The Cynthia Lake Charitable Trust
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation states no geographic focus and no single field, and its grants span arts, education, disability, legal aid, youth and family services, veterans, animal welfare and humanitarian work, so a charity should judge fit against that range.
- The filing says it does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a cold application is not the route it describes.
- Typical grants, about 8 in 10, fall between $500 and $155,000, and half of its grants to organisations were about $19,500 or less, so a modest request is the realistic size.
- Repeat funding is strong: 65% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so the foundation appears relationship-led and a request should be built around any existing connection to it.
Overview
The Cynthia Lake Charitable Trust is a US private foundation based in Reno, NV.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The trust's recorded grants are spread across a varied group of public charities rather than a stated single field. Recipients include arts and museum organisations, cultural and music groups, education and literacy charities, organisations serving people with disabilities, legal assistance providers, youth and family services, veteran support, animal welfare and humanitarian work. The filed purpose for the grants is the generic carrying out of the foundation's charitable purpose, rather than a more specific programme description. In value, the largest concentrations in the recorded grants are in Kentucky, Nevada and California. The filings do not state a target applicant group, particular eligibility criteria or a narrower set of funding priorities.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Kentucky, Nevada, California, Mississippi and North Carolina.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 65% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 58 grants to organisations were about $19,500 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
4 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 31% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 65% of grant dollars went to organisations The Cynthia Lake Charitable Trust had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 21 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $26,615 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Marty Stuarts Congress Of Country Music · Carry out charitable purpose of foundation$700,0002024 tax year
- Nashville Steam Preservation Society · Carry out charitable purpose of foundation$200,0002024 tax year
- Links for Life · Carry out charitable purpose of foundation$75,0002024 tax year
- Assistance League of Bakersfield · Carry out charitable purpose of foundation$65,0002024 tax year
- Nevada Museum of Art · Carry out charitable purpose of foundation$50,0002024 tax year
- Domestic Violence Resource Center · Carry out charitable purpose of foundation$45,0002024 tax year
- Illuminations Center for Dyslexia · Carry out charitable purpose of foundation$34,0002024 tax year
- ADAKC · Carry out charitable purpose of foundation$30,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Cynthia Gail Lake — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $998,276 | $761,950 | $29,864,085 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $3,113,317 | $2,803,452 | $46,863,955 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,886,917 | $1,348,173 | $64,571,795 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Cynthia Lake Charitable Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Reno, NV
Applying to The Cynthia Lake Charitable Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Reno, NV