Engelstad Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Engelstad Foundation's priority is Southern Nevada, so this is the first thing to check before applying.
- Most grants to organisations fall between $10,000 and $1,050,000, with a median of $175,000, so a request in that range is realistic for most applicants; be aware that one much larger grant of about $21,000,000 went to Morgan Stanley Daf Account, an organisation that regrants to others, so this is not a typical benchmark for a small nonprofit.
- Only 10% of its grant dollars to organisations went to repeat recipients, suggesting there is real room for new applicants to be funded.
- The Foundation funds both general operating support and specific initiatives tied to organisational capacity, partnerships, and education that improves how systems serve communities, and it describes itself as relationship-based, staying engaged with nonprofits, civic leaders and funders over time.
- To apply, submit a Letter of Intent through its online portal during an open application cycle, aligning clearly with its strategy, as only selected organisations are invited to submit a full application; check the portal for current deadlines, which vary by cycle.
Overview
Engelstad Foundation is a US private foundation based in Las Vegas, NV.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Foundation supports U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisations at different stages of development, directing its grantmaking towards strengthening the social sector in Southern Nevada. Its stated priorities include organisational capacity, partnerships, and education that improves how systems serve communities. It looks for efforts that are thoughtful, well-led and connected to long-term progress for the community. It provides both flexible general operating support and support for specific initiatives aligned with its strategy. Alongside grants, it works with nonprofits, civic leaders, institutions and funders, bringing people together and staying engaged over time to understand needs, gaps and where it can be useful. Its approach is relationship-based and aims to strengthen organisations and the wider regional ecosystem.
Themes
- Organizational capacity
- Partnerships
- Education for systems
Geographic Focus
Priority: Southern Nevada.
How to apply
For open grant opportunities, organisations submit a Letter of Intent through the Foundation’s online portal during an application cycle. The Foundation reviews LOIs on a rolling basis; selected organisations may be invited to submit a full application. Deadlines and requirements for each open cycle are listed on the portal.
Deadlines: Deadlines are listed on the portal for each open cycle.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 10% 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 178 grants to organisations were $175,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Foundation looks for efforts that are thoughtful, well-led and connected to long-term progress for the community.
- A Letter of Intent must align with the Foundation’s strategy for an organisation to be invited to submit a full application.
- Before deciding how to engage, the Foundation considers what is needed, what is already underway, where gaps remain and who else is involved.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 19% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 10% of grant dollars went to organisations Engelstad Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 19% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 26 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $163k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Morgan Stanley Daf Account · General operations$21,042,5562024 tax year
- Together California · General operations$1,200,0002024 tax year
- Spread the Word Nevada · General operations$724,9592024 tax year
- Animal Foundation · General operations$600,0002024 tax year
- Ralph Engelstad Arena · General operations$419,0642024 tax year
- Roseman University of Health Sciences · General operations$400,0002024 tax year
- Unlv Foundation · General operations$396,0002024 tax year
- Eye Care 4 Kids · General operations$375,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Kris Engelstad — CEO / Trustee
- Betty Engelstad — VP Of Programs / Trustee
- Erin Mcgarry — Chief Granting Officer / Trustee
- Sean Engelstad — Investment Director / Trustee
- Jeffrey Cooper — CFO / Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $78,367,858 | $52,007,432 | $914,999,252 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $55,610,996 | $33,909,114 | $884,769,211 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $39,577,909 | $27,276,113 | $666,101,769 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Engelstad Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- admin@engelstadfoundation.org
- Las Vegas, NV
- engelstadfoundation.org
Applying to Engelstad Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- admin@engelstadfoundation.org
- Las Vegas, NV
- engelstadfoundation.org