A Great Life

We take promising, well-researched ideas from theory to reality in our communities.

What is A Great Life?

The Gambrell Foundation believes that we must all have the courage to try new things. We support and create communities that are a meaningful source of what people need to live a life filled with purpose and meaning.

So many of us dream of a world where every person has the freedom to build the life they desire — a life where we aren’t just surviving each day with only enough to get by, but where each of us can truly live a great life. However, far too many of us feel like something is missing in our lives or that we don’t have much to look forward to. 

Our work thrives on the core principle that we all must have the courage to try new things if we want to transform our lives and the lives of our neighbors in our communities. In trying new, promising and well-researched ideas, we also must embrace failures as gifts of learning. 

We take expeditions to learn directly from communities around the globe that have government policies and cultural practices that support the well-being of those who live there. We explore concepts like how hobbies can transform our lives and foster deeper relationships with our neighbors, or how the physical spaces we live in can shape how we interact with the world around us.

Our approach to cultivating a great life is grounded in cross-pollinating ideas with our grantee partners that support a strong sense of purpose, a daily dose of awe, and a belief that you are better off because of your community, not despite it.

We dare to think we can all live greatly and design communities as springboards, not barriers.

Brian Collier, Foundation President
Featured Story
Featured Story
Event Recap: June 2025 Partner Convening
This past June, The Gambrell Foundation gathered our thought partners from across the globe to hold space to think more deeply about the ingredients for a great life. Together, we envisioned a world where everyone can live greatly and strategized about how to build upon each other’s ideas to make that vision a reality. 🎥 […]
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Q&A with Matt Olin and Setu Raval of Charlotte is Creative
A Q&A with Charlotte is Creative on building bridges through art to create a more vibrant, connected, and inclusive city.
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Learning to See Differently: A Study in Care and Connection Abroad
I’m heading abroad with the Gambrell Foundation, hoping to learn new ways of seeing. In Finland and Denmark I want to better understand how people create and nurture belonging in everyday life, and what those lessons might mean for us at home. “We are all responsible for bringing each other alive.” — Rowan Williams
Learn More
  • Featured Story
    Featured Story
    Event Recap: June 2025 Partner Convening
    This past June, The Gambrell Foundation gathered our thought partners from across the globe to hold space to think more deeply about the ingredients for a great life. Together, we envisioned a world where everyone can live greatly and strategized about how to build upon each other’s ideas to make that vision a reality. 🎥 […]
    Learn More
  • Q&A with Matt Olin and Setu Raval of Charlotte is Creative
    A Q&A with Charlotte is Creative on building bridges through art to create a more vibrant, connected, and inclusive city.
    Learn More
  • Learning to See Differently: A Study in Care and Connection Abroad
    I’m heading abroad with the Gambrell Foundation, hoping to learn new ways of seeing. In Finland and Denmark I want to better understand how people create and nurture belonging in everyday life, and what those lessons might mean for us at home. “We are all responsible for bringing each other alive.” — Rowan Williams
    Learn More