Jim Gilmore Jr Foundation
The Jim Gilmore Jr. Foundation (Kalamazoo, MI) focuses on improvement of downtown Kalamazoo and provides granting guidelines and an application procedure on its site. The site lists the foundation address, named officers (President Chris Shook, Comptroller Sue Brockelbank), and contact emails at the jgfdn.org domain.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A Kalamazoo-area nonprofit or Michigan-based organization with programs tied to downtown improvement, community services, arts, education, health, or capital/project needs that can provide a board list, budget and financials.
Good Fit
- • Organization based in Kalamazoo or elsewhere in Michigan.
- • Projects that improve downtown Kalamazoo or strengthen local community hubs.
- • Requests for capital projects or special project funding (equipment, renovations, HVAC, etc.).
- • Ability to provide the application checklist items (cover letter, narrative, budget, tax-exempt letter, board list, financials).
- • Budget scale consistent with past grants (roughly $5K–$50K typical, with some larger awards).
Geography
Giving is heavily concentrated in Michigan, with about 91% of dollars directed in-state and the foundation located in Kalamazoo, though small out-of-state grants appear occasionally across eight states.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows a broad recipient base — 51 distinct organizations received grants — with multiple sectors represented and a substantial number of new grantees alongside recurring recipients.
New Applicants
Public application guidelines, a named contact and rolling submissions are posted on the website, and 28 new recipients were funded in the most recent year, which together indicate that unfamiliar applicants have a realistic path into the portfolio.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
