Grant Opportunities

Together, We Build the Runway

The George W. Gillemot Foundation provides funding to schools, universities, nonprofits, community partners, and more whose programs expand access to aviation, drone, and aerospace opportunities. By investing in education and workforce development, we help build a stronger future for students, industries, and the northern Nevada community we call home. If your program is inspiring the next generation, we invite you to bring your vision forward.

We’re thrilled to have launched our long-awaited George W. Gillemot Aerospace Engineering Program thanks to the generous support of the Gillemot Foundation. As demand for aerospace professionals continues to grow in northern Nevada, this program will prepare graduates to become versatile problem solvers who can communicate effectively and develop creative solutions to real-world challenges.

Petros Voulgaris

Chair and Director, George W. Gillemot Aerospace Engineering Program

Where Shared Vision Takes Flight

The George W. Gillemot Foundation invests in programs that inspire curiosity, expand access to learning, and prepare northern Nevada’s youth for the future of flight.

But meaningful impact takes more than funding alone. We work alongside our partners to help programs grow, connect organizations, and amplify the stories that inspire future generations. Our goal is to help build lasting legacies that prepare the next generation of northern Nevada leaders in aviation, drone, and aerospace careers.

With support reaching more than 38 programs and impacting over 700 students, we are committed to creating meaningful, measurable progress for northern Nevada — and we are just getting started.

Explore Our Impact

Funding Programs That Create Opportunity

We support programs that align with our mission to strengthen northern Nevada’s future in aviation, drone, and aerospace.

Eligible initiatives include those that:

Expand access to industry-related STEM learning.
Support career exploration and workforce readiness.
Create meaningful educational opportunities for students in Washoe County, Carson City, Douglas County, Storey County, Lyon County, or Churchill County.
Strengthen connections between education and industry.

Whether you’re expanding STEM programming, launching new workforce initiatives, or creating opportunities for students to explore aviation and aerospace, we welcome the opportunity to learn more about your program and what a partnership could make possible.

How to Apply

Every great program starts with an idea worth investing in. To apply, applicants are asked to provide a project overview, goals, measurable outcomes, budget details, and supporting materials that demonstrate organizational readiness and community impact.

Our approach is collaborative, thoughtful, and focused on creating meaningful opportunities for students across northern Nevada.

Review our grant application and reach out to us at Admin@GillemotFoundation.org with any questions and to submit your application. We are here to support you through the process.

Download Application

Partnership Goes Beyond Funding

We view every grant as the beginning of an ongoing relationship. Funded partners are expected to collaborate with the George W. Gillemot Foundation to help showcase the impact of the program and inspire broader community awareness.

This may include:

Progress updates and final reporting.
Media coordination and storytelling opportunities.
Acknowledgment of Foundation support.
Participation in events, announcements, or public outreach efforts.

Together, these efforts ensure transparency, strengthen accountability, and amplify the shared impact we are building across northern Nevada.

See Full Details

The program is opening students’ eyes to the incredible possibilities within the aviation industry — from airport administration and air traffic control to aviation maintenance and beyond. Through hands-on learning and technical skill development, students are beginning to see that careers in aviation, drone, and aerospace are not just distant ideas, but real opportunities within their reach. We are deeply grateful to the Gillemot Foundation for helping make this program possible and for inspiring students to believe that their future can truly take flight.

Josh Hartzog

Director of Career and Technical Education, WCSD

FAQs

Schools, universities, nonprofits, government entities, and qualifying community organizations serving students in Washoe County, Carson City, Douglas County, Storey County, Lyon County, or Churchill County are encouraged to apply. Eligible programs should support aviation, drone, aerospace, STEM, or workforce development initiatives aligned with the Gillemot Foundation’s mission.
The George W. Gillemot Foundation focuses its funding on programs that advance aviation, drone, and aerospace education for students in Washoe County, Carson City, Douglas County, Storey County, Lyon County, or Churchill County. Organizations or projects outside of these focus areas or geographic regions may not be eligible for funding.
Individual funding requests are typically supported through Pathways to Aviation scholarships rather than direct Gillemot Foundation grants.
There is no set funding limit. The George W. Gillemot Foundation welcomes proposals of all sizes and evaluates each request based on the opportunity for meaningful impact. Our goal is to support programs that create lasting value for students and communities across northern Nevada. Funding amounts are determined through collaboration, with the final grant amount aligned to the scope, needs, and potential impact of the program.
Grant recipients who receive support from the Gillemot Foundation are expected to collaborate in outreach, storytelling, reporting, and stewardship. This includes progress updates, coordination on media outreach and press opportunities, shared communications, final impact summaries, and acknowledgment of the Foundation’s support. Together, these requirements help ensure transparency, amplify community awareness, and strengthen the collective impact we are building across northern Nevada.
The Gillemot Foundation is proud to fund the Pathways to Aviation Scholarship Program. This program helps students access aviation education, from flight training to maintenance by providing aviation scholarships directly to students in northern Nevada. The Gillemot Foundation also makes Reno-Tahoe Aviation Group Scholarships possible, which fund private pilot training and advanced ratings.
Other scholarships are also available in the community, such as the Brigadier General Fred L. Michel Aviation Scholarship. This Nevada Fund scholarship supports students pursuing aviation career pathways, including pilot and industry roles.

Let’s Build the Future of Flight Together

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