The Rowe & Gayle Giesen Trust Grants

The Rowe and Gayle Giesen Trust Grant Program supports the personal and emotional development of children and youth through meaningful experiences in the visual arts. This grant is dedicated to enriching the lives of young people in the greater Pasadena area, with a focus on at-risk youth.

A woman helps a young girl with an art project
A woman is surrounded by a group of children outdoors, they appear to be touching and examining a tile wall

Overview

About the Giesen Trust Grants

Established in 1972 by Rowe Giesen in honor of his wife, Gayle, the Giesen Trust is an endowment fund of the Pasadena Community Foundation. It provides annual grants to visual arts organizations whose core mission aligns with youth development through the arts. The Trust prioritizes innovative programs and emerging organizations that foster creativity and emotional growth in children and youth.

Please note that this opportunity is by invitation only. Nonprofits not currently participating may contact PCF’s program department for more information.

 

A Group of young children sit with a teacher in front of brightly illuminate stained glass doors at the Gamble House in Pasadena CA

A passion for the arts

The History of the Giesen Trust

The Giesens were embedded in the arts scene of Pasadena and shaped its legacy in many ways.

In 1972, Pasadena resident Rowe Giesen created the Gayle Gibbs Giesen Trust in honor of his wife, a passionate arts supporter who had recently passed. The couple had long been involved with the Pasadena Art Museum (PAM) and were especially involved in its teaching program for children.

A vintage photo shows two young men standing and smiling behind an older man seated

Our Focus Areas

a group of children walk outdoors in Pasadena CA, in the forefront are a girl in a pink coat and a boy in a white shirt; both carry notebooks
01 |

Visual arts education and engagement for children and youth

02 |

Support for emerging visual arts organizations

03 |

Innovation in arts programming and youth development

04 |

Evaluation of program impact on youth participants

Our Funding Priorities

We prioritize applications from organizations that:

  • Clearly demonstrate a mission centered on visual arts and youth development
  • Serve children and youth in the greater Pasadena area, especially those considered at-risk
  • Propose innovative or new projects with strong potential for impact
  • Include internal or external evaluation methods to assess program effectiveness
  • Show organizational readiness and capacity for program delivery and reporting
A woman holds a can of spray paint and a young boy reaches out to get it from her

Application Details

Please note that this opportunity is by invitation only. Nonprofits not currently participating may contact PCF’s program department for more information.

Application Period: Typically late March
Status: Closed
Deadline: TBD
Grant Decisions: Awarded in July
Grant Amounts: $5,000 – $10,000

To be eligible for funding, organizations must:

  • Be located in or provide significant services within the Pasadena Unified School District boundaries (Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre).
  • Be a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) or 170(c)(1) or (2)(b) [Private Foundations under 509(a) are not eligible].
  • Generally have at least two years of operational history with a record of effective service (fiscally sponsored programs may have different requirements).
  • Have completed all previous PCF grants; organizations with an open or non-compliant grant are ineligible.
  • Receive only one PCF grant per calendar year (e.g., Animal Welfare, Arts & Culture, Capital, Education, Senior or Vista Nova). Visit PCF’s Grants Calendar for more details.
  • Adhere to the Non-Discrimination Policy outlined below.

Pasadena Community Foundation does not make grants from discretionary funds to organizations that discriminate based on:

  • Actual or perceived rage, age, color
  • Gender identity, marital or parental status
  • Military service, national origin
  • Physical or mental ability
  • Political affiliation, sexual orientation, or religion

The following are not eligible for funding:

  • Individuals or households
  • Private schools
  • Organizations with open or non-compliant PCF grants
  • Activities intended to influence legislation or elections
  • Individual public schools or their support groups (e.g., PTA/PTO, booster clubs); PCF supports PUSD schools only through the Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF)
  • Sectarian religious organizations or churches for religious purposes (community service programs may be considered if open to all and meet other criteria)
  • Agencies not directly performing services aligned with PCF’s mission (no regranting)
  • Building improvements on leased property (exceptions may be made for public entities or long-term leases at the board’s discretion)
  • Reporting requirements must be met to remain eligible for future PCF grants.
  • Agencies must also comply with PCF’s Grand Recognition Guidelines (see below).
  • Specific reporting deadlines and formats will be provided upon grant award.

Recognizing your grant helps honor the donors who make PCF’s work possible and encourages future community support. PCF actively promotes its grants and supports grantees in doing the same.

Grantee Responsibilities:

  • Acknowledge the grant in newsletters, press releases, and other communications.
  • Required Language: “This project was funded [or funded in part] by a grant from the Pasadena Community Foundation.”
  • Naming Convention: Use “Pasadena Community Foundation” on first reference; “PCF” may be used thereafter
  • Logo Usage: Use the approved PCF logo with written acknowledgement
  • Shared Coverage: Send copies of any media or press coverage mentioning the PCF grant to the Foundation: media@pasadenacf.org.

Communication & Resources:
Acknowledgement Letters: Mail to the program manager or email to Grants@Pasadenacf.Org

Foundation Description: Founded in 1953, the Pasadena Community Foundation promotes local philanthropy, with a mission to inspire generosity and engage the resources of our community for present needs unfulfilled and future needs unforeseen. The Foundation helps donors maximize the impact of their charitable contributions – strengthening the community, preserving cultural resources, and assisting those in need.

Application Details

Two teen young women sit at a table inside an art studio; one has her hands on clay as she shapes a pot

Two teen young women sit at a table inside an art studio; one has her hands on clay as she shapes a pot

Two teen young women sit at a table inside an art studio; one has her hands on clay as she shapes a pot

Two teen young women sit at a table inside an art studio; one has her hands on clay as she shapes a pot

Two teen young women sit at a table inside an art studio; one has her hands on clay as she shapes a pot

Two teen young women sit at a table inside an art studio; one has her hands on clay as she shapes a pot

Two teen young women sit at a table inside an art studio; one has her hands on clay as she shapes a pot

Invest in our work

Giesen Trust Grants

Help us expand our impact! Your donation supports vital arts education programs throughout the Greater Pasadena area.

A young adult stands closely to a young girl showing her something on a clipboard