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
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
No grants recorded for .
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
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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