Photo credit: Gill Foundation
Tim Gill, the driving force behind the Gill Foundation, is walking a currently very rough road. He works towards LGBTQ+ primarily through vocal advocacy and grantmaking. He’s well known and recognized for these efforts, probably why he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in January.But that didn’t slow him down for the rest of the year. In 2024, he began pivoting the Foundation’s work towards protecting and strengthening the democratic institutions that help secure LGBTQ+ rights, most of which have been under heavy fire in recent months, and he’s continued that work throughout the year.
Since 2024, the Gill Foundation has awarded over $4.3 million in grants to pro-democracy nonprofits (only a small part of the more than $459 million it’s invested in such programs since its inception). Gill believes these efforts are crucial to ensuring a safer LGBTQ+ future.
The Foundation has been focusing its efforts on Southern and Western states where LGBTQ+ rights are most at risk, and it works in partnership with other organizations, including the ACLU and the Human Rights Campaign. Gill also bolstered efforts like One Colorado, which hosted its annual Freedom for All Youth Advocacy Retreat in October.
