist Church | Kalamazoo, MI | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Prairie Edge Christian Ref Church | Portage, MI | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Trinity Lutheran Church | Kalamazoo, MI | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
33 of 90 (37%) received money in more than one year over the 3 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 52%, across 2 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Kalamazoo County Defender
RENOVATIONS AND EXPANSION - Ascension Borgess Foundation
TREE OF LOVE/EMERGENCY DEPT - Bronson Health Foundation
EMERGENCY/URGENT CARE SUPPORT - Downtown Kalamazoo
DOWNTOWN AMBASSADOR PROGRAM - Western Michigan University Foundation
LISTEN TECHNOLOGY/ASL MILLER - Gull Lake Community Schools
ALTERNATIVE LEARNING PROGRAM & OPERATIONS
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 62 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 50 | $690,153 | $5,000 |
| 2023 | 43 | $371,373 | $6,000 |
| 2024 | 51 | $499,068 | $5,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 92% of this one's giving went to organizations in Michigan. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $5,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Michigan.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Jim Gilmore JR Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: 162 E Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 36-3584018 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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