The Gaughan Family Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 1997 and based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The foundation was founded by the late John D. "Jackie" Gaughan, a prominent Las Vegas casino owner who was instrumental in developing the downtown gaming scene. The foundation operates as a nonoperating private foundation that makes charitable contributions rather than conducting direct charitable activities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$18.4M
-0.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
+32.4% YoY
Grant Count
13
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$138K
+32.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gaughan Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on education, philanthropy and voluntarism, and human services. The foundation values higher education and supports the belief that individuals should be valued for their hard work, loyalty, and strong values.
Grantmaking
Recent grants demonstrate the foundation's commitment to higher education institutions. In 2024, the foundation made grants including:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Nevada, California, and Oklahoma, though it has supported institutions nationally. The foundation has demonstrated particular interest in supporting educational institutions with connections to the Gaughan family's roots and values.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $18,373,286
- Total Revenues: $1,729,903
- Total Expenses: $2,366,062
- Total Giving: $1,800,000
- Investment Income and Dividends: $354,644
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation's financial position shows stable assets with investment income as a primary revenue source.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $18,373,286 | $18,506,466 | $18,559,063 |
| Revenue | $1,729,903 | $782,445 | $608,371 |
| Expenses | $2,366,062 | $1,933,946 | $1,752,999 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,800,000 | $1,360,000 | $1,315,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,180,246 | $211,438 | $172,774 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,242,871 | $1,135,219 | $1,141,522 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
73 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Bishop Gorman High School ($800,000), University of Southern California ($450,000), Creighton University ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BISHOP GORMAN HIGH SCHOOL LAS VEGAS, NV | CHARITABLE | $800,000 |
| CORNEA RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF AMERI INDIANAPOLIS, IN | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY OMAHA, NE | CHARITABLE | $200,000 |
| NATIONAL COWBOY AND WESTER HERITAGE OKLAHOMA, OK | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
| OUR LADY OF LAS VEGAS CATHOLIC SCHO LAS VEGAS, NV | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| PRCA PRO RODEO HALL OF FAME COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
| ST FRANCIS DE SALES CATHOLIC SCHOOL LAS VEGAS, NV | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| ST VIATOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL LAS VEGAS, NV | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO SAN FRANCISCO, CA | CHARITABLE | $200,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITABLE | $450,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation was founded by John D. "Jackie" Gaughan, an Omaha native and Las Vegas casino owner known for being one of the first employers in Las Vegas to encourage diverse hiring practices. John Gaughan, Jackie Gaughan's grandson and a 1988 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business Administration, has been involved in the foundation's major gift decisions.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL J GAUGHAN | President | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported significant capital projects in recent years. In 2007, the Gaughan family provided a major gift to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Foundation to support the development of the Jackie D. Gaughan Multicultural Center, named in honor of the family patriarch.
Thanks to Gaughan donation, planned Metro K-9 facility a go -The foundation has also supported community facilities in Las Vegas, including a donation toward a planned Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department K-9 facility and support for the Jackie Gaughan Boys & Girls Club, which unveiled a Cox Innovation Lab in 2024.
Thanks to Gaughan donation, planned Metro K-9 facility a go -Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gaughan Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on education, philanthropy and voluntarism, and human services. The foundation values higher education and supports the belief that individuals should be valued for their hard work, loyalty, and strong values.
How do I apply for a grant from Gaughan Family Foundation?
Recent grants demonstrate the foundation's commitment to higher education institutions. In 2024, the foundation made grants including: • University of Southern California: $450,000 • Creighton University: $200,000 • University of San Francisco: $200,000 Typical grant awards range from $10,000 to $820,000. The foundation made 17 grants in 2024. The foundation operates as a nonoperating private foundation with no income-producing activities.
Where does Gaughan Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Nevada, California, and Oklahoma, though it has supported institutions nationally. The foundation has demonstrated particular interest in supporting educational institutions with connections to the Gaughan family's roots and values.
What size grants does Gaughan Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Gaughan Family Foundation awarded 13 grants totaling $1.8M — an average of about $138K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Gaughan Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gaughan Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gaughan Family Foundation's EIN?
Gaughan Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0873950. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gaughan Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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