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Cynthia Lake Charitable Trust

Annual Giving
$2.8M
Grant Range
$0K - $0.3M

Cynthia Lake Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,803,452 (2023)
  • Success Rate: N/A (no public application process)
  • Decision Time: N/A (invitation only)
  • Grant Range: $200 - $250,000
  • Median Grant: $10,000
  • Geographic Focus: National (with Nevada presence)
  • Total Assets: $49.4 million (2024)

Contact Details

Address: 18124 Wedge Parkway 514, Reno, NV 89511

EIN: 54-6807824

Note: The foundation does not have publicly listed phone, email, or website information.

Overview

The Cynthia Lake Charitable Trust was established in December 2010 as a private foundation with the stated purpose "to allow for the increase of contributions to public charities." Based in Reno, Nevada, the trust has experienced significant growth since its founding, with total assets increasing from $267,424 in 2011 to $49.4 million in 2024. The foundation distributed $2.8 million in grants in 2023 across 16 awards. The trust is primarily funded by contributions from the Lake Family Foundation. With no full-time employees, the trust operates as a streamlined grantmaking vehicle, focusing exclusively on distributing grants to public charities. The foundation has demonstrated consistent growth in its charitable disbursements over the years, though annual giving fluctuates based on available resources.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Cynthia Lake Charitable Trust operates on an invitation-only basis, making contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations. There is no formal application process or established grant programs open to the public.

Grant Range: $200 - $250,000
Median Grant: $10,000
Annual Grants Made: 16-21 grants per year

Sample Grant Recipients

Based on available information, the trust has supported organizations including:

  • Court Appointed Special Advocates of Kern County: $110,000
  • Illuminations Center for Dyslexia: $46,000
  • Northern Nevada RAVE Family Foundation: $30,000

Between 2014 and recent years, the trust has awarded 105 individual grants totaling over $3.4 million.

Priority Areas

While specific funding priorities are not publicly documented, grant recipients suggest potential interest in:

  • Children and youth services
  • Education and literacy programs
  • Child welfare and advocacy
  • Respite care and support for families with special needs children

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly states it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Governance and Leadership

Trustee: Cynthia Gail Lake

The foundation operates with no full-time employees, with Cynthia Gail Lake serving as the sole trustee overseeing grantmaking decisions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Cynthia Lake Charitable Trust only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustee to organizations that have been selected through the foundation's own initiative or through pre-existing relationships.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made by invitation only.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, there is no application process to optimize. All grantmaking decisions are made at the sole discretion of the trustee, Cynthia Gail Lake, based on pre-selected organizations.

Organizations seeking funding from this trust would need to be identified and selected by the foundation itself rather than through any application process.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds - all grants are made to preselected organizations
  • Private Foundation Structure: The trust operates as a private grantmaking foundation with a single trustee making all funding decisions
  • Variable Grant Sizes: Grants range widely from $200 to $250,000, with a median of $10,000
  • Steady Grantmaking: The trust makes 16-21 grants annually, demonstrating consistent support for selected organizations
  • Nevada Base with National Reach: While based in Reno, Nevada, the trust has supported organizations both locally and nationally (e.g., Kern County, California)
  • Focus on Public Charities: The stated mission is to increase contributions to public charities, operating as a pass-through vehicle for charitable giving
  • Growth Trajectory: The foundation's assets have grown substantially, from under $300,000 in 2011 to nearly $50 million in 2024, suggesting increased capacity for future grantmaking

References

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